The Klausenpass links Altdorf in Uri with Linthal in Glarus across a 46 km paved road that is normally closed from October to May because of heavy snow. The eastern climb from Linthal is the more-ridden cycling side: it rises in three distinct stages, a wooded steep lower section, a long near-flat run across the high Urnerboden plateau, and a final pitch to the col, which is why its modest average gradient hides genuinely steep thirds. The crossing began as a customs-regulated cattle track documented by 1196, gained a travellers' hospital at Urnerboden in 1590, and was finally built into a through road over the pass between 1893 and 1899.
Klausenpass
1952 m · Switzerland
Also: Col du Klausen
Road Klausenstrasse (Hauptstrasse 17)
Open on the map →The 2 sides
| From | Length | Gain | Avg | Max | Cat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altdorf | 22.4 km | +1497 m | 6.7% | ≥11.7% | HC |
| Linthal | 21.8 km | +1285 m | 5.9% | ≈9.9% | HC |
From Altdorf
Hors catégorie≈10 hairpin bendsfaces W
From Linthal
Hors catégorie≈19 hairpin bendsfaces NE
0–4%4–7%7–10%10–12%12%+
The climb
Race history
6× Tour de Suisse · 4 summit finishes · 1968–2018