Detour #250: The Glorious Gotthard Pass, Switzerland
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No longer a main route, this fair weather alpine adventure leads to the epicentre of Swiss mountain driving.
Arguably unnecessary since 1980 when the Gotthard Road Tunnel was completed, this spectacular Swiss pass is all the better for its obsolescence.
With the most expedient and only year-round route being a 10.5-mile journey through heart of the mountain, the May to November drive over the Gotthard Pass is one to be savoured (check here for exact opening dates) .
Detour recommends starting from the south in Airolo as you’ll be straight into the action. Eight switchbacks make the ascent rather rapid and the road is both smoothly surfaced and wide enough to overtake trundling tourists – of which there are plenty. It may not be a direct route, but the Gotthard Pass holds plenty of appeal for those who wish to take the longer way.
Unusually for Swiss switchbacks you won’t find many cyclists on the climb – that’s because they’ll all be tackling the Tremolo, the original steep and cobbled road, that’s now been bypassed for motor traffic. It’s a win-win for all concerned.
Soon you’ll reach the Punto Panoramico San Gottardo, an epic lookout, with ample parking so you can snap away at the vista below. Then it’s a dive into a tunnel and mountainside-hugging covered section that protects the road from avalanche and rockfalls in the spring thaw.
At Lago della Piazza there’s a hotel offering rooms for exhausted pedallers and food and refreshment for all. By now the pass takes a more leisurely path with gentle turns and a very gradual descent through the glorious landscape.
The final few miles throw in the occasion tighter turn, but it’s no brake-cooking drive. By the time you reach Hospental, you’re back below the tree line and the bleak beauty is replaced by rich green meadows and a largely straight run to Andermatt.
There are more challenging mountain roads to take than the Gotthard Pass, but it’s a wonderful warm up for the Operalp, Furka, Grimsel and Susten Passes that are all within easy reach.
Words Nik Berg Twitter/X | Instagram
Photography Shutterstock