Early snowfall shuts iconic Swiss alpine passes for the season

While it may be wet and drizzly across the Swiss lowlands, winter has already arrived in full force at higher altitudes. Several alpine passes are now closed to motorists after receiving their first dose of snowfall earlier in October, including famous driving routes of Furka Pass, Great St Bernard Pass and the Susten Pass.

Which Swiss mountain passes are already closed?

Time is running out to enjoy a scenic drive along one of Switzerland’s popular alpine passes. Several high-altitude roads are starting to enforce their seasonal winter closure (Wintersperre).

Swiss mountain passes that are now closed include Furka Pass, Great St Bernard Pass, San Bernardino Pass, Sanetsch Pass and Susten Pass.

All sit at an altitude above 2.000 metres where ice, heavy snow and freezing temperatures create dangerous driving conditions and make the roads impossible to maintain.

Which Alpine passes are still open?

There are over 70 mountain passes still open in Switzerland at the time of writing. The Touring Club Switzerland (TCS) provides up-to-date information on which roads are currently open or closed, as well as an interactive map.

The popular Grimsel Pass and Klausen Pass are currently still open, while the Gotthard Pass is open during the day but closed between 6pm and 8am.

The status of the roads can change quickly depending on the weather, so make sure to check before heading out. Typically, most passes will close in November and reopen again around May 2027.

If you’re looking for an alternative route to take, both the Gotthard Road Tunnel (A2) and the San Bernardino Tunnel (A13) stay open all year-round. Car trains (Autoverlad) also tend to stay open.