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Region: Switzerland
Climbing effort: 676 cep
Elevation meters: 947
Steepest kilometer: 9.7%

Steepest 250 m: 11%
Foot: 1102 m    Top: 2044 m
Mean slope: 5.8%
Length: 16.2 km

From: Göschenen
Road conditions (2020): good
Other race bikers: 5-10 per hour
Motor vehicles: 60-180 per hour
Scenery and road: (3/5)
Restaurant or bar near top: yes

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Other climbs Switzerland

The climb to the Oberalppass from the west starts in Göschenen. After a one kilometer long, easy approach (3-4%) the route turns sharply to the right onto the main road. Over the next three kilometers the ride continues through a steep valley, which toward the end even becomes a gorge, the so-called Schöllenen. This was for a long time an insurmountable obstacle for the construction of a continuous road across the Gotthard, until in 1198 the Teufelsbrücke (Devil's Bridge) was completed. There is a lot of traffic in the Schöllenen (and there is a railway). Fortunately, one may leave the road after the fourth hairpin bend (which turns left) and continue on a cycle path that is mostly well separated from the road. This path is often utterly steep, though never over a long distance. Here lies the steepest kilometer of the entire trip (9.7%). After the Schöllenen the next kilometer is almost horizontal. In Andermatt, turn left towards the Oberalppass. There remain still 600 meters in altitude to the pass. Over the first five kilometers the road mostly has a gradient of 7%. After that, the next three kilometers are easier (5-6%). The pass is finally reached shortly after the elongated Oberalpsee. I found the first few kilometers past Andermatt the most beautiful of the ride, thanks to the views, especially in a south-easterly direction of the Unteralptal and in a westerly direction of the Urserental and the mountains beyond.

The ascent suggested here can be extended by beginning in Amsteg, from Göschenen further down in the Reussdal. This would increase the distance by 16.2 kilometers, the number of meters in altitude with 623 and the climbing effort by 357 climb effort points.