Col de la Furka · Switzerland

Furka Pass

A high pass in the Swiss Alps between Gletsch in Valais and Realp in Uri, at 2,429 m. With the Grimsel and the Susten it makes one of the classic Swiss pass loops.

StartFinishHairpin

22.9 kmLength

185Pace-note calls

24Hairpins

17Tight corners (1–2)

↑730 ↓950Climb and drop, m

≈2,500 mHighest point

Counts are from Turini’s pace-note engine on this route. Heights come from terrain data and can differ from signposted figures by a few tens of metres.

Where is the Furka Pass?

The Furka Pass is in Switzerland, on route 19. Also known as Col de la Furka. The route on this page: Gletsch to Realp, over the 2,429 m summit, 22.9 km.

Why the Furka Pass is famous

The hairpins climbing from Gletsch past the Rhône Glacier are among the best-known views in the Swiss Alps, and the road was a filming location for the James Bond film Goldfinger.

Furka Pass hairpins

Over 22.9 km Turini calls 24 hairpins, 3 square corners and 142 corners graded 1 to 6, plus 4 crests and 2 dips. That is 185 calls in all, one every 124 metres on average. Grade 1 is the tightest, 6 is nearly straight (how to read pace notes).

HP24

213

329

435

539

622

Furka Pass elevation profile

From 1,778 m at the start to 1,539 m at the finish, with a highest point of about 2,500 m. Red marks are the hairpins.

2,500 m1,500 m

0 km11.5 km22.9 km

Furka Pass pace notes, first few km

The first 25 calls, exactly as Turini reads them, with the distance from the start.

5 mRight 3

35 mSquare left

47 mGive way

75 mHairpin right in dip

140 mBridge

204 mLevel crossing

265 mBig crest

365 mRight 5

530 mDip

615 mHairpin left

705 mRight 4

820 mRight 5

865 mLeft 3

1.10 kmRight 5

1.30 kmLeft 5

1.49 kmHairpin right

1.58 kmLeft 4

1.76 kmRight 5 long

1.92 kmHairpin left

2.14 kmLeft 6

2.33 kmLeft 5

2.42 kmRight 6

2.56 kmRight 4

2.61 kmLeft 5

2.67 kmRight 4

That takes you to 2.67 km. 160 more calls follow over the remaining 20.2 km.

Before you drive the Furka Pass

A seasonal pass road, closed in winter. It usually opens in early summer and closes in autumn, depending on snow.

The road is narrow in places and shared with PostBuses, cyclists and motorcyclists. Check that the pass is open before you set off.

How to drive the Furka Pass with Turini

Set the route before you leave and Turini saves its notes on the phone, so it works with the screen off and no signal. On the road it reads each call about 4.5 seconds before the corner, timed to your speed, and you never touch the phone. It also works through Android Auto. If pace notes are new to you, start in Simple mode (Easy, Medium, Hard) and switch to the 1–6 scale once it feels natural.

Always drive within the law, the conditions and what you can see. Turini tells you what the map says; the road is what counts.

More roads like the Furka Pass

Susten PassSwitzerland45.7 km · 336 calls · 18 hairpins

Gotthard Pass via the TremolaSwitzerland13.6 km · 109 calls · 38 hairpins

Grimsel PassSwitzerland38.2 km · 227 calls · 23 hairpins

Best driving roads in the Alps · Best driving roads in Europe · Best driving roads in Switzerland · All famous roads · How to read pace notes

Sources: Wikipedia: Furka Pass, Wikipedia (de): Furkapass.

Set Turini up for you

Turini is in early access on Android. Five quick questions and you’ll know which mode to start with.

Find your setup →