The 50 highest passes in the Alps

...I rode some of them. The asterisks give the challenge of each pass, it goes from 1 to 5 stars, but it only indicates the riding, nothing of the sometimes spectacular views and the beauty of nature in the mountains.

 Col de la Bonette * * * * *

from: Jausier (F)
to : Isola (F)

height: 2802 m
max. 14%

  
Col d'Isèran * * *

from: Bourg St. Maurice (F)
to: Lanslebourg

heigth: 2770 m
max. 11%

  
Stilfser Joch * * * *

from: Spondinig (I)
to: Bormio (I)

height: 2757 m
max. 14%

crossed in 2001

On the side of Spondinig it is very spectacular,
a rise of 1200 m. in 48 narrow hairpins.
Col d'Angel * *

from: Chateat-Queryas (F)
to: Castedelfino (I)

height: 2746 m.
max. 16%

 
Col de Restefond * * *

from: Bourg St. Maurice (F)
to: Col de la Bonette (F)

height: 2678 m.
max. 12%

 
Col du Galibier * * * *

from: St. Michiel de Maurienne (F)
to: Col du Lautaret (F)

height: 2645 m.
max. 14%

 
Passo di Gavia * * * *

from: Bormio (I)
to: Ponte di Legno (I)

height: 2621 m.
max. 16%

 
Timmelsjoch * * * *

from: Oetz (O)
to: St. Leonhard (I)

height: 2509 m.
max. 13%

crossed in 2000

On theAustrian side a good road and wide curves, on the Italian side a view in the deep and a road with narrow dark tunnels and a lot of curves.
€ 8,- toll.
Großglockner Hochalpenstraße * *

from: Zell am See (AU)
to: Winklern (AU)

height: 2505 m.
max. 12%

crossed in 2000 and 2001

Perfect asfalt, almost as many bikeriders as during the dutchTT and two crossroads of wich one to the Edelweißspitze at 2587 m.
€ 17,- toll. .
Umbrail-Pass * * * *

from: Santa Maria (CH)
to: Bormio (I)

height: 2501 m.
max. 14%

crossed in 2001

May be one of the passes with great fun; mostly dirt track. Once at the top you can ride higher up to the Stilfser Joch
Nufenenpass * *

from: Ulrichen (CH)
to: Airolo (CH)

height: 2478m. max.
max. 13%

crossed in 2001

The highest completly hardend pass in Switserland. On the top a magnificent view on theBerner Alps.
Grote St. Bernard * * *

from: Marigny (CH)
to: Aosta (I)

height: 2469 m.
max. 11%

 
Furkapass *

from: Andermatt (CH)
to: Gletsch (CH)

height: 2431 m.
max. 11%

crossed in 2001

The road goes directly along the Rhone glacier. Feel the ages old ice!
Flüelapass * *

from: Davos (CH)
to: Susch (CH)

height: 2383 m.
max. 10%

crossed in 2001

Not very spectacular, but a good road and not much traffic.
Col d'Izoard * * *

from: Briançon (F)
to: Guillestre (F)

height: 2360 m.
max. 12%

 
Col de la Lombarde * * * *

from: Isola (F)
to: Vinadio (I)

height: 2351 m.
max. 13%

 
Berninapass * *

from: Samedan (CH)
to: Tirano (I)

height: 2328 m.
max. 12%

crossed in 2001

Look around you! Beautiful views on peaks and glaciers.
Col de la Cayolle * * *

from: Barcelonette(F)
to: Guillaume (F)

height: 2326 m.
max. 11%

  
Forcola di Livigno *

from: Berninapass (CH)
to: Livigno (I)

height: 2315 m.
max. 12%

  
Albulapass * * * *

from: Tiefencastel (CH)
to: La Punt-Chamues (CH)

height: 2312 m.
max. 12%

crossed in 2001

 The Rhätische Bahn (railway) goes partly parallel to the road (pollished trains, toytrain landscape). At some points no crash barrier, but always a deep valley. Before you go up, taste the walnut cake in La Punt next to the railway.
Passo di Fosacagno/d'Eira * * *

from: Livigno (I)
to: Bormio (I)

height: 2291m./2208 m.
max. 12%

  
Julierpass *

from: Tiefencastel (CH)
to: Silvaplana (CH)

height: 2284 m.
max. 12%

crossed in 2001

 Many different types of curves, with near to the top some beautiful hairpins.
Col d'Allos * * *

from: Barcelonette (F)
to: St. André-les-Alpes (F)

height: 2240 m.
max. 11%

  
Pordoijoch * *

from: Vigo di Fassa (I)
to: Cortina d'Ampezzo (I)

height: 2239 m.
max. 8%

crossed in 2000

 The highest on a route with 4 passes and a total of 58 hairpins.
I also had a lot of riding pleasure in the descend to Cortina.
Passo di Giau * * *

from: Cortina d'Ampezzo (I)
to: Selva di Cadore (I)

height 2233 m.
max. 12%

  
Sustenpass *

from: Innertkirchen (CH)
to: Wassen (CH)

height 2224 m.
max. 9%

  
Penser Joch * * *

from: Vipiteno (I)
to: Bolzano (I)

height: 2215 m.
max. 13%

crossed in 2000

 Lots of curves on a quiet road and a nice descend to the valley of Bolzano.
Sellajoch/Col de Toi *

from: St. Ulrich (I)
to: Canazei (I)

height: 2214 m.
max. 11%

 
Passo di Valparola *

from: Stern (I)
to: Cortina d'Ampezzo (I)

height: 2197 m.
max. 10%

  
Little St. Bernhard * * *

from: Bourg St. Maurice (F)
to: Pré-St-Didier (CH)

height: 2188 m.
max. 9%

  
Grimselpass *

from: Innertkirchen (CH)
to: Gletsch (CH)

height: 2165 m.
max. 11%

  
Ofenpass *

from: Zernez (CH)
to: Santa Maria (CH)

height: 2149 m.
max. 10%

crossed in 2001

 Nice road and views over some turqoise mountainlakes.
Grödner Joch * * * * *

from: St. Ulrich (I)
to: Corvara (I)

height: 2121 m.
max. 12%

  
Splügenpass * * * *

from: Splügen (CH)
to: Chiavenna (I)

height: 2113 m.
max. 10%

crossed in 2001

 Superpass with narrow hairpins, tunnels and galery's.
Col de Vars * *

from: Guillestre (F)
to: Jausiers (F)

height: 2109 m.
max. 12%

  
St. Gotthard Pass * * (new road)
* * * * (old road)

from: Andermatt (CH)
to: Airolo (CH)

crossed in 2001

 I took the new road the old one still to come.
Passo di Falzarego * *

from: Arabba (I)
to: Cortina d'Ampezzo

height: 2105 m.
max. 11%

  
Jaufenpass * * *

from: Vipiteno (I)
to: S. Leonardo (I)

height: 2094 m.
max. 12%

crossed in 2000

 Learned my first Italian word here: 'tornante' (hairpin).
Col du Mont Cenis * *

from: Lanslebourg (F)
to: Susa (I)

height: 2083 m.
max. 11%

  
Col de la Croix de Fer * * *

from: Rochetaillée (F)
to: St. Jean-de-Maurienne (F)

height: 2068 m.
max. 14%

  
San-Bernardino-Pass * * *

from: Splügen (CH)
to: Bellinzona (I)

height: 2066 m.
max. 12%

  
Col du Lautaret *

from: Le Bourg-d'Oisans (F)
to: Briançon(F)

height: 2058 m.
max. 10%

  
Passo de Fedaia * *

from: Canazei (I)
to: Caprile (I)

height: 2057 m.
max. 16%

  
Staller Sattel * *

from: Olang (I)
to: Huben (AU)

height: 2052 m.
max. 12%

crossed in 2001

 At the Italian side you get at the end of the Antholzer Tall in the middle of the woods at a traffic light! As it turns green (once every hour) there's a race to the top (one way) amongst all the bikers waiting for it. Super!
Oberalppass *

from: Andermatt (CH)
to: Disentis (CH)

height: 2046 m.
max. 10%

crossed in 2001

 The lowest of the 6 passes of the Gotthardtour.
Nockalmstraße *

from: Innerkrems (AU)
to: Ebene Reichenau (AU)

height: 2042 m.
max. 12%

  
Silvretta-Hochalpenstraße * * *

from: Partenen (AU)
to: Galtür (AU)

height: 2036 m.
max. 11%

  
Passo di Valles *

from: Predazzo (I)
to: Falcade (I)

height: 2033 m.
max. 13%

  
Kühtaisattel * *

from: Oetz (AU)
to: Zirl (AU)

height: 2013 m.
max. 16%

crossed in 2001

 Very nice, steep climb from Oetz, cattle on the road at the top, and after that a beautiful view on the Inntal.
Simplonpass *

from: Brig (CH)
to: Domodossola (I)

height: 2005 m.
max. 10%

crossed in 2001

No demanding curves, but a nice piece of engineering with lots of gallery's, tunnels and bridges.
source: Motorad, Reisen & Sport