The Nufenen Pass is Fantastic! It is the is the highest official pass in Switzerland at 2478 meters. There is also the Pass Umbrail at 2501 in the eastern part of the country, but it is more of a goat pass as opposed to a real road.

The pass connects the valley of the Ticino canton of Ticino in the Rhône valley in Valais and runs roughly east-west direction. The route runs directly through the Gotthard massif and along the upper part you ride almost directly on the border with Italy.

Riding North to south, leaving Ulrichen you run up a river valley an climb over the first step. Once over the first step the road opens up into a high plateaus with nice sweepers until you hit the second step, which is ascended with in what seems like an endless number of well formed hairpin corners.

On the top, there is a small lake and a good sized cafe. If it is snowing, as it often does, even in the summer, it makes for a good place to warm up.

The South ramp is similar to the north, staring off with hairpins, giving way to a more sweeping valley. The road narrows at the bottom once you hit tree line.

We consider this a medium difficulty route, but you need to be careful with the weather as it can change very quickly as you make your accent. Scenery ranges from bleak bare rock at the top to lush woodland once you hit tree line. The road surface is in good shape for most of the route.