Furka Pass

The Furka Pass is one of the defining roads of the Swiss Alps, linking Gletsch with Realp across a high mountain ridge at 2,429 metres. Its reputation goes beyond the riding itself, having gained worldwide recognition after featuring in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger. Today, the combination of altitude, exposed Alpine scenery, the Rhône Glacier and its unmistakable sequence of bends makes it a natural landmark for motorcycle riders.

From Gletsch, the road climbs steadily into increasingly open terrain, with long traverses broken by tight hairpins as the mountain rises above the valley. The Hotel Belvédère and Rhône Glacier provide the route’s most recognisable section, while the final approach to the pass opens towards the high peaks of the Gotthard massif. The road is consistently engaging without becoming excessively steep, with gradients reaching around 8–9 percent on the climb.

For riders, Furka offers an excellent balance between technical riding and visual reward. The western approach delivers the most dramatic glacier views, while the eastern side has its own character, with tighter mountain sections and the famous Goldfinger Curve. It is the kind of road where the rhythm of the corners and the scale of the landscape work together rather than competing for attention.

Furka is not memorable because of one corner or one viewpoint. It is the combination of elevation, exposure, history and road design that makes the crossing feel special. Ride it for the bends, stop for the glacier, and leave enough time to appreciate the mountain between them.

The Furka Pass is a seasonal high-alpine road and is generally open from around June to October, depending on snow and weather conditions. Conditions can change quickly at 2,429 metres, even during summer, and the road can become busy with cars, coaches, cyclists and other motorcycles. The route also contains narrower sections where passing requires care. Check current road conditions before setting out, particularly early or late in the season.

The Ride Beyond route begins in Gletsch on the western side of the Furka Pass. From here, the road immediately begins climbing into the high Alps, with the landscape opening up as the route leaves the lower valley behind. The first sections combine flowing bends with longer uphill traverses before the more recognisable switchbacks begin.

The defining section comes as the road climbs towards the Rhône Glacier and Hotel Belvédère. A series of tight hairpins winds across the mountainside, with increasingly expansive views back towards Gletsch and the surrounding peaks. The Hotel Belvédère sits directly within one of the route’s most famous bends, while the nearby Rhône Glacier adds another unmistakable landmark to the climb.

From the glacier, only a short section remains before the road reaches the Furka Pass summit at 2,429 metres. The views open towards the Gotthard massif before the route begins its descent towards Tiefenbach and Realp. The eastern side has a slightly different character, with a more enclosed mountain road and another sequence of bends as the route drops into the Urseren Valley.

The Furka is best experienced as a complete crossing rather than a race to the summit. Take the corners seriously, make time for the glacier, and let the mountain reveal itself one bend at a time.