A lovely drive to Fluela Pass in the heart of the Swiss Alps

A lovely drive to Fluela Pass in the heart of the Swiss Alps

Switzerland, europe

Length

25.4 km

Elevation

2,391 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# Flüela Pass: A Swiss Alpine Adventure

Ready for a seriously thrilling drive? Flüela Pass sits pretty at 2,391m (7,844ft) in Switzerland's Graubünden canton, nestled right on the border between the Albula and Silvretta Alps. It's one of only three paved routes that connect the Engadin valley to northern Grisons—making it a must-do for mountain road enthusiasts.

Built way back in 1867 to handle stagecoaches, Route 28 stretches 25.4km (15.78 miles) between Davos and Susch with pristine pavement throughout. Fair warning though: this beauty isn't a year-round playground. Thanks to serious avalanche risks, the pass typically shuts down from late December through early May, and even during open season, it only operates in the evenings and at night when the sun isn't heating up the slopes.

Once you're on it, prepare yourself. The road climbs steeply—up to 12% gradient in places—with 37 hairpin turns that'll definitely test your driving skills. The curves are tight and winding, especially as the wider sections narrow toward the end. Most drivers spend 40-45 minutes reaching the summit without stopping, and honestly, you probably won't have much company up there.

When you reach the top, pull into the parking area and soak in the jaw-dropping views of Lake Davorsee. The historic Flüela Hospice sits right at the summit. Davos, the gateway town, is Europe's highest altitude destination and a major alpine resort with museums, horse-drawn sleigh rides through picturesque side valleys, and endless outdoor activities. This is what alpine driving dreams are made of.

Where is it?

A lovely drive to Fluela Pass in the heart of the Swiss Alps is located in Switzerland (europe). Coordinates: 46.9090, 8.2850

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Switzerland
Continent
europe
Length
25.4 km
Max Elevation
2,391 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
46.9090, 8.2850

Related Roads in europe

Pointe du Dzonfiémoderate

Pointe du Dzonfié

🇫🇷 France

Pointe du Dzonfié is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.185m (7,168ft) above the sea level, located in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The road to the summit is gravel, rocky, tippy and bumpy at times. The road is impassable in winters. Great trail for experienced wheelers. Avoid driving in this area if unpaved mountain roads aren't your strong point. Wet conditions may make for tough driving along the muddy road. Near the summit is a mountain hut known as Refuge du Nant du Beurre. Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click  to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.

Col de la Pousterleextreme

Col de la Pousterle

🇫🇷 France

# Col de la Pousterle Tucked away in the Hautes-Alpes region of southeastern France, Col de la Pousterle sits at a breathtaking 1,763 meters (5,784 feet) above sea level. This is serious mountain pass territory. Here's the thing: the road up to the summit is gravel and genuinely narrow—we're talking squeeze-through-carefully kind of narrow. You'll want to save this adventure for stable weather conditions. Mother Nature isn't forgiving up here. Avalanches, heavy snowfall, and landslides are real threats, and the icy patches that randomly appear make things genuinely treacherous. Winter or bad weather? Not the time to tackle this one. If you're an experienced mountain driver looking for an authentic alpine challenge, though, this pass delivers the goods. Just plan accordingly and respect the conditions.

A brutally steep classic climb to Planche des Belles Fillesmoderate

A brutally steep classic climb to Planche des Belles Filles

🇫🇷 France

# Planche des Belles Filles Tucked away in the Vosges Mountains within France's Haute-Saône department, Planche des Belles Filles sits pretty at 1,148 meters (3,766 feet) above sea level. The name literally means "Beautiful Girls," though it actually comes from the local vegetation—so don't let the romantic-sounding title fool you! The climb up via D16-D16E is a beast. Starting from Plancher-les-Mines, you're looking at a 5.9 km (3.7 mi) assault on your legs with 503 meters (1,650 feet) of elevation gain. The average gradient hangs around 8.5%, but things get spicy near the top—we're talking a brutal 28% stretch that'll make your quads scream. This climb absolutely destroyed egos when Chris Froome first conquered it during the 2012 Tour de France, claiming his first stage victory in La Grande Boucle. What makes this road infamous isn't just the punishing gradient; it's the relentless, constantly changing steepness from bottom to finish. Unlike most French roads with their carefully engineered, predictable slopes, Planche des Belles Filles keeps you guessing with unforgiving elevation changes at every turn. The road itself is wide enough for two cars to pass comfortably, but that paved surface leads to a genuinely feared ski slope finale that's humbled countless cyclists. Fair warning: this climb isn't for the faint of heart. It's one of the most notorious and feared ascents in the entire Vosges range, and it shows absolutely zero mercy from start to finish.

Driving the enthralling unpaved road to Strassberger Fürggli in the Plessur Alpsmoderate

Driving the enthralling unpaved road to Strassberger Fürggli in the Plessur Alps

🇨🇭 Switzerland

# Strassberger Fürggli Nestled in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, near the Austrian border, Strassberger Fürggli is a stunning high mountain peak sitting pretty at 2,109 m (6,919 ft) above sea level. If you're up for an adventure, this gem in the eastern Plessur Alps won't disappoint. Fair warning though: the road to the summit is completely unpaved, so you'll definitely want a 4x4 vehicle for this one. Come winter, forget about it—the road becomes impassable, so plan your visit for the warmer months. The drive starts from Berggasthaus-Strassberg and spans just 1.9 km (1.18 miles), but don't let the short distance fool you. You'll gain 189 m of elevation with an average gradient of 9.94%, so it's a proper climb that'll keep you engaged the whole way. What makes this route truly special is the setting. You're driving through an unspoiled mountain landscape that feels worlds away from the typical tourist trail. The views of the Schanfigg Valley are absolutely breathtaking, and if you're lucky—or quiet enough—you might spot some wildlife along the way. Keep your eyes peeled for chamois and ibex roaming the slopes. It's the kind of drive that reminds you why you fell in love with mountain roads in the first place.