Oberalp Pass

High mountain pass in the Swiss Alps

Oberalp Pass

Location in Switzerland

Oberalp Pass (Romansh: Alpsu or Cuolm d'Ursera; German: Oberalppass) (2044 meters above sea level) is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the cantons of Graubünden and Uri between Disentis/Mustér and Andermatt.^[1]

Winter closure

The public road that crosses the pass is closed in winter, but the Furka-Oberalp railway line, now part of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, runs year round and provides a limited shuttle for cars in winter (reservation required). When the road closes depends on snowfall and varies between the end of October and the beginning of December. The road opens again in spring, usually by the end of April but sometimes not until mid May.^[2]

In winter, a ski area extends to the Graubünden side, connecting the pass well into the Tujetsch territory to Dieni, near Rueras.^[3]

Source of the Rhine

The major European river Rhine springs from a source nearby (Lai da Tuma), which can be accessed by hiking two hours from Oberalp Pass. A multiday trekking route is signposted across Oberalp pass and along the young Rhine called Senda Sursilvana.^[4]

Oberalpsee is located 20 m below, in the direction of Andermatt.^[1]

Railway station

A railway station is located next to the Oberalppass road. It is at the base of the Oberalp ski area. The station is owned and run by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn. It has 3 platforms, one of which is a bay platform from Andermatt, and is often closed during the winter. The railway on both sides of the station is a single line, so Oberalppass is an important passing place.^{[citation needed]} The station is the highest point on the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn network.^{[citation needed]}

Ski Area

The Oberalp Pass passes the Oberalp ski area, which is part of the Gotthard Oberalp Arena.

There are currently plans for the ski area to be linked up with Nätschen, the neighbouring mountain, which is also part of the Gotthard Oberalp Arena. ^{[citation needed]}

Gallery

Oberalp Pass
Oberalpsee and railway/road protection tunnel
Summit of the road (railway uses short tunnel)
Tomasee
Oberalp in the winter

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Retrieved from the Swisstopo topographic maps.
^ Statistic opening period of the pass (german)
^ Swiss Ski resort Oberalp Pass and Sedrun^{[permanent dead link]} (in English)
^ Hiking Switzerland on Senda Sursilvana across the pass Archived March 11, 2016, at the Wayback Machine (in English)