Klausenpass, Switzerland
Klausenpass, Switzerland

Photo by Dorothea OLDANI on Unsplash

19°C

Open, no restrictions

Urigen - Urnerboden

 

 

Notice regarding roadworks: To ensure the safety of the road infrastructure, a retaining wall on the valley side is being renovated in the Schlierenegg area (located between the pass summit and Urnerboden). The works are expected to last until October 2026. Traffic in the construction zone is being controlled by traffic lights. There may be short delays.

 

 

Info for car travel summer 2026:
2.30 m wide, two-axle and 18-ton vehicles do not require a permit, also applies at weekends. Timing must be coordinated with Postbus routes.
From the opening of the pass in 2026 until its closure in 2026, single-decker, 2.55 m wide, two-axle and max. 18-ton touring cars (trailer ban) may travel on the Klausen Pass from Monday to Friday with a special permit. Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Unterschächen to Linthal. Tuesday and Thursday from Linthal to Unterschächen. Timing must be coordinated with Postbus routes.
Permits can be obtained from the Road Traffic Office of the Canton of Uri or the Canton of Glarus.

Permits for Linthal – Unterschächen can be obtained at:
Strassenverkehrs- u. Schifffahrtsamt des Kanton Glarus,
Mühleareal17
8762 Schwanden
Tel 055 646 54 00
E-Mail: stva@gl.ch


Permits for Unterschächen - Linthal can be obtained at:
Amt für Strassen- und Schiffsverkehr
Gotthardstrasse 77a
6460 Altdorf
Tel 041 875 28 06
E-Mail: sonderbewilligungen@ur.ch
https://www.ur.ch/publikationen/6500

 


Unchanged valid since:: 01.07.2026, 16:15

History

The Klausen Pass was not used as a trading route during Roman or Medieval times. It was used primarily for herding cattle up to the alps. Interest in the Klausen Pass began with the opening of the Gotthard Railway as it represented an east-west access route.

In 1893, once the army backed the idea of building a road over the pass, construction began almost immediately and was completed in 1899 – the cost of which was considerably higher than planned. On 15 June 1900, the first horse-drawn post coach went over the pass – opening up the Linthal and Altdorf to tourism. The era of the alpine tourist bus route began in 1922. It is amusing to note that the Urner government banned motorised vehicles from using the pass road in 1916, only to annul the ban in 1917.

The famous Klausen race took place between 1922 and 1934 and tens of thousands of spectators used to line the pass road to watch this spectacular road race. The canton of Uri earned a signficant amount of money with the fees charged for the race. Since 1993, the race is reheld every few years with hundreds of old-timer cars and motor bikes taking part. Spectator interest is just as high as in the old days.

Closed time during winter: Opening / Closing Klausenpass

Pass/Year 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
Klausenpass
02.05. -
31.10.
24.05. -
11.11.
19.05. -
02.11.
11.05. -
07.11.
02.06. -
04.11.
04.05. -
20.11.
05.06. -
04.11.
17.05. -
29.10.
19.05. -
06.11.
20.05. -
07.11.
08.05. -
19.11.
08.05. -
28.10.
17.05. -
04.11.
25.05. -
06.11.
28.04. -
02.12.
12.05. -
25.10.
20.05. -
22.10.
30.05. -
29.10.
03.05. -
08.11.
18.05. -
06.11.
20.05. -
16.11.
19.05. -
08.11.
15.05. -
28.10.
17.05. -
04.11.
23.05. -
07.11.
19.05. -
02.11.
02.06. -
04.11.
20.05. -
27.10.
16.05. -
09.11.
10.05. -
04.11.
02.06. -
02.11.
20.05. -
10.11.
14.05. -
26.10.
22.05. -
23.10.

Accommodation and activities

Technical Data

West10 kmUnterschächen (1000 m.a.s.l.)6.1%5.8%1948 m.a.s.l.Linthal (660 m.a.s.l.)East25 km
Cantons
Uri (UR), Glarus (GL)
Distance
35 Km
Vertex
1948 m.a.s.l.
Max. gradient
9 %
Passable
Winter closure (Oct/May)
Restaurant
yes

Location

Map image
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Signalisation

Standort: Unterschächen

Altdorf – Linthal

Altdorf – Unterschächen
- Zulässiges Höchstgewicht 40t

Unterschächen – Linthal; Linthal – Unterschächen

Fahrzeuge bis 2.30m Breite (nur 2 Achsen)
- Höchstgewicht 18t
- Anhänger bis max 1.90m Breite und 4.50m Länge gestattet
- Freie Fahrt auch Samstag/Sonntag (keine Bewilligung nötig)

Fahrzeuge bis 2.55m Breite (nur 2 Achsen)
- Info für Carreisen Sommer 2017:
2.30m Breite, zweiachsige und 18t schwere Fahrzeuge benötigen keine Bewilligung, auch am Wochenende nicht. 

- Ab Passöffnung 2017 dürfen Einstöckige, 2.55m breite, zweiachsige und max. 18t schwere Reisecar`s den Klausenpass von Montag bis Freitag mit einer Spezialbewilligung befahren:
Montag, Mittwoch und Freitag von Unterschächen nach Linthal.
Dienstag und Donnerstag von Linthal nach Unterschächen.

Die Bewilligungen sind erhältlich beim Strassenverkehrsamt des Kantons Uri, oder des Kantons Glarus:
Bewilligungsstelle für die Strecke Linthal – Unterschächen:
Strassenverkehrsamt des Kanton Glarus, Mühleareal 17, 8762 Schwanden
Tel. +41 55 646 54 00, Fax +41 55 646 54 01, E-mail: stva@gl.ch

Die Bewilligungsstelle für die Strecke Unterschächen – Linthal:
Amt für Strassen- und Schiffsverkehr, Gotthardstrasse 77a, 6460 Altdorf
Tel. +41 41 875 28 02, Fax +41 41 875 28 05, E-mail: sonderbewilligungen@ur.ch

Passes

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