- Ascent
- 1299 hm
- Distance Ascent
- 22.1 km
- max. gradient
- 9 %
- ø gradient
- 5.9 %
The Klausenpass from Linthal is an HC climb of 22.1 km with 1,299 m of elevation gain at an average of 5.9 %, peaking at 9 %. The road climbs out of the Glarus valley and across the Urnerboden to 1,952 m. Two steady ramps are split by an almost flat stretch of about five kilometres.
The Klausenpass links the Glarus region with the canton of Uri. From Linthal it is 22.1 kilometres and 1,299 metres of climbing up to 1,952 metres. The profile has a clear shape: two ramps with an almost flat stretch of about five kilometres in between. It never gets steep in the real sense, the fact box shows no more than 9 %.
The Klausenpass at a glance
The key figures from Linthal: category HC, 22.1 km, 1,299 m of climbing, 5.9 % on average and 9 % at its steepest. The road climbs out of the Linth valley in Glarus, crosses the Urnerboden and reaches the pass at 1,952 m. On the west side it runs down through the Schächental to Altdorf. In our list the Klausenpass belongs to the Western Alps region.
The climb from Linthal
After an easy first kilometre things get serious quickly: up to about kilometre nine most sections sit between 6 and 8 %. This first block already brings almost half of the climbing. Then comes the Urnerboden, and for about five kilometres the road is almost flat, no kilometre there goes clearly above 2 %. Eat and drink here and you will have enough in reserve for the rest.
The last eight kilometres are the second block and slightly steeper on average than the first, a little over 7 %. The values swing between just over 5 and just under 9 %, and there are no flat stretches left before the top. Several kilometres come close to the 9 % in the fact box. Because the middle section loosens the legs, this finish is easier to pace than the first ramp.
How it compares to our 100 climbs
At 1,952 m the finishing point sits in the middle of the list: 55 climbs finish higher, 21 of the 30 in the Western Alps. Only 35 climbs have more than its 1,299 m of climbing. The maximum gradient stands out: only two climbs have a lower one, and three others share the 9 % with it. The Timmelsjoch is almost the same length at 22.3 km with 1,259 m of climbing, but it peaks at 13 %.
Practical tips
The Klausenpass needs no special gearing, 9 % is easy to handle on a normal compact chainset. Pacing matters more: do not overdo the first block, use the Urnerboden to eat and drink, then ride the last eight kilometres at a steady effort. At 1,952 m it is noticeably colder than in Linthal, so pack a jacket for the descent. Carry on over the pass and you roll through the Schächental to Altdorf, the way back to Linthal is the same road.
