Many mountain passes in Europe have winter closures in the period between October and May – sometimes even until early June. These passes are then completely closed to all traffic. But there are also passes that are open all year round and can be passed with, for example, snow plows and studded tires or snow chains.
Especially in Norway, studded tires are common between the last weekend in October and the Easter weekend. However, the passes that are open all year round also have periodic closures, for example due to heavy snowfall. For all mountain passes it is necessary to have snow chains in the car and you must know how to use them.
Updated: May 11, 14:45 cet
Almost all mountain passes in Austria are open, including the famous Grossglockner mountain road.
The southern-French Alps are also rapidly opening a lot of the mountain passes, but in the northern Alps more are closed.
This is expected to change soon, as there is a lot of heat being build up over central Europe in the coming days, with freezing levels well above 3500 meters. These high temperatures, combined with humid air and an abundant sunshine will rapidly melt the snow.
You can find the list of current openings and closures here:
| Mountain pass name | Altitude (meters asl) | Country | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albulapass | 2312 | Switzerland | Open |
| Berninapass | 2328 | Switzerland | Open |
| Col de la Croix | 1778 | Switzerland | Open |
| Col des Montets | 1461 | Switzerland | Open |
| Flüelapass | 2383 | Switzerland | Open |
| Col de la Forclaz | 1527 | Switzerland | Open |
| Furkapass | 2436 | Switzerland | Closed, opening June 10 |
| Glaubenbergpass | 1543 | Switzerland | Open |
| Glaubenbielenpass | 1611 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Gotthardpass | 2108 | Switzerland | Closed, opening May 26 |
| Grimselpass | 2165 | Switzerland | Closed, opening end May |
| Grosser Sankt Bernhardpas (Grand Saint Bernard) | 2473 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Ibergegg | 1406 | Switzerland | Open |
| Julierpass | 2284 | Switzerland | Open |
| Klausenpass | 1940 | Switzerland | Open |
| Livignopass | 2330 | Switzerland | Closed, opening June 6 |
| Lukmanierpass | 1941 | Switzerland | Open |
| Malojapass | 1815 | Switzerland | Open |
| Nufenenpass | 2478 | Switzerland | Closed |
| Oberalppass | 2045 | Switzerland | Open |
| Ofenpass | 2149 | Switzerland | Open |
| Pragelpass | 1550 | Switzerland | Closed |
| San Bernardinopass | 2066 | Switzerland | Open |
| Simplonpass | 2005 | Switzerland | Open |
| Splügenpass | 2118 | Switzerland | Open |
| Sustenpass | 2224 | Switzerland | Closed, opening June 24 |
| Umbrailpass | 2503 | Switzerland | Closed, opening end of May/ early June |
| Col d'Agnel | 2746 | France | Closed, opening end of May |
| Col d'Aravis | 1498 | France | Open |
| Bataille | 1336 | France | Open |
| Cayolle | 2356 | France | Open |
| Champs | 2095 | France | Open |
| Col d'Allos | 2250 | France | Open |
| Col de la Bonette | 2802 | France | Open |
| Col de l'Iseran | 2770 | France | Closed |
| Col du Galibier | 2645 | France | Closed |
| Colombiere | 1613 | France | Closed |
| Cormet de Roselend | 1968 | France | Closed |
| Croix-de-Fer | 2068 | France | Closed |
| Echelle | 1766 | France | Open |
| Glandon | 1924 | France | Closed |
| Izoard | 2360 | France | Open |
| Joux-plane | 1713 | France | Open |
| Joux-Verte | 1760 | France | Closed |
| Petit Saint Bernard | 2188 | France | Closed |
| Larche | 1991 | France | Open |
| Lautaret | 2058 | France | Open |
| Lombarde | 2350 | France | Closed |
| Madeleine | 1993 | France | Closed |
| Mont-Cenis | 2081 | France | Open |
| Col des Montets | 1461 | France | Open |
| Restefond | 2678 | France | Open |
| Saisies | 1633 | France | Open |
| Télégraphe | 1570 | France | Open |
| Tende | 1871 | France | Closed |
| Turini | 1607 | France | Open |
| Vars | 2109 | France | Open |
| Campolongo | 1875 | Italy | Open |
| Falzaregopass | 2105 | Italy | Open |
| Grödnerjoch | 2121 | Italy | Open - trailers not allowed |
| Gampenpass / Gampenjoch | 1518 | Italy | Open |
| Jaufenpass | 2094 | Italy | Closed at night (18:00-08:00). No trailers >4,5m allowed |
| Kreuzbergpass | 1636 | Italy | Open |
| Karerpass | 1745 | Italy | Open |
| Lavazéjoch | 1805 | Italy | Open |
| Mendelpass | 1362 | Italy | Open |
| Nigerpass | 1688 | Italy | Open |
| Penserjoch | 2211 | Italy | Open |
| Pordoijoch | 2239 | Italy | Open |
| Stilfserjoch / Stelvio pass | 2757 | Italy | Closed |
| Staller Sattel | 2052 | Italy | Closed |
| Sellajoch | 2240 | Italy | Open - trailers not allowed |
| Timmelsjoch | 2474 | Italy | Closed |
| Valparolapass | 2192 | Italy | Open |
| Würzjoch | 1987 | Italy | Open |
| Arlbergpass | 1793 | Austria | Open |
| Brennerpass | 1374 | Austria | Open |
| Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse | 2506 | Austria | Open |
| Hahntennjoch | 1894 | Austria | Closed |
| Kaunertaler Gletscherstrasse | 2052 | Austria | Open |
| Kuhtai | 2020 | Austria | Open |
| Maltatal Hochalmstrasse | 1931 | Austria | Open |
| Nockalmstrasse | 2040 | Austria | Open |
| Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse | 2036 | Austria | Closed |