The Nufenen Pass, also known as Passo della Novena in Italian, is one of Switzerland’s scenic passes that you can visit and drive over in Switzerland. Located at an altitude of 2,478 meters, you can discover the scenic beauty of Switzerland’s Ticino and Valais regions from the Nufenen Pass. You will journey through the stunning Swiss scenery from one side to the other. It’s a less popular scenic pass when open too, making it definitely a road trip not to be missed.
Curious what it would be like to experience driving the Nufenen Pass? Read on to hear our own experience. We’ve personally been through the pass many times, in winter and summer. So you will see our photos are a combination of both!
Nufenen Pass
History
The Nufenen Pass was once used only for small-scale horse and cattle trade. Which later adapted to being an alternative route to the Gotthard route for cheese exports and in the 18th century for salt imports to Goms.
The Nufenen Pass could not compete with the great importance of the Gries Pass, which was a direct connection from Brünig-Grimsel Switzerland to Piedmont/Lombardy Italy. There was also never a road that would have made this trade route more valuable.
However the Nufenen pass was always a danger of avalanches in winter back then, and in 1863 the main town of Bedretto was almost completely destroyed by avalanches. The imposing protective wedges in every village in the Bedretto Valley still fulfil an important function today.
With the construction of the reservoir below the Gries Glacier, a road was naturally built, which was extended to the Nufenen Pass for the benefit of tourism. So for people like us today can enjoy driving, visiting for local hikes and discover the stunning surrounding views.
The road opened to motor vehicle traffic in September 1969.
Curious about driving in Switzerland yourself? Read our Navigating Swiss Roads: Driving In Switzerland For Tourists
Fact about Nufenen pass
Here are some facts about the Nufenen Pass before you visit:
- The Nufenen pass is officially located within the Valais canton and Ticino canton combined. It passes through to the Rhone Valley.
- The max elevation of the 2,478 metres above sea level.
- The total distance of the Nufenen Pass is 38km.
- It lies between the summits of Pizzo Gallina (north) and the Nufenenstock (south).
How To Get There
The Nufenenpass lies between Valais and Ticino. For visiting, make your way to the below address, which is the main viewpoint and restaurant peak area of the pass.
Google Maps Address: F9HP+3F Obergoms
Winter Closure
The Nufenen pass usually closes between October and May for the winter period. This is since the snow has arrived and it’s no longer passable!
You can check the official status of the open and closure dates live here.
Nufenen Pass Webcam
If you wish to check how the pass looks right now, we suggest visiting the local live webcams. It’s fun to see and check in how the weather also changes throughout the year, from summer to winter etc.
TIP: This is one of the 5 scenic passes you can take to and from Ticino!
Nufenen restaurant
The hotel restaurant at the Nufenen Pass has a large self-service restaurant with 100 seats and a served restaurant area, which is ideal for groups.
We didn’t stop for any food or drink here, but we could see they had a range of items both hot and cold. It is a buffet style and you can take what you want and then pay at the end of the restaurant area.
They have also clean toilets, so if you need the bathroom, you just have to pay 1 EUR / 1 CHF for a toilet coin at the cashier first.
Nufenen Viewpoint
The views from the Nufenen pass are stunning, such as shown below from our July 2024 visit. We could see the views with still a few snow topped mountains in the distance. These views included the Bernese Alps and the Finsteraarhorn (4,274 meter elevation) to the north and also Gries Glacier to the south.
You can consider some local hikes from the top of the Nufenen Pass, but the views are already great from the parking area. Below are 2 photos taken next to the parking.
Snow Walls In Winter
During the opening of the pass in June 2024, the restaurant and parking area had a huge 8 meter tall wall of snow. This was very impressive to see in person, and of course to take a photo with my car.
Since the opening, the roads were clear for driving on safely (without any mandatory winter tyres) or issues of snow on the road. But you do have to take care incase the snow walls surrounding the roads would collapse a little. Most of them simply melt so it’s not an issue.
Update: For the May 2025 opening, the snow walls were not as high, but still a pretty sight to visit!
Water Reflections
The little pond right next to the Nufenen Pass restaurant is a great to check out when there. When we stopped, there were little fish in the pond. It’s a lovely area to stop at, maybe even to enjoy a pause at with some snacks or drink too.
The photo on the right is looking up to Pizzo Gallina, based in Valais, which is at 3,061 meter elevation.
Mountain animals
While we also visited in June 2024, we were lucky to see the local Alpine Ipex including their young wandering over the road. These lovely creatures roam all over the scenic pass, so when driving keep your eyes open for spotting some yourself!
These Alpine Ipexes are a European species of goat that lives in the Alps. You can tell the male and female apart, as males are larger and carry longer horns than females.
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Summary
Overall, the Nufenen Pass drive is a must-do for anyone visiting Switzerland. We enjoyed multiple drives here passing though for day trips as well as simply enjoying a scenic Swiss pass drive!
The natural beauty and scenic views make it a memorable experience for all ages, especially if you end up spotting some local wildlife along the way.
There mix of challenging and easy terrain adds excitement to the journey. So, if you’re planning a road trip in Switzerland, make sure to add the Nufenen Pass to your itinerary.
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