Car-free mountain passes 2026: Anniversary celebrations at the Albula Pass

The old mountain pass road, which has linked the Swiss Albula Valley with the Upper Engadine since 1695, is open for just four months of the year (July to October). When it is opened once a year exclusively for cyclists, you really should make the most of that day. On the one hand, because the road itself has a rich history. On the other, because there is something to marvel at practically around every bend: you pass through Filisur and Bergün, two exceptionally pretty Romanesque villages with village squares and houses decorated with sgraffito. In the Bergün Gorge, the route takes you through a rock tunnel, whilst 100 metres below the Albula roars and the tracks of the Glacier Express cross your path time and again. On this stretch, the train crosses viaducts and even performs a 360-degree hairpin bend at Muot. Finally, you reach a high-alpine plateau, where the view alone of the 3,000-metre peaks of Piz Eta and Piz Kesch is invigorating.

8,000 people took part in “Slowup Day” last year

Speaking of cooling off: the pass is known for its brief spells of winter weather. These can even occur in the height of summer. You should therefore always pack warm clothes for the walk. Hardy souls can even pack their swimming gear, as the route continues past the deep-green Lai da Palpuogna, before reaching the Val di Diavel (Devil’s Valley), where the rock debris from the last rockfall on the Piz de la Plais still lies scattered to the right and left. After reaching the pass summit at 2,315 metres, the descent into the Upper Engadine is relatively short: 9 kilometres, 9 hairpin bends and a 654-metre drop. However, you’ll enjoy a sort of ‘balcony’ view over the Inn Valley as you go.

On Car-Free Sunday in September, cyclists and e-bike riders of all kinds, as well as all other fans of non-motorised wheeled sports (e.g. inline skaters, roller skiers), are welcome to tackle the Albula Pass from either side. Anyone daunted by the maximum 12 per cent gradient can even hop on the Rhaetian Railway and take a shortcut. From Preda station, there are then just 500 metres of elevation gain left to cover under your own steam.

However, you’ll miss out on quite a bit of the planned anniversary programme: There’ll be live music along the route and, of course, plenty of food stalls at the village market in Filisur, as well as the legendary Alpine kebab in Bergün, crespelle at the Albula Hospice, barley soup on the Alp Alesch and pizokels in La Punt. In addition, this year’s programme includes prize draws, an archery course and an alpine sauna at the top of the pass.

So it would be a shame to spend the day simply chasing a new Strava record and only catching a glimpse of all these highlights and activities out of the corner of your eye. Over the 30 kilometres and 1,300 metres of elevation gain, it’s perfectly fine to take it easy now and then and properly enjoy these six hours free from the noise of engines.

Information on the car-free Albula Pass

Date: 6 September, 10 am – 4 pm

Western ascent from Filisur: 21.8 km / 1,344 metres of elevation gain

Eastern ascent from La Punt in the Upper Engadine: 9.1 km / 654 hm

Details: slowup.ch/albula