Oberer Hauenstein Pass

Overview

The Oberer Hauenstein Pass is a Category 4 climb in Switzerland, running 9.7 km from a start elevation of 423 m to a summit at 729 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 306 m at an average gradient of 3.15%. On paper that reads as a gentle, rolling ascent — the kind of climb you can ride without ever leaving the saddle.

The average, though, understates the work. Total ascent on the climb is 526 m, well above the 306 m net gain. That 220 m gap is real climbing you do and then give back on intermediate descents — the signature of an undulating profile. The takeaway: your legs pay for the full 526 m, not the 306 m the elevation change suggests, so treat this as a harder day than the headline gradient implies.

How the Gradient Unfolds

A 3.15% average on a climb with this much undulation means the road is rarely sitting at 3.15%. Flatter and downhill sections drag the mean down, which means the climbing pitches in between are steeper than the average lets on. The steepest ramp hits 15.49% — a gradient that will force a hard gear change and a spike in effort well above your steady rhythm.

• Flatter and false-flat recovery sections that let the average settle low
• Repeated short climbs separated by descents, adding up to the 526 m total ascent
• A steepest ramp reaching 15.49%, demanding your lowest gear

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb, even-speed pacing is a trap: holding a constant speed forces you to surge on every ramp and coast on every descent, spiking your effort exactly where it costs most. Pace on effort instead. Anchor your ride to a target sustainable power output and hold it through the steep pitches, letting speed rise and fall with the terrain. Let the descents be genuine recovery rather than places to push. If you do not know your ceiling, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you go, so your target on the ramps is grounded rather than guessed.

Gearing

The 15.49% maximum is the number that governs your setup. Even though the average is modest, that ramp will spike your torque demand, and you do not want to be grinding an oversized gear at low cadence. Run a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the bailout ratio to spin the steep pitch instead of muscling it. Check your chainring and cassette combination before the ride; the average tempts riders to under-gear.

Summary

• Length: 9.7 km
• Average gradient: 3.15%
• Maximum gradient: 15.49%
• Net elevation gain: 306 m
• Total ascent: 526 m
• Category: 4

A short, deceptively easy-looking Cat 4 that hides 220 m of extra climbing in its undulation. Pace on effort, gear for the steep ramp, and it rides exactly as long as its 526 m of ascent says it should.