Schwägalp Passhöhe

Overview

Schwägalp Passhöhe is a 10.9 km climb that earns its category 2 rating through steady, sustained effort rather than brutal steepness. You begin at 739 m and finish at the 1305 m summit, a net gain of 566 m across the full length. The average gradient sits at 5.21%, which places it firmly in the range where a strong rider can hold rhythm but a tired one will suffer. Total ascent comes to 560 m, close enough to the net figure to tell you the road climbs consistently upward with little in the way of downhill relief. This is a climb about pacing and patience — long enough to matter, honest enough that the numbers won't lie to you halfway up.

How the Gradient Unfolds

With a 5.21% average and a 10.27% maximum, the shape here is one of a mostly moderate road punctuated by steeper ramps. The gap between average and max — just over 5 percentage points — signals that the hardest sections roughly double the effort of the easiest ones, but there are no wall-like pitches to shatter your cadence entirely. Over 10.9 km, expect the grade to breathe: stretches near or below the 5.21% mean where you can settle, and shorter kicks toward that 10.27% peak that demand a gear change and a firmer push. Because total ascent (560 m) tracks so closely to net gain (566 m), you won't be handed false flats or descents to recover on. The climbing is near-continuous, so managing effort across the whole 566 m of vertical is the real challenge.

Pacing Notes

Treat Schwägalp Passhöhe as a threshold effort. At 5.21% over 10.9 km, most riders will spend well north of half an hour on the climb, which puts your sustainable power squarely in play. Ride the moderate sections just under your FTP, then allow yourself to drift briefly above it on the ramps toward 10.27% before easing back as the road relaxes. The danger is going out too hard on the early kilometres and paying for it across the back half of the 566 m gain. If you're unsure what number to target, run your recent efforts through the FTP estimator and set a ceiling before you start. Discipline early buys you strength for the steepest pitches near the top.

Gearing

For a 10.9 km climb averaging 5.21% with ramps to 10.27%, prioritise a low enough gear to spin the steep sections without grinding. A compact chainring paired with a wide cassette is ideal: 34×32 will cover most riders comfortably on the moderate stretches and hold up on the harder kicks. If you're carrying fatigue, riding at altitude, or simply prefer to preserve your knees, 34×34 gives you extra margin for the pitches nearing 10.27%. Either way, aim to keep cadence high and torque manageable across all 566 m of climbing.

Summary

Schwägalp Passhöhe is a disciplined category 2 climb — 10.9 km of steady 5.21% gradient with occasional bite up to 10.27%. Pace it at threshold, gear low, and let the consistent 566 m of vertical reward a smart, even ride.

Length: 10.9 km
Average gradient: 5.21%
Max gradient: 10.27%
Start: 739 m
Summit: 1305 m
Net gain: 566 m
Total ascent: 560 m
Category: 2