Tiarms Pass: A Brutal 18% Gravel Climb in the Swiss Alps

# Tiarms Pass (Cuolm de Vi): Switzerland's Hidden Alpine Gem

Want to skip the crowded main alpine routes? Then Tiarms Pass is calling your name. Sitting pretty at 2,161m (7,089ft) in central Switzerland, this local secret sits right above the famous Oberalp Pass and straddles the boundary between Graubünden and Uri cantons in the Glarus Alps.

Here's the thing: this pass barely registers on most travelers' radars, overshadowed by its bigger sibling, but that's exactly what makes it so special for off-road adventurers and hikers seeking something genuinely wild. You'll be rewarded with stunning panoramic views stretching across the Surselva valley—the kind that'll make you forget why you ever bothered with the smooth, predictable main routes.

The climb is short but absolutely brutal. Kicking off from the Oberalp Pass summit (2,044m), you're only facing 1.1 km (0.68 miles) of driving. Don't let that fool you though—this is one of the steepest, most intense short climbs you'll find anywhere in the region, and the entire road is a primitive gravel track that demands respect.

Fair warning: this alpine playground stays buried under snow most of the year, so plan your visit between late June and October if you want a realistic shot at reaching the top. There's a cool bonus too—the climb starts near the world's highest lighthouse, a replica of the "Hoek van Holland" that marks the nearby source of the Rhine river.