Susten Pass, Mountain pass between Uri and Bern, Switzerland

Susten Pass is a 46-kilometre road between Wassen in Uri and Innertkirchen in Bern, crossing a 300-metre summit tunnel at 2,224 metres. Built between 1938 and 1946, it has 26 bridges and tunnels and wide sweeping curves rather than tight switchbacks. The road runs across a steep green slope above a lake, with parked cars lining the uphill side and stone buildings on the hillside.

Construction of this mountain road occurred between 1938 and 1945, creating a direct link between the two cantons. The project represented a major Swiss infrastructure undertaking during that era.

The name comes from the upper Alp Sust, the top stafel of the Guferalp, where Sust means a storehouse or depot. A mule track crossed the pass from the Middle Ages, serving regional traffic rather than the great trade routes. Today the pass is a popular motorcycle route, with PostAuto buses running between Meiringen and Andermatt in summer.

The road is typically open from June through October, as snow closes the passage during colder months. Drivers should be comfortable with steep terrain since the curves are frequent and sharp.

A 300-meter tunnel bores through the ridge and allows travelers to drive directly through the rock. This underground section saves time and avoids the harshest weather conditions at the summit.