{{Short description|High mountain pass in the Swiss Alps}} {{Infobox mountain pass | name = Oberalp Pass | photo = Oberalppass Ostrampe.jpg | photo_caption = | elevation_m = 2044 | elevation_ref = <ref name= "Swisstopo">Retrieved from the Swisstopo topographic maps.</ref> | traversed = Road and rail tunnel (2,033 m) | map = Switzerland | map_caption = Location in Switzerland | map_size = | label = Oberalp Pass | coords = {{coord|46|39.54|N|08|40.26|E|type:pass_region:CH|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | location = Graubünden/Uri, Switzerland | range = Alps | topo = }}
'''Oberalp Pass''' ({{langx|rm|Alpsu}} or ''Cuolm d'Ursera''; {{langx|de|Oberalppass}}) (2044 meters above sea level) is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the cantons of Graubünden and Uri between Disentis/Mustér and Andermatt.<ref name= "Swisstopo"/>
==Winter closure== The public road that crosses the pass is closed in winter, but the Furka-Oberalp railway line, now part of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, runs year round and provides a limited shuttle for cars in winter (reservation required). When the road closes depends on snowfall and varies between the end of October and the beginning of December. The road opens again in spring, usually by the end of April but sometimes not until mid May.<ref>[http://www.strassen.gr.ch/sites/dokumentation/offen.html Statistic opening period of the pass (german)]</ref>
In winter, a ski area extends to the Graubünden side, connecting the pass well into the Tujetsch territory to Dieni, near Rueras.<ref>[http://en.graubuenden.ch/ski-snowboard-switzerland/the-large-ski-resorts/sedrun.html Swiss Ski resort Oberalp Pass and Sedrun]{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{in lang|en}}</ref>
==Source of the Rhine== The major European river Rhine springs from a source nearby (Lai da Tuma), which can be accessed by hiking two hours from Oberalp Pass. A multiday trekking route is signposted across Oberalp pass and along the young Rhine called ''Senda Sursilvana''.<ref>[http://en.graubuenden.ch/hiking-switzerland/trekking/85-senda-sursilvana-andermatt-chur.html Hiking Switzerland on Senda Sursilvana across the pass] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311034238/http://en.graubuenden.ch/hiking-switzerland/trekking/85-senda-sursilvana-andermatt-chur.html |date=March 11, 2016 }} {{in lang|en}}</ref>
Oberalpsee is located 20 m below, in the direction of Andermatt.<ref name= "Swisstopo"/>
==Railway station== thumb|...arriving Oberalppass station{{main|Oberalppass railway station}} A railway station is located next to the Oberalppass road. It is at the base of the Oberalp ski area. The station is owned and run by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn. It has 3 platforms, one of which is a bay platform from Andermatt, and is often closed during the winter. The railway on both sides of the station is a single line, so Oberalppass is an important passing place.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} The station is the highest point on the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn network.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
==Ski Area== {{main article|Gotthard Oberalp Arena}}
The Oberalp Pass passes the Oberalp ski area, which is part of the Gotthard Oberalp Arena.
There are currently plans for the ski area to be linked up with Nätschen, the neighbouring mountain, which is also part of the Gotthard Oberalp Arena. {{citation needed|date=March 2014}}
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Galeriestraße cropped.jpg|Oberalp Pass File:Oberalpsee, September.JPG|Oberalpsee and railway/road protection tunnel File:MGB Deh 4-4 I bei Oberalppasshöhe.jpg|Summit of the road (railway uses short tunnel) File:Tomasee.jpg|Tomasee File:Switzerland ski resort and lighthouse on Oberalp Pass.jpg|Oberalp in the winter </gallery> {{Clear}}
==See also== * List of highest paved roads in Europe * List of mountain passes * List of the highest Swiss passes * Gotthard Oberalp Arena
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Oberalppass|Oberalp Pass}}
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Category:Mountain passes of Switzerland Category:Mountain passes of the Alps Category:Mountain passes of the Grisons Category:Mountain passes of the canton of Uri Category:Ski areas and resorts in Switzerland Category:Grisons–Canton of Uri border Category:Rail mountain passes of Switzerland Category:Andermatt Category:Tujetsch