Passo del San Gottardo/St. Gotthardpass/Son Gottard
	Height	Climbing height
	2106m Signs 2091m; 2108m	956m - 14.5 km (Airolo (Nufenen road)); 1810m - 49.8 km (Biasca) 611m - 8.9 km (Hospental)
	Difficulty	Beauty
	South 3-4 (5); North 2 (5)	4 (5)
How to get there	The old cobblestoned (to ca. 85%) road from Airolo (1150m) is the main attraction of this classic pass and you should definitely climb this pass from the south. There is an old horse-driven postal wagon going up and down (mostly as a tourist attraction, I believe). The pavement, even though rough, is quite agreeable with a road bike, especially if going up and the gradient is always easy at ca. 6%. I met the wagon on the steepest place (around 9%) wondering what it was about. There is one stretch higher up that is above 11% I noticed when looking at a profile of the climb. For a really long climb one starts already down in Biasca (296m). The climb from Hospental (1495m) in the north is quite easy, but with one section up to 9%.
Other comments	This pass is one of the old classic Alps passes located between the Simplonpass and Lukmanierpass. Even though you might be allowed to use the new road up on the south side, you will be greatly disappointed that you never took the really wonderful old road, which is perfectly cyclable. Going down that way is probably a harsher experience though and may a bit adventurous if it is wet on the ground. Both sides are evenly steep, but the south side is longer. The higher south side has the best views. The heights most often given for the pass either gives the height of the old road (2109m or 2108m) or of the hostel/bar on the old road (2091m, also the sign by the lake says so). The height I have given is the highest point on the actual pass on the new road just where the walkers sign on the old road states 2108m (also confirmed by what the official Swiss maps shows). See also descriptions for the nearby easily reached Bassa della Sella and Passo Scimfuss, the later from which you have wonderful views down south and up toward Nufenenpass/Passo della Novena/Pass da Nueinas (2478m). [CH-TI-2091, BIG 585]
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