The great mountain passes close for the snow, then reopen when it clears. For 34 of the world’s most sought-after passes, here is the typical season, the live weather at the summit right now, and our own road notes on when each one shuts. Always check the official road status before you set off: conditions change fast up high.
A guide to the typical season and the live weather at the top, not a live open or closed status. Always check the official road status before you travel.
3,298 m · Taiwan · best in spring and summer and autumn
Common questions
How can I tell if a mountain pass is open right now?
The only definitive source is the road authority for that pass, which usually publishes a live status and the season’s opening and closing dates. This page helps you judge by showing the typical driving season, our own road notes on winter closures, and the live weather at the summit, but conditions change quickly up high and the official status is always the final word.
When do the high Alpine passes usually open?
Most open between late May and early July, once the winter snow has been cleared, and close again from October or November. The exact dates shift year to year with how much snow fell, so a high pass can still be shut in June after a heavy winter.
Can you drive these passes in winter?
Many of the highest close completely for the winter, and the cards above flag which, using our road notes. Some lower passes stay open year round but need winter tyres or chains, and any of them can shut at short notice in a storm.
What is the highest pass here?
Mount Blue Sky Road is the highest at 4,329 m, followed by Pikes Peak Highway and Trail Ridge Road. The thin air and late-lying snow make these among the last to open each year.