# Alpine Passes in October: The Last Good Fortnight

Most high alpine passes close by early November. Why the first half of October is a good time to drive them in your Porsche, and what to watch for.

Source: https://porschetrails.com/blog/2026-09-30-alpine-passes-october-window/

The high passes of the Alps are open for only about five months a year. By early November most are shut, and the first heavy snowfall can close them sooner. That makes the first half of October a narrow and rather good window.

## Why go now

- **The traffic has gone.** The campervans, tour coaches and cycling groups thin out sharply after mid-September, which matters when your car is 1.85 m wide.
- **The light is better.** Low sun, clear air and larch forests turning gold.
- **The air is cold and dense.** Engines breathe well and brakes stay cooler.

## What to watch

- **Ice in the shade.** North-facing hairpins can stay frozen until late morning. Treat every dark, damp patch as ice.
- **Tyres.** Summer performance tyres lose grip quickly below about 7 °C, and track-biased tyres such as the Cup 2 are worse. A rear-engined car on cold tyres needs a gentle right foot. Several alpine countries also require winter tyres in wintry conditions, and you are liable if you cause an obstruction without them.
- **Temporary closures.** A snowfall can shut a pass for a day or two before it reopens. Check each morning.
- **Shorter days.** You have about eleven hours of daylight. Do not plan to cross a high pass at dusk.
- **Closed services.** Many summit cafes and some fuel stations close at the end of September. Rapid chargers are in the valleys, not on the cols.

## Typical closing dates

These vary every year with the weather, so use them only as a guide.

| Pass | Usually closes |
| --- | --- |
| [Stelvio](/trails/stelvio-pass/) | Early November |
| [Grossglockner High Alpine Road](/trails/grossglockner-high-alpine-road/) | Early November |
| [Furka, Grimsel and Susten](/trails/furka-grimsel-susten-loop/) | Mid to late October |
| [Col de l'Iseran](/trails/route-des-grandes-alpes/) | Mid October |
| [Transfăgărășan](/trails/transfagarasan/) | End of October |

## Which car

Four-wheel drive earns its keep at this time of year. A Carrera 4, a Targa 4 or a Taycan with a motor on each axle is noticeably calmer on a cold, damp pass than a rear-drive GT car on wide tyres. A Macan or Cayenne on all-season tyres is the easy answer if the forecast is doubtful. Whatever you take, pack a warm jacket; summit temperatures are close to freezing in the mornings.

## If you have missed it

Lower roads stay open all winter. The [Col de Turini](/trails/col-de-turini/) and the [Route Napoléon](/trails/route-napoleon/) are usually clear outside of snowfalls, the [Black Forest High Road](/trails/black-forest-high-road/) is kept open, and [Sa Calobra](/trails/sa-calobra/) in Mallorca is at its best between now and May.

Before a late-season trip, read the notes on tyres and brakes in our [road trip preparation guide](/guides/road-trip-preparation/).