Road spotlight ·
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.
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 | Early November |
| Grossglockner High Alpine Road | Early November |
| Furka, Grimsel and Susten | Mid to late October |
| Col de l’Iseran | Mid October |
| Transfăgărășan | 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 and the Route Napoléon are usually clear outside of snowfalls, the Black Forest High Road is kept open, and 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.