Top 10 Motorcycle Roads in the World Ranked, But the UK Misses Out
A list of the top ten mountain passes for motorcycle riders sees Switzerland crowned the winner, but the UK doesn’t feature
The Furka Pass in Switzerland has been crowned the best mountain pass for motorcycling in the world, according to Confused.com, while India, New Zealand and the United States also feature in the top ten.
However, the UK didn’t crack the top ten even with famous mountain roads such as the Lake District’s Hardknott pass or the Black Mountain which runs through the Welsh Brecon Beacons. The Lake District’s Hardknott pass ultimately ranked 22nd overall, but when it came to the top ten only one country in Europe managed to make its mark.
That country is Switzerland, which not only ranked number one with the Furka mountain pass, but it also claimed the fourth spot thanks to the Grimsel pass which crosses the Bernese Alps. The Grimsel pass reaches an elevation height of 2,164m, while the Furka pass comes in at 2,429m.
The Furka pass, known for its exceptional views and scenery, also staged a car chase in the 1964 James Bond movie, Goldfinger.
Also featured on the list is the Hana Highway in Hawaii, which ranks second on this list and is over 64 miles long in distance. It also includes over 600 turns and 50 single-lane bridges.
Ranked third is the Chele La pass in Bhutan, with the Grimsel pass fourth ahead of Colorado's Independence pass in fifth place. The latter features stunning roads as well as breathtaking lake views and is one of the must-do mountain passes.
The Chele La pass is perhaps one of the most challenging roads on this list and should only be attempted by confident motorcyclists or drivers, according to Confused.com. It is famous for its sheer drops and forest surroundings.
Below is a list of the top ten mountain passes in the world.
| Table from Confused.com | |||
| Rank | Route/Pass Name | Country | Index Score (out of 100) |
| 1 | Furka Pass | Switzerland | 74.5 |
| 2 | Hana Highway | United States of America | 70 |
| 3 | Chele La Pass | Bhutan | 69.0 |
| 4 | Grimsel Pass | Switzerland | 68.7 |
| 5 | Independence Pass (Colorado) | United States of America | 68.0 |
| 6 | Khardung La Pass | India | 67.4 |
| 7 | Arthur’s Pass | New Zealand | 66.0 |
| 8 | Nathu La Pass | India | 65.6 |
| 9 | Tail of the Dragon (Deals Gap) | United States of America | 65.5 |
| 10 | Beartooth Highway (Wyoming) | United States of America | 64.1 |
Find the latest motorcycle news on Visordown.com
After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
