A recent study conducted by the UK motorcycle insurance referral website Confused.com has identified Furka Pass in Switzerland as the world’s most enjoyable mountain road for motorcycling, earning the title of the Perfect Pass with a score of 74.5 out of 100.
The Confused.com analysis evaluated over 60 mountain passes. The methodology behind the rankings involved a weighted scoring system that considered five key factors: average annual sunshine hours, average yearly precipitation, road length, TikTok hashtags, and Instagram hashtags. Data on weather conditions were sourced from weather-and-climate.com, road lengths from Google Maps and tourist websites, and social media metrics directly from the platforms. The study, completed in February 2025, underscores the appeal of these routes as tourist destinations.
Mountain passes, defined as roads constructed across mountain ranges or down significant inclines, are often sought after for their challenging hairpin turns and striking landscapes. The Furka Pass, located at an elevation of nearly 8000 feet, is noted for its shorter length compared to other passes but compensates with exceptional views of the southern Swiss Alps and smooth, winding turns. Featuring views of the Matterhorn and the Rhone Glacier, Furka Pass gained additional fame for its appearance in a car chase scene in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger.
Following Furka Pass is the Hana Highway in Hawaii, with a score of 70. Known for its 600 sharp turns and 50 single-lane bridges, Hana Highway offers a slower-paced journey with opportunities to stop at waterfalls and other attractions. Bhutan’s Chele La Pass took the final podium slot with a score of 69. While it presents a more demanding ride due to its narrow roads and steep drops, Chele La Pass rewards riders with views of dense forests and expansive vistas.
Independence Pass on Colorado State Highway 82 made the top 10. The 85-mile SH82 runs between Granite and Glenwood Springs, with Aspen along the way. Independence Pass crosses the Continental Divide at an altitude of over 12,000 feet. The road includes views of peaks above 14,000 feet, extensive stands of quaking aspen, steep canyon walls, and dense coniferous pine, fir, and spruce forests.
The United States scores two other top 10 rankings with Tail of the Dragon (65.5 points) and Beartooth Highway (64.1 points).
Tail of the Dragon is an 11-mile stretch of U.S. Route 129, featuring 318 turns and Deal’s Gap. One end is in Tennessee within the Cherokee National Forest, and the other is in North Carolina within the Nantahala National Forest, as it traverses the Appalachian Mountains. Views are limited due to a thick canopy of towering trees such as oak, hickory, maple, and poplar, creating a tunnel-like effect that enhances the sense of immersion as you navigate the twists and turns. Deal’s Gap does offer a fantastic view of the Nantahala National Forest.
Beartooth Highway runs 68 miles through Wyoming and Montana, incorporating Beartooth Pass at nearly 11,000 feet. At one end of Beartooth Highway is the Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, and the other at Red Lodge, Montana. Views include glacial lakes, rugged peaks, and the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.
The top California road on the list, at #17, is Tioga Pass in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, which connects Yosemite National Park and Mono Lake via State Route 120. Tioga Pass is nearly 10,000 feet in elevation, and the 46-mile route runs by Half Dome and Cathedral Peak.
There was no hometown bias in the rankings by Confused.com. Hardknott Pass in Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England, was the top scorer in the British Isles. It missed the Top 20, ranking 22nd. Although it never goes higher than 1300 feet above sea level, it is known for a 33 percent gradient on one section, narrow hairpin bends, poor surface conditions in places, and exposure to adverse weather. The route dates back to the Roman Era and was part of the Tenth Highway in 110 AD.
Two great roads we’ve ridden that aren’t on the list and are certainly worthy of consideration are Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps and Angeles Crest Highway in Southern California’s San Gabriel Mountains.
Stelvio Pass sits over 9000 feet above sea level and has a half-million visitors annually. The Stelvio Pass road is famous for its extreme engineering. It features 48 hairpin turns on the northeastern ascent from Trafoi and 36 on the southwestern descent to Bormio, making it one of the most challenging drives in Europe. The road is narrow, steep, and exposed, with gradients reaching up to 14 percent. The northeastern side, often considered the classic route, ascends over 6000 feet in 15 miles for an average gradient of 7.6 percent.
The high point of the 66-mile-long Angeles Crest Highway (aka State Route 2) is Dawson Saddle at 7900 feet. Angeles Crest Highway links the San Gabriel and Antelope Valleys. One million people drive and ride Angeles Crest Highway each year, which features a five-mile side trip to Mt. Wilson Observatory for a panoramic view of the Los Angeles Metropolitan area and the Pacific Ocean.
Top 20 Mountain Roads in the World
| Rank | Route/Pass Name | Country | Score (100 maximum) |
| 1 | Furka Pass | Switzerland | 74.5 |
| 2 | Hana Highway | Hawaii, USA | 70 |
| 3 | Chele La Pass | Bhutan | 69.0 |
| 4 | Grimsel Pass | Switzerland | 68.7 |
| 5 | Independence Pass | Colorado, USA | 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 | NC/TN, USA | 65.5 |
| 10 | Beartooth Highway | WY/MT, USA | 64.1 |
| 11 | Col du Galibier | France | 64.0 |
| 12 | Ruta de los Siete Lagos | Argentina | 62.7 |
| 13 | Abra del Acay | Argentina | 62.6 |
| 14 | Gotthard Pass | Switzerland | 62.5 |
| 15 | Passo Pordoi | Italy | 62.1 |
| 16 | Lolo Pass | Idaho, USA | 61.3 |
| 17 | Tioga Pass | California, USA | 60.2 |
| 18 | Forgotten World Highway | New Zealand | 59.7 |
| 19 | Passo Giau | Italy | 59.7 |
| 20 | Abra Málaga Pass | Peru | 59.2 |
Source: Confused.com
