Switzerland - Furka, Susten, Gotthard & Grimselpass

durhamwasp

Looks like the holiday plans have been made, and we are gonna spend a week in the Interlaken area of Switzerland, with the 4 passes in the title just around the corner from us.

Anybody done them and have any advice or tips? Ways to go, things to see etc?

St Gotthardpass looks extremely inviting with its cobbled road up!

daviegb

You've made a great decision Durhamwasp!

I stayed in Goeschenen (about 5 miles from Andermatt) in 2011 & was so impressed I'm going back again this year. Here are the routes I rode.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/113273123
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/113845772
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/113542453

Plans for this year's visit are below;

Day One
Drive 30 miles to Schwyz
45 - 50 mile cycle of Bergeregg & Sattelegg & reverse route (including a ride around Lake Sihisee) back to Schwyz.

Day Two
75 - 80 mile cycle of Susten, Grimsel, Furka - need I say more?

Day Three
70 - 75 mile cycle of Furka, Nufenen & back to Andermatt (via Furka).

Day Four
Drive 40 - 45 miles to Samen
65 - 70 mile cycle of Glaubenberg & Glaubenbielen Loop.

Day Five
60 - 65 mile cycle of Oberalp Pass, down to Disentis then climb Lukmanier & reverse route back up Oberalp.

Option 2 - Drive 20 - 25 miles to Disentis
50 mile cycle of both sides of Lukmanier - could also climb the Oberalp from Disentis, depending on legs!

Day Six
Drive 20 miles to Altdorft
60 mile cycle of both sides of the Klausenpass - Altdorft to Linthal & back.

I hope it gives you a few ideas - have a great time on your trip!


Gavin

durhamwasp

Thanks for that! good to know!

What order would you put them in, if I only get to do 3, what should I give a miss!

daviegb

If I only had three days of riding I would choose the following - in order......

Sustenpass, Grimselpass & Furka - starting & finishing in Andermatt.
The downhill from Andermatt to Susten is busy with traffic, but an 8am to 9am start from Andermatt avoids it. If you can ride it on a weekday, you won't have to listen to the roar of motorbikes as they attempt suicidal descents of the Grimselpass!!!

San Gothard Pass & Oberalp Pass.
Ride the San Gotthard from Airolo so you can ride the complete climb on an almost deserted cobbled road - this is cycling heaven! It's about 14km with 1,000m of ascent. You can then descend the other side into Andermatt & climb the Oberalp Pass - this is always a pleasant gradient & you get a great view of an Alpine Lake at the top....with a great cafe stop!

Furka Pass & Nufenen Pass from Andermatt.
You climb the Furka from Andermatt (the side you will have descended if you do the Susten, Grimsel, Furka loop), drop down the other side into Ulrichen, then turn left & climb the Nufenen Pass.

Here's a link to an amazing website that I use to plan many of my trips to Europe - hope it gets you in the mood!
http://www.cycling-challenge.com/alpen- ... nd-susten/
http://www.cycling-challenge.com/passo- ... oth-sides/
http://www.cycling-challenge.com/oberal ... oth-sides/
http://www.cycling-challenge.com/swiss- ... urka-pass/

knedlicky

If you’ll be near Interlaken and fancy a day or two without using the car, here’s a couple of ideas:

Take the little roads around the south side of Lake Brienz, through Iseltwald, then on to Meiringen. There do the stiff climb to Schwendi/Zwirgi (it might be signposted Reichenbach Falls). From Zwirgi, then take the road to the Grosse Scheidegg. This small pass is occasionally used in the Tour of Switzerland and brings you to Grindelwald. And from there, down through the valley back to Interlaken. If you don’t fancy the main road, for much of the way to Wilderswil there are small parallel roads through the hamlets thereabouts.

Going in the opposite direction from Interlaken, get the boat to Spiez, then ride to Boltigen and over the Jaun Pass. This also features often in the Tour of Switzerland and I think its west side descent one of the most picturesque descents I’ve done. Then ride round the east side of Lake Gruyere, on to Sangernboden then over the Gurnigel Pass and back to Spiez.

Re daviegb’s tips …

If you can afford a pretty full day, also consider, from Andermatt, the circuit Oberalp-Lukmanier-St Gotthard.

I agree with daviegb about trying to avoid the road between Andermatt and the turn-off to the Susten Pass. For that reason, if you decide on a Susten-Grimsel-Furka circuit, definitely do it anti-clockwise.

I think the Altdorf side of the Klausen Pass is pretty spectacular, but unfortunately I found too much traffic west of Linthal to easily recommend a circular tour.

durhamwasp

Thanks for that! Really good to know routes that are hard to find online, and also tips on approaching the climbs.

Im mainly on a family holiday, so im not sure I will have time to do any 50km+ loops, might be more parking close to the bottom of a climb and doing it... or setting off early from Interlaken, cycling to a climb and up to its summit, then back the way I came...

durhamwasp

Pretty much decided on our hol plans now, and think cycling wise im looking at 3 climbs...

We plan to camp at the top of Grimsel and St Gotthard Passes, and i'll drop down to the bottom and ride back up them both.

Will also spend 5 nights camping in Interlaken so aiming to cycle out of there and up to Grindelwald.

Might also do some loops of the lakes.

What side of Grimsel pass would you recommend? Already decided I want to do the cobbled route up the Gotthard.

daviegb

I hope you have a great time!

The Grimsel has two distinct sides to it - there is a short, hairpin laden route down into Gletch (about 3 miles which takes you to the foot of the short side of the Furka), however, I would suggest the 15 mile descent to Innertkirchen, then turn around & climb back up to the summit.

airwise

Having been lucky enough to have spent a lot of time in the area over the past few years, I'd stay in Meiringhen if you can.

The standouts for me are the descent from the Susten into Innerkirchen, the climb of the Gottard from Airolo, and, best of all, the Grosse Scheidegg from Meiringhen and the Mannlichen climb from Grindlewald.

The latter two would rank up there in my top ten climbs in the Alps. I've now done over 300 so they are pretty special IMHO. The views are remarkable on both and the difficulty (particularly of the Mannlichen) is pretty close to 10/10. A hard day out is to ride up and over the Grosse Scheidegg from Meiringhen, descend into Grindlewald and climb the Mannlichen. Head back down and then descend to Interlaken and ride around the lake back to the start.

For me, climbs like the Nufenen (from Airolo) and the Lukmanier are rather bland. The Furka too is IME not as awe inspiring as photos would have you believe.

But the area is superb for cycling. The Alpen Brevet is a great event if looking for a challenge in the future. Here's the view from my lunch stop at Mannlichen. Enjoy!

durhamwasp

Might well do the Grimsel from both sides then, seeing as one is rather short.

That Mannlichen climb looks good! Will defo look into that!