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Grimsel - Legendary Mountain Passes

From the Haute Valais village of Oberwald to the summit of the Grimsel Pass, you will discover a giant of the Alps that connects the canton of Valais with Bern.

  • Difficulty

    difficult

  • Length

    12.2 km

  • Duration

    2:30 h

  • Show on map
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From Oberwald, the road climbs through a pine forest while you glimpse over the young Rhone River below. When you arrive at the village of Gletsch, the road splits between the Furka Pass to your right and the Grimsel Pass to your left. In the following kilometres, the view is extraordinary, where you will discover the spectacular Rhone Glacier, the source of the Rhone River. At the summit, a small alpine lake reflects the neighbouring peaks shining under a clear sky as the view opens towards the Bernese Alps.

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Turn-by-turn directions

The Grimsel Pass is one of the Alpine giants that rises over 2,000 metres of altitude. From Oberwald to Gletsch, the warmup is fairly easy as the slope is reasonable. A small cog railway follows the route just below the road until the split to the Furka Pass. From Gletsch, long straights are linked together by a series of zigzags, and you start to feel the air become scarce as you take on the altitude. The top of the pass offers views of the summits in both the cantons of Valais and Bern, and Gletsch seems so very far away only just a few kilometres below. A park with Marmots makes the restaurant at the pass a very friendly place to visit.

Start: Oberwald (1368 m)
Destination: Grimsel pass (2164 m)

Author's recommendation

The route offers superb views on the final part of the climb. 

Technical information

  • Altitude

    2165 m 1368 m

  • Ascent

    797 m

  • Descent

    0 m

  • Technique

    Bewertung: 3.0 von 5.0 Punkten

  • Stamina

    Bewertung: 5.0 von 5.0 Punkten

  • Experience

    Bewertung: 4 von 5.0 Punkten

  • Landscape

    Bewertung: 5.0 von 5.0 Punkten

Best time of year

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
  • Scenic
  • Geological highlights
  • In and out
  • With refreshment stops
  • Cultural/historical value

Public transport

Frequent CFF train connections from all over Switzerland to Brig, then MGB (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn) train or bus to Oberwald.

Approach

From Brig, follow the cantonal route 19 "Furkastrasse" for 40km until you arrive in Oberwald.

Parking

Parking at the train station in Oberwald, follow the local car park routeing. 

Equipment

We recommend: bike in excellent working order, helmet, gloves and bell, clothing suitable for the weather (always carry a waterproof), food and drink.

Safety information

Strictly respect the Swiss traffic rules. Please note that you are running the tour at your own risk and all liability is refused. Please be considerate to plants and animals. For your own safety, wear an helmet every time you ride a bike. Emergency numbers: 144 Ambulance / 117 Police / 1414 Helicopter Rescue (Rega).

Additional information

More information: 

Maps

SwissTopo Maps 1:25'000: 1250 Ulrichen