Western Swiss Alps

Cycling the Western Swiss Alps

The Western Swiss Alps stretch across French-speaking Switzerland and part of German-speaking Switzerland. They cover a varied terrain, with flat roads along lakes and rivers and prestigious mountain passes.

The region offers a multitude of challenging climbs in grandiose landscapes. The big passes have a gradient of 6-10%, while the smaller roads can be steeper.

In the valleys, there are almost always roads with little traffic to reach the foot of the passes. That's what's so special about Switzerland. Also, the public transport network is highly developed, making it easy to get everywhere by bike.

Insider's tip: don't miss the Jura mountains. The terrain is a little easier than in the Alps, and the roads are very quiet.

Gravel in the Western Swiss Alps

As with road cycling, the Western Swiss Alps offer a varied terrain for gravel biking.

In the valleys, the countryside is criss-crossed by a dense network of farm tracks, perfect for mellow gravel biking.

In the mountains, the terrain is for the discerning amateur: the climbs are long, steep and some sections are technical.

You'll need to bring wide tires and small gearing, and expect to do some hike-a-bike.

The rewards are well worth the effort: breathtaking views of peaks topping 4,000 meters, local specialities in traditional mountain huts and a good dose of adrenalin on the descents.

Spots to ride