- 4:00 h
- 44.11 km
- 1,352 m
- 1,169 m
- 672 m
- 2,006 m
- 1,334 m
- Start: Brig, train station
- Destination: Gondo, village
For a long time, the Simplon was mainly used by smugglers and mercenaries, as the narrow Gondo Gorge seemed impassable even to the builders of the Roman era. It was only in the mid-17th century that the Brig merchant Kaspar Stockalper began to use the Simplon Pass for salt transports on pack animals from the Mediterranean. Under Napoleon Bonaparte's rule, the pass road was expanded "pour faire passer les canon".
Today, the Simplon is considered the best-developed pass crossing in Switzerland. Although the Simplon road is a national road, the pass can be ridden by bike. Especially on the north side, you can ride for a long time on the old Napoleon road and thus avoid heavy traffic.
Good to know
Pavements
Best to visit
Directions
From the train station in Brig, you ride via the hospital to the Saltina bridge. Before the Saltina bridge, turn right uphill and follow the new Simplon road. After about two kilometers, stay on the right lane to reach Lingwurmstrasse.
On Lingwurmstrasse, continue straight for two kilometers over Gewerbestrasse and it leads back to the old Simplon road. At the signpost leading to Termen, Simplon (new Simplon road), continue straight to stay on the old Simplon road.
You continue cycling straight past the Rosswald valley station until you reach a junction to Rosswald. There, continue straight ahead again.
A few meters after this junction, a path leads left uphill to bypass the heavily trafficked Simplon road.
The path sometimes runs above the Simplon road and sometimes beneath it. You do not cross the large Ganter bridge. Continue into the valley until you reach the old Ganter bridge. After a short ascent, you reach the main road and now ride the new Simplon road up to the Simplon Pass.
Now follows a long section along the national road to the Simplon Pass. This section cannot be bypassed.
At the Simplon Pass at Hotel Monte Leone, turn right onto Bergalpenstrasse. You ride past the old hospital and the Chluismatte to Maschihuis. Here you go under the national road, merge onto it, and after about 100 meters turn right again. Now you reach Egga. On the old Simplon road, you reach Simplon village.
Below Simplon village, turn left and ride via Chluise. Above Gabi, you merge back onto the national road. Follow this to Gabi and through the Gondo Gorge to Gondo.
Equipment
Our recommendation: a technically flawless bike, helmet, gloves, and bell, clothing suitable for the weather (always carry rain protection), drink and provisions.
Directions & Parking facilities
Additional information
Literature
Brochure: Bike Map
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
Follow the suggested route here so you can enjoy the ride as far away as possible from heavy traffic.
Safety guidelines
Respect the rules of Swiss road traffic. Riding this route is at your own risk and any liability is excluded. Respect the fauna and flora around you. For your safety, we recommend wearing a bike helmet.
Map
Road and bike maps are available at the tourist offices in Simplon village and Brig.
Nearby
