Grosse Scheidegg (Innertkirchen) Bike Climb

Switzerland Grosse Scheidegg (Innertkirchen)

30.5

PDI

11.4 mi

DISTANCE

4,491 ft

GAINED

ELEVATION GAINED

7.5 %

AVG. GRADE

AVG. GRADIENT

FULL CLIMB STATS

Page Contributor(s): Helmuth Dekkers, Netherlands

INTRO

Grosse Scheidegg is an 11.4-mile climb from Schattenhalb, near Innertkirchen, gaining 4,491 ft at a 7.4% average grade to a pass at the foot of the Wetterhorn's north face, in the heart of the Bernese Alps. It's consistently ranked among the most beautiful climbs in the Alps, and unlike almost every other climb of this caliber, most of it is closed to private motor traffic - the only vehicles you'll share the upper road with are Switzerland's yellow PostBuses. The first couple of miles out of Schattenhalb are unremarkable, but the road soon starts following the Rychenbach stream and the views open up. After about 4.2 miles the grade eases through a short flat stretch to Hotel Rosenlaui - the end of the line for cars. From there on, it's postbuses and bikes only, and the scenery escalates fast: the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge is just off the road, and the north face of the Wetterhorn dominates the skyline for the rest of the climb. The final miles are the hardest of the ride, with a punishing 12.6% ramp followed by a sustained 10% grade to the summit - a tough finish, but one that comes with constantly improving views. As with every high Swiss pass, the road closes for winter and typically reopens around Ascension Day in mid-May, with PostBus service starting the same day - check current status before planning a trip here.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route.

This climb averages 7.4% over 11.4 miles, gaining 4,491 ft, but the grade swings widely along the way rather than holding steady. After roughly 4.2 miles averaging around 8.6%, the road flattens to about 1.9% for a 1.2-mile stretch into Hotel Rosenlaui. Past Rosenlaui it kicks back up to around 8.5% for about 0.6 miles, eases briefly to roughly 3% for another 0.6 miles, then hits the toughest section of the climb: a 12.6% ramp for about 0.7 miles. The final 2.5 miles to the summit hold a sustained 10% average - a demanding finish after an already long climb.

Roadway: Paved and narrow, especially above Rosenlaui where it's built more for the PostBus than for two-way car traffic. The road closes for winter and typically reopens around Ascension Day in mid-May along with the start of PostBus service - check current status before you go.

Traffic: Light near Schattenhalb, where the road still allows private cars up to Hotel Rosenlaui. From Rosenlaui to the summit there's a year-round general ban on private motor traffic - the only vehicles you'll encounter are the yellow Swiss PostBuses, which run frequently in season and always have the right of way. They don't slow down much for cyclists, so give them room on the narrower switchbacks.

Parking: Start at the Reichenbach funicular parking area (Reichenbach 8, Schattenhalb) near the base of the climb; if that lot is full, there's a larger overflow car park at Meiringen Alpbach, an easy roll or short walk away.

Bring a compact or sub-compact setup with a wide-range cassette - the 12.6% ramp and the sustained 10% final push come late in an already long, 4,491 ft climb, and there's nowhere to buy anything once you leave Schattenhalb. Fill bottles and eat before you start; Hotel Rosenlaui, about 4.2 miles in, is the last realistic stop for food or water before the summit.

Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.

Meiringen and Innertkirchen, both a short ride from the base in Schattenhalb, are the practical places to stay - Meiringen has the fuller range of hotels and restaurants and is also the town famously tied to the Reichenbach Falls and Sherlock Holmes lore (the falls are just a few minutes from the start of this climb, reachable by a funicular from the same parking area). Once you're over the top, the descent toward Grindelwald is one of the most scenic in the Alps, with the Eiger's north face coming into view - a natural way to turn this into a point-to-point ride if you can arrange a pickup or return via train. Check current conditions before you go with our Weather tool, since the pass sits close to 2,000 meters and weather here can turn quickly even in summer.