Grimsel Pass Bike Climb | Cycling the Swiss Alps

Switzerland Grimselpass - Innertkirchen

Grimselpass - Innertkirchen Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

28.5

PDI

16.6 mi

DISTANCE

4,997 ft

GAINED

ELEVATION GAINED

5.7 %

AVG. GRADE

AVG. GRADIENT

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

Grimselpass climbs 26.7 km (16.6 mi) from Innertkirchen, in the Bernese Oberland, gaining 1,523 m (4,997 ft) at a 5.7% average grade to the pass on the border of the cantons of Bern and Valais. It's one of the great historic Alpine crossings, and one of three big passes - with the Furka and the Susten - that riders often string together on a single loop through this corner of Switzerland.

The upper half of the climb runs through a series of short tunnels blasted through granite, including one longer tunnel that diverts riders onto a 120-meter cobblestone stretch of the original 1894 road. From there the route opens onto the barren, glacier-scoured basin around the Grimselsee and Räterichsbodensee reservoirs, dammed lakes built by the Kraftwerke Oberhasli (KWO) hydroelectric company, whose infrastructure now defines much of the upper pass's scenery. Right at the base of the climb in Innertkirchen sits the Gelmerbahn, one of the steepest funiculars in Europe.

The route has carried traffic since Roman times, was formalized as a trade route between Bern and Valais in a 1397 document, and opened to modern wheeled traffic in 1895. It's been used by the Tour de Suisse, including a 2007 stage finish, and like every high Swiss pass it's seasonal - open roughly late May through late October or early November depending on snowfall.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

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The climb averages 5.7% over 26.7 km (16.6 mi), gaining 1,523 m (4,997 ft) from Innertkirchen to the pass. The steepest kilometer averages 9.1%, the steepest 500 meters averages 10.1%, and the single steepest 100-yard (91 m) stretch hits 17.3%.

Grades ease considerably over the final third once the road levels out through the reservoir basin near the top, so the hardest sustained work comes in the lower and middle sections rather than right at the summit.

Roadway: The road is paved the entire way and in excellent condition per rider reports through 2026, with several short tunnels and one longer tunnel section where cyclists are diverted onto a well-preserved 120-meter cobblestone stretch of the original 1894 road. The pass is seasonal - it typically opens in late May and closes in late October or early November once snow settles, with the exact dates announced by the cantons of Bern, Uri, and Valais each year - check alpen-paesse.ch for current status before an early- or late-season ride.

Traffic: Grimsel carries real tourist and motorcycle traffic in summer - noticeably more than quieter neighboring passes like the Susten - and is busiest through the tunneled middle section and near the summit cafe around midday in July and August. The lower kilometers out of Innertkirchen are calmer.

Parking: Innertkirchen has free roadside parking near the base of Grimselstrasse, making it easy to start right at the bottom of the climb. Riders looking to shorten the ride can also find limited pull-off parking higher up near Handegg, though spots are scarce, so starting from the valley floor is the more reliable option.

Provisions: There's a restaurant and small shop at the Grimsel Hospiz near the summit for coffee and a pastry, but nothing else along the climb itself - stock up in Innertkirchen before you start.

Gear: Bring a wind layer even in high summer - the descent from over 2,100 m (7,000 ft) through the tunnels gets cold fast, and temperatures swing widely between the valley floor and the exposed reservoir basin near the top.

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.

Innertkirchen is a small, functional base rather than a resort town - for a fuller range of hotels and restaurants, nearby Meiringen (a few minutes down the valley, and the town tied to the Sherlock Holmes/Reichenbach Falls story) is the more common place to stay; see our Grosse Scheidegg (Innertkirchen) page for more on that side of the valley.

Right at the base of the climb, the Gelmerbahn - one of the steepest funiculars in Europe - carries visitors up to Gelmersee, a striking turquoise reservoir lake; it's worth a stop before or after the ride if you have the time.

Grimselpass is also the middle link in one of the classic big-day loops in the Swiss Alps: many riders combine it with the Furka Pass (continuing over the top down to Gletsch and Realp) and the Susten Pass (back to Innertkirchen) for a multi-pass day or weekend. Check conditions at the summit before committing to the full loop with our Weather tool, since the exposed basin around the reservoirs can turn cold and windy fast even in summer.