20
PDI
6.8 mi
DISTANCE
2,873 ft
GAINED
8 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Switzerland
INTRO
Ibergeregg is a 1,406 m (4,613 ft) pass in canton Schwyz that links the town of Schwyz with Oberiberg and the Sihl valley beyond. From Schwyz it is 11.0 km (6.8 mi) and 876 m (2,873 ft) of climbing at an 8.0% average, rising from about 521 m (1,711 ft) to 1,397 m (4,584 ft) at the top of our route.
It is a sustained climb rather than a punchy one. The steepest kilometer averages 10.4% and the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) averages 9.0%, so there is very little real rest. The road is two lanes wide and runs through mixed forest with a few hairpins, then opens up above Berggasthaus Hand with views across the surrounding mountains and valley.
The first road over the pass opened in 1873, replacing a pack trail used since the late Middle Ages, and today it serves the hiking and ski area at the top. One current condition to know: since March 2026 the canton has been stabilizing a landslide slope at Hundsbüel, about 200 m above Berggasthaus Hand, and traffic lights can hold riders for up to 5 minutes. The work is scheduled to finish in November 2026.
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. Ibergeregg from Schwyz averages 8.0% over 11.0 km (6.8 mi), gaining 876 m (2,873 ft) from about 521 m (1,711 ft) to 1,397 m (4,584 ft). The grade is relentless more than brutal: the steepest 100 m (110 yd) reaches 11.7%, the steepest 0.4 km (0.25 mi) averages 11.0%, and the steepest kilometer averages 10.4%.
Zoom out and it stays firm. The steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) averages 10.1%, the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) averages 9.0%, and the steepest 10 km (6.2 mi) still averages 8.5%, so nearly the whole climb sits close to the overall average and there is little flat ground to recover on. Settle into a rhythm early and save something for the upper slopes above Berggasthaus Hand. A compact crankset with a 30- to 34-tooth rear cog keeps the cadence comfortable.
Roadway: Paved all the way to the pass on a two-lane cantonal road that is wide and in good condition. The road is open year-round with no scheduled winter closure, though snow and ice are possible in the cold months. From March to November 2026 the canton is stabilizing a slope at Hundsbüel, about 200 m above Berggasthaus Hand, and rebuilding about 70 m of road there. Traffic stays on the road under traffic lights, with stops of up to 5 minutes and priority for buses, and the final surfacing is planned for spring 2027. The Stalden to Windstock stretch (about 2.1 km / 1.3 mi) was rebuilt and resurfaced in a project that began in 2020, with asphalt laid in 2021.
Traffic: Mostly light. Faster routes elsewhere keep through traffic off this pass, so most vehicles are locals, farm traffic and visitors heading to the hiking and ski area, with more cars on sunny weekends. This season the roadworks lights are the main source of delay.
Parking: Schwyz town-centre car parks are mostly short-stay - the Hauptplatz lot on Reichsstrasse has 31 spaces and a one-hour limit - so they are not suited to a full ride. Arriving by train is practical: from Schwyz station take the bus to Schwyz Post and ride from there. A bus line also runs from Schwyz through Rickenbach to Ibergeregg and Oberiberg, handy for a one-way ride (check the timetable and bike carriage rules first).
Provisions: Fill both bottles before you leave Schwyz. Berggasthaus Hand, at 1,070 m (3,510 ft), is a mountain inn with a restaurant and facilities for cyclists, about 550 m (1,800 ft) of climbing in, and the pass itself has a restaurant with a terrace, so you can resupply on the way. Check opening days before relying on either, especially outside summer.
Gear: A compact crankset with a 30- to 34-tooth rear cog keeps the cadence up when the road holds 10% for kilometers. The summit is nearly 900 m (2,900 ft) above Schwyz, so pack a light jacket for the descent, and a spare layer is useful if the roadworks lights hold you for a few minutes in cool weather.
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.
Berggasthaus Hand (1,070 m / 3,510 ft) makes a good halfway stop or base, a mountain inn with simple rooms and a restaurant beside the valley station of the Handgruobi ski lifts. At the pass, the Ibergeregg restaurant and the Hotel Passhöhe (rooms and dormitory beds) sit on a saddle that also has a 1961 chapel, and a signed footpath leaves from the pass toward Holzegg. The walk takes about an hour via the Sonnenhütte mountain inn and Zwäcken, with the Grosser Mythen growing more imposing as you go, and a cable car runs down from Holzegg to Brunni.
Beyond the summit the road drops to Oberiberg (1,135 m / 3,724 ft) and reaches the Sihlsee (872 m / 2,861 ft) after about 9 km (5.6 mi), with Einsiedeln a little farther on - a natural way to turn this into a longer day. Schwyz itself and its museum are covered on our Mostelegg page, which starts from the same side of town. For other climbs around Schwyz, or to build a custom route from here, try our Routes in the Area tool.
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