39.4
PDI
11.9 mi
DISTANCE
5,260 ft
GAINED
8.4 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Galm is a dead-end climb in the Wallis (Valais) region of Switzerland, climbing roughly 19 km (11.9 mi) and gaining about 1,600 m (5,260 ft) from the valley town of Leuk to a small alpine hamlet at 2,231 m (7,320 ft), just above the village of Guttet-Feschel. Averaging 8.35%, it currently ranks #112 in the world among PJAMM's Top Bike Climbs.
Because the road serves only Guttet-Feschel and the tiny settlement of Galm and goes nowhere beyond that, there's no through traffic - just farm vehicles and the occasional local. Most of the ride sits above the treeline in open alpine pasture, with views opening across the Rhone Valley onto 4,000-meter peaks like the Weisshorn, Dom, and Lagginhorn as you climb. The final third, above roughly 1,700 m, rarely dips below double-digit gradient, with a stretch near the hamlet of Obern that touches 17-18%.
Unlike Switzerland's famous through-passes, Galm isn't a route to anywhere else - it's one of several Valais dead-end climbs, alongside neighbors like the Turtmanntal and Lötschental, that reward the effort with near-empty roads and a genuinely rural feel. The pavement ends at a small parking area right near the top, just below the cluster of chalets that gives the climb its name.
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. Galm averages 8.35% over its roughly 19 km length, but that number understates how uneven the effort is. The lower stretch out of Leuk is comparatively gentle, then the road tips into a sustained double-digit section in its upper third: the steepest kilometer averages 13.11%, the steepest half-kilometer 14.36%, and the steepest 100 yards touches 17.4%, mostly concentrated above 1,700 m near the hamlet of Obern. Even the steepest 5-mile stretch still averages over 10%, so there's little recovery once the real climbing starts. With a FIETS score of 14.51, Galm sits solidly among the Valais's harder dead-end climbs, currently ranked #112 in the world.
Roadway: Galm's surface is narrow but almost entirely good asphalt from Leuk to the top. One prior ride documented a short gravel stretch around kilometer 14.8, but the large majority of the climb is smooth, well-maintained village road. The pavement ends at a small parking area right at the 2,231 m summit; the actual hamlet of Galm, with its cluster of chalets, sits a short distance beyond that on an unpaved farm track.
Traffic: This is a dead-end road serving only the small municipality of Guttet-Feschel and the seasonal hamlet of Galm - it goes nowhere else, so there's no through traffic. Expect the occasional local car, farm vehicle, or hiker's car near the top; otherwise the climb is about as quiet as alpine roads get.
Parking: Most riders start from the roundabout in Susten, just outside Leuk on Route 9, where there's ample roadside parking near the base. Riders who'd rather start higher can also find a parking area right at the top of the climb, near the 2,231 m summit, used mainly by hikers accessing the surrounding alpine trails.
Leuk, at the base, has a small grocery store and bakery for topping off water and food before the climb, but once you leave town there's nothing until the top - carry what you need for a long, exposed alpine effort. Near the summit, the seasonal Alpe Obern-Galm restaurant has served warm food and drinks in past summers (roughly June through mid-October, midday and early evening), but hours and operation vary year to year, so don't count on it being open without checking ahead. Above the treeline, weather changes fast, so pack a layer for the descent even on a warm day.
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.
Leuk sits on the Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon rail line, so it's an easy add-on for anyone touring the Rhone Valley without a car. Because the route climbs from about 600 m to 2,231 m, plan to ride Galm between June and October - snow and unplowed side-roads are common outside that window, which is also when the large majority of recorded rides happen.
If you want to extend the day, Leukerbad's thermal baths are a short drive from Leuk and make for a good post-climb soak, and the Valais has several similarly quiet dead-end climbs nearby - the Turtmanntal and Lötschental among them - worth combining with Galm into a longer trip. See our Routes in the Area tool for other climbs near Leuk.
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Charlier
First half of the ride fairly non descript. It's the last 10km that makes this climb worthwhile. It doesn't really dip below 11% for the final 10km. Second half of the climb I saw zero traffic. Views are amazing from the top where you finish at a small cluster of houses. Tarmac/asphalt all the way (August 2021).
