Montespluga Gravel Traverse

Difficult

50.2 km

3:40 h

1225 mhd

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Demanding, scenically impressive gravel bike tour from Hinterrhein over the Splügen Pass to Montespluga in Italy. The route combines an alpine pass road with selected gravel sections and offers an intensive high mountain experience for gravel bikers in good physical condition.

Overview
Details
Description
Directions
Directions
Waypoints

Plan this tour

Technique

Fitness

Highest Point 2116 m

Lowest Point 1456 m

Best Season

Jan

Feb

Mär

Apr

Mai

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Okt

Nov

Dez

Start

Hinterrhein

Destination

Montespluga

Coordinates

46.526707, 9.187614

Details

Description

This alpine gravel bike tour leads from Hinterrhein over the historic Splügen Pass to the high-altitude mountain village of Montespluga and runs through an impressive high mountain landscape on the Swiss-Italian border.

The starting point in Hinterrhein is around 1,600 meters above sea level and forms the starting point for a steadily ascending route along the pass axis towards Splügen. The sections along the Hinterrhein are particularly attractive, where gravel paths and quieter passages ensure a varied gravel bike experience.

From Splügen, the continuous ascent to the Splügen Pass begins. The route runs along well-maintained pass roads and occasional gravel sections. As the altitude increases, the landscape becomes more barren and alpine. The pass at around 2,110 meters not only marks the highest point of the tour, but also the border between Switzerland and Italy.

After crossing the pass, the route leads directly to Montespluga, a remote mountain village on the Italian side, which lies at around 1,900 meters. The surrounding area is characterized by high alpine terrain, steep flanks and the Lago di Montespluga, which is a scenic highlight of the tour. The descent takes place entirely in the alpine area above the actual Val San Giacomo.

The tour is aimed at experienced and fit gravel bike riders. Despite the high proportion of asphalt, the altitude, gradient, exposure to the weather and individual gravel sections make for a challenging overall profile.

Note on the opening of the pass
The Splügen Pass is closed in winter. Find out about the current situation in advance:

To the current status

Equipment

Gravel bike or trekking bike
Helmet recommended
Clothing suitable for the weather
Sufficient drinking water

Directions

Start at the parking lot in Hinterrhein. The route initially follows the valley axis towards Splügen and runs mainly on asphalt and paved paths. The village of Splügen is reached after around 12.6 km.

From Splügen, the continuous ascent begins on the Splügen Pass road. The route runs on asphalt with an even gradient up to the top of the Splügen Pass (approx. 2,110 m above sea level), which is reached after around 21.5 km. The pass marks the border between Switzerland and Italy.

After crossing the pass, the descent follows the same road axis in the direction of Montespluga. After around 24.3 km, the village of Montespluga is reached, followed shortly afterwards by Lake Montespluga at around 25.0 km.

The route then leads back towards Splügen and follows the valley axis again. Splügen is passed again after around 37.6 km. The last section runs on predominantly low-traffic paths and a longer gravel section along the Hinterrhein, which begins at around 42.6 km.

The finish point is again at the parking lot in Hinterrhein after a total of around 50.1 km.

Directions

Public Transport

Take the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) to Thusis. From Thusis, take the PostBus in the direction of Splügen / Hinterrhein to the Hinterrhein stop. The starting point of the tour (parking lot) is within walking distance of the bus stop.

Travel Information

Take the A13 (San Bernardino route) to the Thusis-Nord or Thusis-Süd exit. Then follow the cantonal road in the direction of Splügenpass / Hinterrhein. Parking is available at the parking lot in Hinterrhein, which is also the starting and finishing point of the tour.

Parking

Parking lot rest area San Bernardino North

Waypoints

Bus Station Viamala

Hinterrhein, Tunnel Nordportal

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Attraction Viamala

Splügenpass

The Splügen Pass, which crosses the border into Italy, connects Graubünden with Lombardy.

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Hostel Viamala

Gruppenhaus Hüschera-Lodge

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Hostel Viamala

Ferienlager Splügen

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Event Venue Viamala

Pschuuri

An old carnival custom is still alive in Splügen on Ash Wednesday: "Pschuuri, Bschuri, Bschürälä, Bschuurrimittwucha" are expressions that can still be found in many Walser regions of Graubünden. They refer to the blackening of unmarried women and young people. In Splügen, the main village of the Rheinwald, this custom is still alive in its old form and is organised and celebrated by the young people.

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Museum Viamala

Rheinwald Museum

The history of transit traffic over the Splügen and San Bernardino Alpine passes is the focus of the exhibition in Splügen.

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City Viamala

Splügen

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Event Venue Viamala

Interactive relief Rheinquell Kulturraum

With the interactive relief in the entrance hall of the Hotel Alte Herberge Weiss Kreuz in Splügen, the cultural heritage and the formative history and landscape processes of the Rheinwald region can be experienced digitally.

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City Viamala

Hinterrhein

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Museum Viamala

Walserama

The historic Suste, built around 1680 at the time of the "Port" in the Free State of the Three Leagues, houses a collection of artefacts from the cultural heritage of the Walser people in the Rhine Forest.

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Museum Viamala

Postcard gallery Kabinetli Hinterrhein

A small but fine private exhibition of antique views of Hinterrhein and the surrounding area - mostly from the first half of the 20th century.

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Church Viamala

Splügen Reformed Church

The listed Reformed church in Splügen is astonishingly large for Graubünden.

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Church Viamala

Nufenen Reformed Church

The Reformed church in Nufenen is a protected monument of the canton of Graubünden. Since the introduction of the Reformation around 1530, which is illustrated by a stained glass window in the choir with a verse from a hymn by Martin Luther (“Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott”), it has served as a preaching church.

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City Viamala

Medels im Rheinwald

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Gallery Viamala

Lawinengalerie Splügenpass

The Splügen Gallery, a 312-metre-long protective gallery on the Splügen Pass in the canton of Graubünden, bears witness to the engineering skills of the 19th century and is under federal protection as a historical traffic monument.

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Church Viamala

Medels Reformed Church

The Reformed Church in Medels in the Rheinwaldtal valley is a Protestant Reformed church that is a listed building of the Canton of Graubünden.

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City Viamala

Nufenen

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Church Viamala

Reformed Church Hinterrhein

The Reformed Church in Hinterrhein, situated in the picturesque Rheinwald forest, is a Protestant Reformed church under the protection of the Canton of Graubünden.

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Bridge Viamala

Alte Landbrugg Hinterrhein

The Alte Landbrugg is a historic stone bridge from the 17th century that spans the Hinterrhein in two arches and is an important cultural asset in the region of Rheinwald.

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