Road Cycling Route Source Region Rhine

You start rolling from Chur and discover the gentle hills of the Domleschg fruit and castle region on side roads. The route leads through the natural monument Viamala Gorge, and from here it steadily climbs through the Hinterrhein valley. At the Roffla Gorge the valley narrows before you finally reach Splügen, the oldest mountain pass village in Graubünden. Shortly thereafter, the San Bernardino Pass beckons, a classic of Alpine railway history. The numerous hairpin bends to the summit will make every road cycling enthusiast's heart beat faster. Once at the top, a short break is more than deserved. But soon the fast descent southwards, down into the Misox region, beckons. During the 44-kilometer descent, the landscape—once high alpine, then suddenly Mediterranean—will surprise and delight you.

Shortly after Roveredo, you cross the canton border from Graubünden into Ticino. Until Biasca, the terrain rises only gently. Now awaits the Lukmanier Pass, a real treat that has not yet quite reached the top of the road cycling Olympus. The ascent leads through the Valle di Blenio to Olivone, where you turn into the Valle Santa Maria. At the Ospizio del Lucomagno, you not only find the pass sign but also re-enter the canton of Graubünden. The descent takes you through the Val Medel to Disentis. The ride continues along the Vorderrhein through the Surselva. A detour over the Obersaxen high plateau, which captivates with countless hidden small roads, brings you to Ilanz, the first town on the Rhine. From here, a spectacular road through the Ruinaulta—the Rhine Gorge, also called the “Little Swiss Canyon” with its 300-meter-high rock faces and formations—takes you back to Chur.

Tip: Would you like to free your back on this multi-day tour? Then book the luggage transport from hotel to hotel – convenient and easy.

Stages

Stage 1: Chur – Splügen

Stage 2: Splügen – Biasca

Stage 3: Biasca – Disentis

Stage 4: Disentis – Ilanz

Stage 5: Ilanz – Chur

Chur – Splügen: 56.2 kilometers – 1216 meters of elevation

You start rolling in Chur (593 m above sea level) and ride along the Rhine on the bike path to Reichenau. Here the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein rivers merge, the two rivers that particularly interest us on this tour. On side roads, you ride through the gentle hills of the Domleschg fruit and castle region. At Rothenbrunnen, you see the impressive Porta Raetica fortifications from your bike, in Paspels you can admire artworks by the well-known artist Robert Indermaur, and Schauenstein Castle in Fürstenau might already make you dream of a first break. After passing the historic trading town of Thusis (680 m above sea level), the road steadily climbs. The natural monument Viamala Gorge amazes you and makes you forget the effort. The road runs spectacularly through the Viamala and a view into the gorge is worthwhile. The route continues through the Hinterrhein valley past the villages of Schamserberg until the valley narrows at the Roffla Gorge. The Roffla promises great insights into a wild gorge. The path climbs steadily, but not steeply. Through the valley floor of the Rheinwald, you reach Splügen (1475 m above sea level), the oldest mountain pass village in Graubünden.

Splügen – Biasca: 94.1 kilometers – 894 meters of elevation

The Walser settlement Hinterrhein (1624 m above sea level) at the foot of the Rheinwaldhorn is the starting point to the San Bernardino Pass, a classic of Alpine transit history. The numerous hairpin bends to the pass summit at 2066 meters will make every road cyclist's heart beat faster. The climb is steady but has no extremely steep ramps, so you can still enjoy the landscape. Once at the pass summit, a small break is more than deserved. The hospice and the small lake invite you to linger. Soon, however, the anticipation of the fast descent towards the south into the Misox beckons. Let the landscape variety surprise you during the 44-kilometer descent. The numerous hairpin bends will put a smile on your face. Surrounded by chestnut trees and vineyards, cool grottoes by the roadside offer a southern flair. Shortly after Roveredo, you cross the cantonal border into Ticino, and the last 20 kilometers take you with little effort to Biasca (301 m above sea level), the perfect starting point to tackle the Lukmanier Pass the next day.

Biasca – Disentis: 60 kilometers – 1787 meters of elevation

The start of the queen stage is moderate. The route already steadily climbs from Biasca (301 m above sea level), but just enough so that you will have fun in spite of tired legs. The Lukmanier Pass awaits you on this stage, a real treat that has yet to reach the top of the road cycling Olympus. A 42-kilometer climb with 1680 meters of elevation is not for weak legs. The ascent leads through the Valle di Blenio to Olivone (902 m above sea level), where you turn into the Valle Santa Maria. The climb is consistent but has some challenging ramps. The actual pass summit lies beside the mountain lake Lai da Santa Maria at 1972 meters, but the pass sign is located at the Ospizio del Lucomagno at 1914 meters, where you re-enter Graubünden. The descent takes you through the Val Medel to Disentis (1130 m above sea level). One last short, steep climb brings you into the village. From afar, you can already see the imposing Benedictine monastery, which has shaped the place since the 13th century.

Disentis – Ilanz: 61.4 kilometers – 1570 meters of elevation

From Disentis (1130 m above sea level), the ride continues along the Vorderrhein through the Surselva, the largest Romansh-speaking area in Graubünden. In Trun (852 m above sea level), you turn off the main road and explore picturesque villages on the northern valley side over six kilometers and 300 meters of elevation. After switching sides of the valley, you are in the climb towards the Obersaxen high plateau. The area was settled by the Walser and is therefore a Swiss German language island amidst the Surselva. With its countless hidden small roads, Obersaxen delights adventurous road cyclists. You stay on the main road until Meierhof (1259 m above sea level) and then turn right in the middle of the village. You climb a bit higher, and with every pedal stroke, the view over the Surselva becomes even more impressive. You pass the villages of Miraniga, Misanenga, and Surcuolm before tackling the final climb of the day. At 1535 meters, a magical view over the Val Lumnezia and the Rhine Gorge surprises you. Enjoy the winding descent towards Luven (998 m above sea level) before ending the road cycling day comfortably in Ilanz (699 m above sea level), the first town on the Rhine.

Ilanz – Chur: 47.5 kilometers – 1143 meters of elevation

Shortly after Ilanz (699 m above sea level), you turn onto a small road to Sevgein and finally reach Riein (1270 m above sea level). The low-traffic and perfectly paved road climbs relatively steeply at the beginning, and soon you leave the village of Sevgein behind. From here, the road unfolds its true magic. It climbs continuously, and the view into the Valser valley is unique. Since Riein is a dead-end for motorized vehicles, only a few cars come here.

After Riein, you pass the ban on motorized vehicles, and a narrow paved road leads to Cuolm (1550 m above sea level) and Ober Dutjen. The idyllic landscape makes you forget all the effort, and the fast descent to Valendas (810 m above sea level) with a great view into the Rhine valley is pure reward. Starting at Versam, a spectacular road leads through the Ruinaulta. The Rhine Gorge, also called the “Little Swiss Canyon” with its 300-meter-high rock faces and formations, rises to Versam, before you will be surprised by a fast descent with fantastic hairpin turns. Over the bridge at the end of the descent, you reach a short climb. Now, rocky tunnels and a breathtaking panoramic road await you. Take a short break to enjoy the view into the gorge. The route takes you to Bonaduz (662 m above sea level) and Reichenau, where the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein flow together and further back to Chur (593 m above sea level).