Susten, Grimsel and Furka passes - which order?

[Rich.H]

Looking for an informed view. Is there a 'better' order to drive the above?

I will be there in a couple of weeks, arriving into Andermatt over the Gotthard Pass after driving up from Lake Maggiore.

Any must see highlights along the route beyond the spectacular scenery? I have plenty of time available so happy to stop for lunch somewhere or have a wander about away from the car...

Many thanks

Rich

Edited by Rich.H on Tuesday 26th June 08:38

[mr pg]

I've only done them clockwise so far, but would recommend adding in the nearby Nufenen Pass, which is less well known, so quieter, but has some lovely flowing sections along with the usual hairpins.

[Dannythemusicman]

As above, definitely add in Nufenen, done this many times.

Not sure it helps though as last time I did Grimsel (both directions as its the best for scenery imho), then over Furka. Up the Furka hairpins first and down the other side and up & over Gottard. From there up & over Nufenen and then back over Furka.

I thought Nufenen was the highlight and Gottard was the most disappointing. Nufenen was fast & flowing and definitely had much less traffic than the others - in fact I remember doing Nufenen at around 6.30am once and didn't see a single sole apart from a fellow 'enthusiast' at the top. This pass feels different to the others in that it works from both directions.

[Rich.H]

Many thanks - I will look at fitting in the Nufenen Pass as well....

Cheers

Rich

[Allyc85]

As the Susten Pass is one of my favourite passes, I'd do this one first while it's quieter

[NathW]

I’ve done both directions. Most recently was a couple of weeks ago which was anti-clockwise and I think I preferred this albeit the prior time was almost 2 years ago.

I’d agree on adding Nufenen to your list and would recommend just doing Furka up to the top from Gletsch before turning around and heading back to continue on to Nufenen (assuming you go anti-clockwise).

Old Gotthard is also an experience (cobble stones!). Oberalp is also worth doing while you’re in the area.

[Rich.H]

Thanks again for the comments.

I did the Oberalp in May with with a few mates, coming over from Livigno, and it was superb.

The higher passes were still shut at the time and is the reason I have added a day around Andermatt to my current trip which is actually a tour around Northern Italy with my wife (we are currently in the Dolomites).

We are visiting Venice, Siena and the Lake Maggiore over the next week and will be in Andermatt next Wednesday

I'll be driving a little more sedately and taking the time to take everything in.

Or so I have said😉

Cheers

Rich

[Medic-one]

Sorry, bit of a thread resurrection but the topic title was literally what I put into google search.

So I wanna do the Nufenen- , Grimsel-, Susten- and Furka pass over the summer (WW3 pending... ) but I've had a few times now where I put something in google maps (on my PC, planning routes), and it says it can't calculate a route.

Just looking for some recommendations of people that have done these passes before. And maybe also a decent route planner as google maps is given me headaches, and I tried that Waze but that won't let me change the route or add more then 1 destination.

We're in a hotel in Brienz overnight, which is near the Grimsel pass, so I thought get up early and start with Brienz to Gletsch, at the bottom of the Grimsel pass. But from there it won't let me route up the Furka pass so any tips are welcome.

After these passes the plan is to drive down to lake Como for a few nights.

[plenty]

Medic-one said:

Just looking for some recommendations of people that have done these passes before. And maybe also a decent route planner as google maps is given me headaches, and I tried that Waze but that won't let me change the route or add more then 1 destination.

The reason Google Maps won't allow you to plan routes via the passes is because the passes are currently closed. Try again in May and it will work.

Free software such as TYRE and ITNConverter allow you to plan via open-source base maps using drag/drop then export to Google Maps, or ITN/GPX files which can then be loaded onto a dedicated satnav device such as TomTom or Garmin.

Not that Google Maps has a limitation on the total number of waypoints you can include which might be a limitation when planning complex routes (the workaround is to break them up into chunks). And when following a route using Google Maps on your mobile you have to manually mark waypoints as visited which is a pain. Or at least this was the case last time I tried - Google change the product all the time.

I personally have still not found a better solution than my trusty 2008 TomTom.

Here's an ITNConverter screenshot of one of the days from my last Swiss driving excursion.

[jaybarts]

I’ve recently planned a trip for July on some of these routes, all you need to do is change your depart date on google maps to some time in the summer and it will give you the route over the passes like below:

[Gary C]

And take time to visit the Vosges on the way back through France.

Came over them in the EVO V years ago and they were fantastic fun.

[Medic-one]

plenty said:

Free software such as TYRE and ITNConverter allow you to plan via open-source base maps using drag/drop then export to Google Maps, or ITN/GPX files which can then be loaded onto a dedicated satnav device such as TomTom or Garmin.

Cheers, that's very helpful!

jaybarts said:

I’ve recently planned a trip for July on some of these routes, all you need to do is change your depart date on google maps to some time in the summer and it will give you the route over the passes like below:

Ah indeed, it works now! I can now plan my route through the passes, many thanks!

[Rich.H]

How ironic to see “my” thread pop back up as I have another trip to these roads planned in July!

I am doing the opposite to the most recent poster in that I will be spending time on Garda, Como and Maggiore before heading to Andermatt for a night. Plan is to get up early and drive the passes before heading back to our hotel for breakfast….

Rich

[Medic-one]

Rich.H said:

How ironic to see “my” thread pop back up as I have another trip to these roads planned in July!

I am doing the opposite to the most recent poster in that I will be spending time on Garda, Como and Maggiore before heading to Andermatt for a night. Plan is to get up early and drive the passes before heading back to our hotel for breakfast….

Rich

I'm going in July as well.

Have you been to garda and como before ? I'm looking at doing a couple nights at each lake but have never been. Any area's you'd recommend staying at ?

[Rich.H]

First visits to both Garda and Como for us. We have 3 nights booked in Riva Del Garda, partly as we are coming down from the Brenner Pass so it’s the first lake town we will encounter. My wife found a hotel she likes the look of here too.

We only have one night on Como (Bellagio), principally to break to journey from Garda to Maggiore. We then have 4 nights in Cannero Riviera in a lovely hotel right on the lake. It will be our third visit here.

Rich

[Medic-one]

Cheers Rich.

I've got a few passes on my list (Grimsel, Gotthard, Furka and Nufenen) but not that Brenner one, is that worth while doing as well then ?

We'll have to give you a wave if we see you , am I right in saying you'll be in a white 718 ? I'll be in a white 987.2

[Rich.H]

The Brenner Pass is the motorway south of Innsbruck so not that exciting! Unless you count the McDonalds that probably has the best view of any of their outlets…..

We are doing our usual route down to Northern Italy from Calais which involves an overnight in Baden Baden (via a bit of fun on the B500). Instead of heading to the Dolomites (visited Alta Badia a number of times) after the Brenner Pass, we will head past Bolzano and Trento before arriving on Garda.

My 718 is actually Crayon but yes, I’ll keep my eyes out….

Have a great trip

Rich

[mr pg]

For anyone doing the Andermatt loop I would highly recommend adding in the Nufenen Pass. It's just minutes away, is a delight and by far the quietest. I prefer it east to west.

[Medic-one]

mr pg said:

For anyone doing the Andermatt loop I would highly recommend adding in the Nufenen Pass. It's just minutes away, is a delight and by far the quietest. I prefer it east to west.

That's on the agenda as well.

I'm staying in Brienz overnight and from there I'm doing :

Grimsel pass (breinz to Gletch)
Furka pass (Gletch to Realp)
Gotthard pass (new) (Realp to Airolo)
Nuefen pass (Airolo to Ulrichen)

And because I'm going south from Airolo towards the lakes, I'm doing the Furka pass again, and then down the old Gotthard pass (the Tremola Pass) back down to Airolo and then onwards to the lakes.

Should be fun!

Edited by Medic-one on Monday 14th March 11:43