Next Summer - Alpine Run - would love some critiques/advice

[midnightdorifto]

Howdy cartography experts - substantial birthday coming up next year means I'm in a spot to take a trip across the pond to fulfill a dream I've had for nearly 20 years about a road trip in, around, and through the Alps. I've been working on refining the route - using threads from this subforum, books from my local library, buying beers for folks in my automotive orbit who have been in this part of the world, and there's a Tour de France stage or two thrown in for good measure.

What I've got is a 7-10 day route starting from a Porsche rental center in either Stuttgart of Munich (didn't know they had those and it's enabled some really intrusive thoughts) and essentially running around the border of Switzerland. I'd love to get some feedback from folks who have done any or all of this route in the past - hopefully this GPX route viewer works for y'all so you can dive in and see how I've got it staged. I'm thinking about doing this in June so I've got a decent likelihood that the passes are open at elevation.

Also if anyone has experience with renting from Porsche Drive, I'd love to hear about it.

[EDIT] This export isn't quite perfect - the segment between Jausiers and Saint-Etienne-de-Tinee got cut out from the original map, but it gets the general route roughly correct.

https://www.gpsvisualizer.com/display/map/20251024...

Edited by midnightdorifto on Saturday 25th October 01:08

[mr pg]

As you're passing Andermatt I would hope you take in the loop (Susten, Grimsell, Furka and also Nufenen)? I would also not use the Gotthard tunnel and instead use one of the passes above it.
Near Salzburg I'd also recommend visiting the Eagles Nest.
I'd skip the Frejus tunnel and instead take the Mt Cenis pass.

Edited by mr pg on Saturday 25th October 07:37

[midnightdorifto]

mr pg said:

As you're passing Andermatt I would hope you take in the loop (Susten, Grimsell, Furka and also Nufenen)? I would also not use the Gotthard tunnel and instead use one of the passes above it.
Near Salzburg I'd also recommend visiting the Eagles Nest.
I'd skip the Frejus tunnel and instead take the Mt Cenis pass.

Edited by mr pg on Saturday 25th October 07:37

This is incredibly helpful - I've made some alterations to my original route accordingly (and figured out how to shut off road closures so I can plot through the winter).

One question for you - is it worth taking the day to do the full loop? I've seen some commentary elsewhere that Nufenen is probably a better road than Furka - if I had to do just one, would you skip Furka and take Nufenen?

[twibs]

I would suggest calling in on Colmar and Mulhouse.
Plus the b500, stopping off for a go on the toboggan run.

[mr pg]

midnightdorifto said:

This is incredibly helpful - I've made some alterations to my original route accordingly (and figured out how to shut off road closures so I can plot through the winter).

One question for you - is it worth taking the day to do the full loop? I've seen some commentary elsewhere that Nufenen is probably a better road than Furka - if I had to do just one, would you skip Furka and take Nufenen?

Yes, use a day for the loop. Nufenen is a better drive, Furka more picturesque imv. I prefer Nufenen.

[rst99]

I'm not sure weather you are going clockwise or anti-clockwise, but for the Blackforest section I would stay on the B500 all the way from Baden-Baden to Waldshut near the Swiss border. Cracking road all the way with Lake Titisee and Wolfach en route.

For your Dolomites section I would include driving the Sella Ronda. You will cover the Sella Pass, Gardena Pass, Pordoi Pass, and Giau Pass and it is sensational. Your route already includes the Gardena Pass. Corvara and Santa Christina are nice ski villages for accommodation in that area.

As mentioned, above avoid the tunnels. I would also avoid motorways as much as possible.

[midnightdorifto]

twibs said:

I would suggest calling in on Colmar and Mulhouse.
Plus the b500, stopping off for a go on the toboggan run.

This…is a great idea. Got the revision booked in!

[midnightdorifto]

rst99 said:

I'm not sure weather you are going clockwise or anti-clockwise, but for the Blackforest section I would stay on the B500 all the way from Baden-Baden to Waldshut near the Swiss border. Cracking road all the way with Lake Titisee and Wolfach en route.

For your Dolomites section I would include driving the Sella Ronda. You will cover the Sella Pass, Gardena Pass, Pordoi Pass, and Giau Pass and it is sensational. Your route already includes the Gardena Pass. Corvara and Santa Christina are nice ski villages for accommodation in that area.

As mentioned, above avoid the tunnels. I would also avoid motorways as much as possible.

As it turns out - Canazei ends up being the perfect place to stop for lunch on the loop. Thank you!

[Michael_B]

What’s your precise route south of Grenoble and back north on the Route des Grandes Alpes? E.g. It looks like D1075 whereas I’d probably recommend the N85 further west. It’s not that clear how you get across to south of the Col de la Bonette either.

I’ve lived in Geneva for >25 years and ridden that region by motorbike at least once annually; next trip is to Corsica (for the fifth time) next September. I’ll be happy to share a few tips and recommendations.

PS I’ve got the day off today and am driving to Thun and back via the Fribourg Alps for a spot of lunch. Tough job, but someone’s gotta do it

[midnightdorifto]

Michael_B said:

What s your precise route south of Grenoble and back north on the Route des Grandes Alpes? E.g. It looks like D1075 whereas I d probably recommend the N85 further west. It s not that clear how you get across to south of the Col de la Bonette either.

I ve lived in Geneva for >25 years and ridden that region by motorbike at least once annually; next trip is to Corsica (for the fifth time) next September. I ll be happy to share a few tips and recommendations.

PS I ve got the day off today and am driving to Thun and back via the Fribourg Alps for a spot of lunch. Tough job, but someone s gotta do it

You are correct - I've currently got the route taking D1075, would you recommend taking the N85 (through Gap) up to Grenoble? I think that follows the traditional Route Napoelon.

And here's the route I've got departing Col de la Bonette:



And that sounds like a *delightful* way to spend a day off right there!

[Michael_B]

midnightdorifto said:

You are correct - I've currently got the route taking D1075, would you recommend taking the N85 (through Gap) up to Grenoble? I think that follows the traditional Route Napoelon.

I have only bad memories of the D1075, (I think I've done it twice) but that may be due to encountering lots of Dutch/German RV's on long stretches that it was difficult to pass on a motorbike let alone in a car. the Route Napoléon is more a sweeping A road, more safe overtaking opportunities, with great views as you head into Gap itself.

midnightdorifto said:

And here's the route I've got departing Col de la Bonette:

Looks good, but I would heartily recommend staying on the D4202 going a bit further west and taking the D28 up through the Gorge du Cians (a quite rare red rock canyon for that area) and perhaps a coffee/spot of lunch in Breuil at the top.

That said, it's hard to find a bad road in that entire region. I don't even bother with a GPS for the past ten years; I know where all the main towns and features are, so I just follow my nose and the road signs

ETA I misunderstood which direction you were travelling, but the comnents still stand, apart from the views going down into Gap

midnightdorifto said:

And that sounds like a *delightful* way to spend a day off right there!

Indeed it was. Lunch was great and I didn't even have to get up from my seat in the Brasserie 66 to take this photo through the window.

Edited by Michael_B on Saturday 1st November 18:25

[skidskid]

mr pg said:

midnightdorifto said:

One question for you - is it worth taking the day to do the full loop? I've seen some commentary elsewhere that Nufenen is probably a better road than Furka - if I had to do just one, would you skip Furka and take Nufenen?

Yes, use a day for the loop. Nufenen is a better drive, Furka more picturesque imv. I prefer Nufenen.

I spent a few days doing these roads last month. I would recommend staying in Andrematt, getting up before dawn to do the Furka pass (getting to the James Bond sign as the sun comes up and the Belvédère just after) and the northern Andermatt loop. Get back to your Andermatt hotel for breakfast. Head out for the southern loop of the Nefenen pass to Gottard pass, taking the old cobbled road. Stop here for lunch and do the Sasso San Gottardo bunker museum. Head back to Andermatt, little nap, wake up late afternoon to do the northern loop in reverse, back to your hotel in Andermatt just in time for Fondue.

Great day out.

[anonymous-user]

Definitely stop at Mulhouse and visit the “cite d lautomobile “
It’s interesting for any petrol head for a few hours and make sure you stop at the test track , figure of 8 , out the back of the museum just before you exit , there used to be a selection of classic cars available for hire to take around the track , we drove a 356 cabriolet Porsche and a c1 corvette but plenty of others were available.