The Swiss Alpine Pass Route - Via Alpina Route 1

Guidebook to the Alpine Pass Route following the Swiss Via Alpina 1, a 360km trek east-west across Switzerland, from Sargans, on the border of Liechtenstein, to Montreux, including prologue from Liechtenstein. A demanding 3-week trek described in 18 stages, crossing 16 passes including the 2778m Hohtürli. Requires good fitness and experience.

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Overview

This guidebook presents the stunning Alpine Pass Route, now fully waymarked as Via Alpina 1. The 360km trail traverses Switzerland from east to west, from Sargans near the Liechtenstein border to Montreux on Lac Leman (Lake Geneva). Crossing sixteen Alpine passes, it showcases some of the country's most breathtaking mountain landscapes, boasting views of iconic peaks such as the Wetterhorn, Eiger, Jungfrau and Les Diablerets.

The route is suitable for those with some experience of Alpine trekking: it amasses over 20,000m of ascent and involves some steep sections. It can be completed in 2-3 weeks, although it is also possible to walk shorter sections; alternatively postbus, cable-car and rail connections could be used to allow for a tighter schedule.

The route is presented in 18 stages, each featuring step-by-step route description accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping, route profiles and notes on transport, accommodation and facilities. In addition, a 26km prologue in Liechtenstein and an alternative finish following the old course of the Alpine Pass Route via Gsteig are also described. Accommodation options range from mountain huts to hotels and inns, with camping available at a number of licensed sites along the route.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
The Swiss Alpine Pass Route
Suggested itineraries
When to go
Getting there – and back again
Accommodation
Languages
Notes for walkers
Paths and waymarks
Recommended maps
Safety in the mountains
Information at a glance
Using this guide
The Swiss Alpine Pass Route – Via Alpina Route 1
Prologue – The Liechtenstein start
Prologue A European Via Alpina Steg – Gaflei
Prologue B Via Alpina Gaflei – Sargans
The main route
Stage 1 Sargans – Mels – Weisstannen
Stage 2 Weisstannen – Foopass – Elm
Stage 3 Elm – Richetlipass – Linthal
Stage 4 Linthal – Braunwald – Urnerboden
Stage 5 Urnerboden – Klausenpass – Altdorf
Stage 6 Altdorf – Surenenpass – Engelberg
Stage 7 Engelberg – Jochpass – Engstlenalp
Stage 8 Engstlenalp – Planplatten – Meiringen
Stage 9 Meiringen – Grosse Scheidegg – Grindelwald
Stage 10 Grindelwald – Kleine Scheidegg – Lauterbrunnen
Stage 11 Lauterbrunnen – Mürren – Sefinenfurke – Griesalp
Stage 12 Griesalp – Hohtürli – Kandersteg
Stage 13 Kandersteg – Bunderchrinde – Adelboden
Stage 14 Adelboden – Hahnenmoospass – Lenk
Stage 15 Lenk – Trüttlisbergpass – Gstaad
Stage 16 Gstaad – Col de Jable – L’Etivaz
Stage 17 L’Etivaz – Col de Chaude – Rochers de Naye
Stage 18 Rochers de Naye – Sonchaux – Montreux
Alternative finish
Stage 15A Lenk – Lauenen – Gsteig
Stage 16A Gsteig – Blattipass – Col des Andérets – Col des Mosses
Stage 17A Col des Mosses – Col de Chaude – Montreux

Appendix A Useful addresses
Appendix B Bibliography
Appendix C German–French–English glossary

Updates

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August 2021

Stage 5 Urnerboden–Klausenpass–Altdorf

Thanks to Lou Stone for this update to the off-route variant on Stage 5 Urnerboden–Klausenpass–Altdorf. The variant starts on P80, and is not part of the waymarked VA1 route.

The alternative descent from Äsch to Spirigen and ultimately Altdorf is no longer passable. The route is fine on waymarked paths as far as Unterschächen but the forest/riverside track after Unterschächen is closed. If you want to take this Âsch descent, either take paths from Unterschächen up to Urigen or a bus into Altdorf.

If wet, please note that the descent path to Äsch is steep, and the waymarked Via Alpina route is probably safest.

July 2021

Updates

Please note the following changes to information given in the latest (2017) edition:

p56: Hotel Gemse in Weisstannen is no longer closed on Thursdays – but Tues & Weds instead

p84: Please remove website for Hotel Birchweid from Altdorf accommodation list

p104: Tourist information for Meiringen is now found via www.region-haslital.ch

September 2017

Route updates

Many thanks to author Gillian Price for these comments from their September 2017 walk through the central part of the APR.

As promised, here are my update notes for the APR route Altsdorf-Kendersteg stretch that I did in August.

Stage 6: an alternate descent is feasible (we didn't do it but others did) from the junction above Stabele p91 at the bridge. Take R fork (says 1hr 10) for Furenalp then cablecar down. NB A bus runs from the lower Furenalp station (very handy for the main route!) into Engelberg.

Stage 8: p101 and start p102. If you're on the ridge (via Balmeregghorn) you detour the junction mentioned with the blue route so suggest remove as it could be confusing.

Stage 9: p114 margin comment about path closure - still closed.

Stage 11: p134 line 2 - ... after about 400m uphill, the Via Alpina leaves the tarmac as a path into the woods, contouring. It crosses the Schiltbach to Pension Spielbodenalp. (Suggest remove the rest as it's clearly signposted)

p136 last para - a cable accompanying the steps was lying on the ground loose and many walkers found this stretch tricky (me included).

Stage 12: p145 para 2 - Instead of 'The path now descends with cables' the situation has changed to 'You now descend a stony farm lane slanting down a cliff. At the foot you reach the alp of Unter Bargl...'

The following information has been received regarding accommodation and route changes to the Swiss Alpine Pass Route:

Stage 12: The route described in paragraph 2 on p145, as descending ‘a well-made stairway with fixed cables’ has changed. The way now descends a stony farm lane slanting down a cliff, at the foot of which you reach the alp of Unter Bärgli.

Stage 14: Restaurant Geilsbrüggli in Geils (p158) no longer provides accommodation.

Stage 16: With accommodation in L’Etivaz (p174) being limited to Hotel du Chamois, should this be full (or closed), please note that buses run to Château d’Oex (last bus 19:04 in summer 2017) where one-star Buffet de la Gare has been recommended by a reader.

Stage 17: We have been informed that the route from L’Etivaz to Rochers de Naye has been altered. Instead of going directly to Sonlomont, it now goes from L’Etivaz to Rossiniere, then to Sonlomont to join the original route as described in the guidebook– see map on 176.

Reviews

An indispensable resource

This guidebook details everything you need, including route information and details of the accommodation options along the way. An indispensable resource.

Adventure Travel magazine.

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