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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.
Seasons
From the start of July through to September. August can be wet, and an early trek may find snow on the higher passes, so suitable additional equipment would be essential.
Centres
Sargans, Elm, Linthal, Altdorf, Engelberg, Meiringen, Grindlewald, Lauterbrunnen, Kandersteg, Adelboden, Lenk, Gstaad, Col des Mosses, Montreux
Difficulty
It's pretty tough: the route amasses over 20,000m of ascent and nearly every day involves a pass crossing. Some higher passes and ridges present occasional exposure and technical difficulty.
Must See
The Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau near Grindlewald, valley-pass landscapes every day, the Lauterbrunnen valley, the Oeschinensee above Kandersteg
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
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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A lifelong passion for the countryside in general, and mountains in particular, drives Kev's desire to share his sense of wonder and delight in the natural world through his writing, photography and lecturing.
Claiming to be The Man with the World's Best Job, he has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Cicerone since the 1970s, producing over 50 books, including guides to five major trekking regions of Nepal, and to numerous routes in the European Alps and Pyrenees, as well as walking guides for Kent, Sussex and the Cotswolds.
