Alpine Bike
Overview
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Distance 39 km
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Ascent 1750 m
Intro
Scenic, unsurfaced trail alongside the Upper Engadine lakes, lovely single trail with wide views above Isola. From Val Bregaglia, an old mule trail leads over the Septimerpass, demanding; even the best bikers give their all. Carrying passages unavoidable here.
Detour / Closure
There are detours or closures along this route, for more information see https://schweizmobil.ch/en/mountainbiking-in-switzerland/route-1/stage-4
Description
The fourth stage of the Alpine Bike route leads over the old Septimer Pass. Warning: If you follow the route described, you’ll have to carry or push your bike up just under 500 metres in altitude from the Val Maroz. Here’s a tip for you: If you’re just doing one stage and not the whole route, you can also start in Bivio. This means you can ride up the ascent to the Septimer Pass, and the descent is also feasible for advanced cyclists.
The SwitzerlandMobility stage begins in St. Moritz Bad. The first ascent to Alp Surlej follows a pleasant warm-up on the gravel road above the Lej da Champfèr. The view over Lake Silvaplana to the surrounding mountains is breathtaking. So is the forest: The idyllic route continues, now above Lake Sils. From Alp Petpreir, you start a gentle descent to Maloja, followed shortly after by the Rovine di San Guadenzio (ruins of San Gaudenzio Church).
The next climb begins: It’s around 300 metres in altitude to the Val Maroz. The Maira Valley is beautiful and solitary. You now have to push or carry your bike. It’s barely possible to ride up the ascent across the Septimer Pass. All the effort notwithstanding, the vegetation and the view are enchanting. Passing by the “Sascel battü” (hewn stone), you’ve completed around half of this “bike hike”. The rock face also marks the border between the Val Bregaglia and Bivio. Around one hour later, you finally reach the Septimer Pass. It was used as far back as the times of both the Romans and the Walser people. They took cattle and cartloads of foodstuffs to Milan, where they sold them and bought new goods. The importance of the route waned following the construction of the Julierstrasse road at the start of the 19th century.
From the top of the pass, you descend to Bivio. Over Alp Tgavretga and between the peaks of Piz Grevasalvas, Sur al Cant and Piz Neir, you can gently freewheel down the more than 500 metres in altitude, mainly on gravel. Bivio has been shaped by the Septimer and Julier Passes for centuries. Three languages are spoken in the highest village in the Val Surses: German, Romansh and Italian. The thoroughfare village is also a hiking paradise, and in the winter, families in particular love the clearly laid out ski resort.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Type |
All Mountain
|
|---|---|
| Start location |
St. Moritz
|
| Destination |
Bivio
|
| Direction |
One way
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| Ascent |
1750 m
|
| Descent |
1750 m
|
| Distance |
39 km
|
| Distance on tarred ways |
10 km
|
| Distance on natural surface |
22 km
|
| Singletrail (part of natural surface) |
7 km
|
| Technical requirements |
Difficult
|
| Physical requirements |
Difficult
|
| Theme |
With panoramic view, Over a pass, Through a nature conservation area
|
| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/mountainbiking-in-switz... |
Quick Facts
Route number
