To start, brush up on your mountain driving and tight turns on the serene Brünig Pass (1008 m).
Then, one by one, across the Grimsel Pass (2164 m) to the Upper Valais, from there across the Furka Pass (2429 m) to Uri, then over the Susten Pass (2224 m) to the Bernese Oberland and finally across the Brünig again back to Obwalden.
Not only is there much to see on this interesting route, there is also plenty to do. For example, take a side trip to the impressive Aare Gorge or hop on the old-fashioned funicular and ride up to the Reichenbach Fall. We recommend a last stop to take in the fantastic views of Lake Lungern from the Chälrütirank lookout.
Route
Sachseln – Brünig Pass – Meiringen – Grimsel Pass – Furka Pass – Andermatt – Susten Pass – Meiringen – Brünig Pass – Sachseln
Alternative from Andermatt: Erstfeld – Flüelen – Sisikon – Brunnen – Gersau (ferry) – Beckenried – Stans – Kerns – Sarnen – Sachseln
Duration: 3 hours
Length: 296 km
Ascent/descent: 6962 m
Highest point: 2473 m
Tip 1: Brother Klaus Museum, Sachseln
The museum is a memorial to Niklaus von Flüe (1417-1487), or Brother Klaus, patron saint of Switzerland. It is housed in a stately town house, built in 1784 on the village square of Sachseln. The basic exhibition was renewed in 2012 and introduces the mystic, politician and national saint, the peacemaker, mediator and advisor.
Tip 2: Chälrütirank Lookout, Lungern
The Brünig Pass connects the Bernese Oberland with the Canton Obwalden in central Switzerland. From the Bernese Oberland (Hasliberg or Brienzwiler and Meiringen) it continues to Lungern and Giswil in Obwalden. The Chälrütirank lookout is located on the way from the Brünig to Lungern and offers spectacular views of Lake Lungern.
Tip 3: Open-air Museum Ballenberg, Hofstetten near Brienz
The open-air museum Ballenberg is situated in the heart of Switzerland, nestled between the two beautiful holiday destinations Haslital (Meiringen-Hasliberg) and Interlaken. The hilly museum area above Brienz is dotted by forests and surrounded by a picturesque alpine panorama.
Tip 4: Aare Gorge Meiringen
It took tens of thousands of years for the Aare river to carve its way through the limestone cliffs and create a gorge of 1.4 km length and a depth of up to 200 m. The path through the Aare Gorge is 1 - 2 meters wide and safe to walk. It follows a trail of wooden planking with steel girders anchored in the rock for about 1 km, meanders through tunnels and galleries inside the rock for 400 m, and more than 250 m of it is a gravel path. The walk through the entire Aare Gorge takes about 40 minutes.
Tip 5: Reichenbach Funicular, Meiringen
The thundering waters of the Reichenbach Fall guided the courageous engineers as they laid the tracks for the funicular in 1899. Close to the raging river and the towering 120 meter high Reichenbach Fall the old-fashioned funicular with its faithfully reproduced 24-seat wooden carriage climbs higher and higher. Not far from the mountain station there are three observation platforms offering breath-taking views of the cataract and the Haslital area.
Tip 6: Gelmerbahn, Guttannen
Anybody who is ready for a thrill ride will find it on the Gelmerbahn. A maximum gradient of 106 percent undisputedly makes it Europe’s steepest funicular. Once used for the transport of tons of building materials, it is now open to adventurous hikers, taking them from the valley up to an altitude of 1860 meters in no time.
Tip 7: Furka Steam Railway, Andermatt
The railway route from Realp across the Furka Pass to Oberwald is 18 km long and one of extremes: 90% of the route is at altitudes between 1500 and 2160 m and has a distinctive high mountain character.
Tip 8: Urseren Valley Museum, Andermatt
The Urseren Valley Museum in Andermatt provides insight to the culture and history of the Urseren Valley. The building where it is housed alone is well worth a visit. It is located in one of the most beautiful aristocratic buildings in the Urseren Valley. The house was built in 1786 as a residential and commercial building. On 25 September 1799 the Russian General Suvorov used it as his headquarters.
Tip 9: Schöllenen Gorge and Devil’s Bridge, Göschenen
The Schöllenen Gorge is not just a myth: the route passing through it also reveals the powers that are acting here. After the Urnerloch you will see the waterfall near the parking lot, where the young Reuss passes over a terrace. Next, our attention is drawn to the legendary Devil’s Bridge and the site where the small Antonius chapel stood until the 19th century. The Häderlis Bridge and Devil’s Rock are also part of the route, a section of the road covered with old paving and a boulder complete with sandy beach and pool.
Tip 10: CabriO Cable Car Stanserhorn, Stans
Standing on the roof of the cable car with the wind in your hair, enjoying fantastic panoramic views and riding up to the Stanserhorn at 1,900 meters is what was expected from the new cable car. The CabriO is the world’s first cable car with a roofless upper deck.
