Switzerland · Alps
Sustenpass
Perhaps the most scenic Swiss pass road, engineered in the 1940s with elegant curves that glide through glacial valleys.
- Length
- 17.0 km
- Avg gradient
- 7.0%
- Max gradient
- 9%
- Elevation gain
- 1,190 m
- Summit
- 2,224 m
- Hairpins
- 20
Versants
- From Innertkirchen — 17.0 km at 7.0% (max 9%)
- From Wassen — 17.8 km at 7.3% (max 9%)
History
The Sustenpass is often cited as one of the world's most beautiful mountain roads, engineered in the 1940s with curves that seem to glide across the Alpine terrain rather than brutally cut through it. The road was designed with aesthetics as a primary consideration, which is unusual for a working Alpine pass.
From Innertkirchen the climb is 17 km at 7% average, gaining 1,190 m through glacial valleys and past wild streams. The road surface is pristine and the gradient is consistent, which makes the Susten one of the more enjoyable sustained climbs in the Alps from a pure riding perspective.
The pass sits at 2,224 m between the Bernese and Uri Alps, and the views from the top are of glaciated peaks and barren rocky terrain. The road is quieter than the Gotthard or Furka nearby, and cycling tourism has increased as word has spread about the combination of difficulty, scenery, and road quality.