4 Alpine Panorama Route
4 Alpine Panorama Route

Cycling in Switzerland

etappe-0876

Alpine Panorama Route

Stage 4, Flüelen–Sörenberg

Route report
74 photos

VL_004_04_P1110321_R_F_M.jpg
etappe-0876

Alpine Panorama Route

Lake Lucerne is a lake with many faces in the heart of Switzerland and often whipped up by the wind. Lovely Lake Sarnen is close to where Brother Klaus, also known as Niklaus von der Flüe, once lived. And the crowning glory for bike riders: Panoramastrasse, a steep mountain pass leading to the Entlebuch valley.
Lake Lucerne is the fifth largest lake in Switzerland. Its German name is linked to the country’s four original cantons (Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden and Lucerne). The southern part between Flüelen and Brunnen is known as Lake Uri and it is usually a bit on the wild side. Traveling by regular boat service is a great alternative to the busy road along the shore. A boat trip is a lot of fun and Tell‘s Chapel can just as well be seen from the water. If you want to visit some Belle Epoque hotels, disembark in Brunnen. The car ferry in Gersau will later take you to Beckenried on the other side of the lake.

Between Beckenried and Buochs the tour follows the lake for a short while. Past the military airfield with Pilatus planes and along meadows, pastures and farmers bringing in the hay, the bike route continues to Stans, Nidwalden’s capital. If you don’t mind crowds of tourists, take a quaint funicular and a state-of-the-art double-decker gondola up to Stanserhorn Mountain. The views of a 100 km mountain chain and ten lakes are awe-inspiring. Alpnachersee, another part of Lake Lucerne, is a quiet spot. But Alpnachstad has a major highlight in store: the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, in operation since 1889, and with a gradient of up to 48 percent takes the travellers to Mt. Pilatus. However, the story of Niklaus von der Flüe goes even further back. Born in Flüeli above Lake Sarnen in 1417, the hermit from the Canton Obwalden is Switzerland’s patron saint. He was canonised in 1947.

Yodeller Ruedi Rymann is not a saint (at least, not yet), but the Schacherseppli discovery trail created in his honour in Giswil is an experience. Be prepared - the fun is over now: the road across Glaubenbielen Pass is steep and strenuous. On the side of the road you will see old farm houses and some of the steep mountainsides are still being mowed by hand. The lifts at Mörlialp make it obvious that this is a ski area in winter. No wonder the vegetation on the downhill ride through Mariental to Sörenberg is so vigorous and healthy. After all, you’re already in the region where the Entlebuch UNESCO biosphere reserve is located.
Lake Lucerne is a lake with many faces in the heart of Switzerland and often whipped up by the wind. Lovely Lake Sarnen is close to where Brother Klaus, also known as Niklaus von der Flüe, once lived. And the crowning glory for bike riders: Panoramastrasse, a steep mountain pass leading to the Entlebuch valley.
Lake Lucerne is the fifth largest lake in Switzerland. Its German name is linked to the country’s four original cantons (Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden and Lucerne). The southern part between Flüelen and Brunnen is known as Lake Uri and it is usually a bit on the wild side. Traveling by regular boat service is a great alternative to the busy road along the shore. A boat trip is a lot of fun and Tell‘s Chapel can just as well be seen from the water. If you want to visit some Belle Epoque hotels, disembark in Brunnen. The car ferry in Gersau will later take you to Beckenried on the other side of the lake.

Between Beckenried and Buochs the tour follows the lake for a short while. Past the military airfield with Pilatus planes and along meadows, pastures and farmers bringing in the hay, the bike route continues to Stans, Nidwalden’s capital. If you don’t mind crowds of tourists, take a quaint funicular and a state-of-the-art double-decker gondola up to Stanserhorn Mountain. The views of a 100 km mountain chain and ten lakes are awe-inspiring. Alpnachersee, another part of Lake Lucerne, is a quiet spot. But Alpnachstad has a major highlight in store: the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, in operation since 1889, and with a gradient of up to 48 percent takes the travellers to Mt. Pilatus. However, the story of Niklaus von der Flüe goes even further back. Born in Flüeli above Lake Sarnen in 1417, the hermit from the Canton Obwalden is Switzerland’s patron saint. He was canonised in 1947.

Yodeller Ruedi Rymann is not a saint (at least, not yet), but the Schacherseppli discovery trail created in his honour in Giswil is an experience. Be prepared - the fun is over now: the road across Glaubenbielen Pass is steep and strenuous. On the side of the road you will see old farm houses and some of the steep mountainsides are still being mowed by hand. The lifts at Mörlialp make it obvious that this is a ski area in winter. No wonder the vegetation on the downhill ride through Mariental to Sörenberg is so vigorous and healthy. After all, you’re already in the region where the Entlebuch UNESCO biosphere reserve is located.
77 km
Asphalted: 77 km
Natural surface: 0 km
1650 m | 900 m
difficult

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Flüelen
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

Season

Season
Please note: Glaubenbielen pass open from approx. May to October. Info Tel 163.

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Danger: Axenstrasse (Brunnen–Flüelen)
Reason
Other
Along Lake Lucerne between Brunnen and Flüelen the route leads over the Axenstrasse. The Axenstrasse is narrow, heavily traveled and very dangerous. We strongly recommend you travel this stretch by train or with an attractive boat trip. Our recommendation is the No. 31 rail connection or No. 29 by boat for this stretch.
Data source: SwitzerlandMobility / Cantonal office
Avoidance of traffic
Between Brunnen and Flüelen there is a train that can be used to avoid city.
Metres in height saved: approx. 150m.
Closure during the night, Sisikon–Flüelen
Duration
02.05.2022 - 14.07.2023
Reason
reasonid-2
The route must be closed on individual nights from 20.00 to 05.00 hrs. The closure will be signalled in Brunnen and in Flüelen. There are no restrictions or closures from Friday 20.00 to Monday 05.00 and during the summer holidays from 27.06.2022 to 14.08.2022.
Data source: SwitzerlandMobility / Cantonal office
Crossing Vierwaldstättersee
Between Beckenried and Gersau, a ferry takes you across the Vierwaldstättersee. Please note the reduced timetable outside the summer season.
Please note: departure point ferry and departure point scheduled boats approx. 1.5km apart.
www.autofaehre.ch
Saving metres in altitude Glaubenbielen
There is a bus between Giswil, Bahnhof and Glaubenbielen, Parkplatz that saves about 1150 metres in altitude.

Hints

Guides
There is a guide available for this route in German and French.
More

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Sörenberg, Post
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

Services

Accommodation

Hotel Zum Schwarzen Löwen
Hotel Zum Schwarzen Löwen
Altdorf UR
Wissig-Hof
Wissig-Hof
Seelisberg
Jugendherberge Seelisberg
Jugendherberge Seelisberg
Seelisberg
Ferienhof Rüti
Ferienhof Rüti
Morschach
Chlosterhof
Chlosterhof
Brunnen
Hotel Schmid & Alfa
Hotel Schmid & Alfa
Brunnen
Seehotel Waldstätterhof
Seehotel Waldstätterhof
Brunnen
City-Hotel
City-Hotel
Brunnen
Seeblick Höhenhotel
Seeblick Höhenhotel
Emmetten
See- und Seminarhotel FloraAlpina
See- und Seminarhotel FloraAlpina
Vitznau
Hotel-Restaurant Rössli
Hotel-Restaurant Rössli
Beckenried
Hotel Nidwaldnerhof
Hotel Nidwaldnerhof
Beckenried
TCS Camping Buochs Vierwaldstättersee
TCS Camping Buochs Vierwaldstättersee
Buochs
Gasthof Schützenhaus Wil
Gasthof Schützenhaus Wil
Oberdorf/Stans
Bauernhof Familie Waser
Bauernhof Familie Waser
Stans
TCS Camping Luzern - Horw
TCS Camping Luzern - Horw
Horw
Landgasthof Schlüssel Alpnach
Landgasthof Schlüssel Alpnach
Alpnach Dorf
Bio Hof Eggmatt
Bio Hof Eggmatt
Alpnach Dorf
Hotel Krone Sarnen
Hotel Krone Sarnen
Sarnen
Erlebnisbauernhof Weid
Erlebnisbauernhof Weid
Kerns
Haus des Schweizer Rudersports
Haus des Schweizer Rudersports
Sarnen
B&B Restaurant Peterhof Garni
B&B Restaurant Peterhof Garni
Sarnen
Hotel Kurhaus am Sarnersee
Hotel Kurhaus am Sarnersee
Wilen (Sarnen)
Camping Seefeld Park Sarnen
Camping Seefeld Park Sarnen
Sarnen
Verena’s Boutique Villa au Lac
Verena’s Boutique Villa au Lac
Sachseln
Seehotel Wilerbad
Seehotel Wilerbad
Wilen am Sarnersee
Landgasthof Zollhaus
Landgasthof Zollhaus
Giswil
Camping International Sarnersee Giswil
Camping International Sarnersee Giswil
Giswil
Hotel Bahnhof
Hotel Bahnhof
Giswil
Fluonalp Alpkäserei und Beizli
Fluonalp Alpkäserei und Beizli
Giswil
Bärghuis Schönbüel
Bärghuis Schönbüel
Lungern
Hotel Sörenberg
Hotel Sörenberg
Sörenberg
Hotel Rischli
Hotel Rischli
Sörenberg
Birkenhof
Birkenhof
Sörenberg
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Bookable offers

4 Alpine Panorama Route enjoyment tour
4 Alpine Panorama Route enjoyment tour
Route 1291
Route 1291
3 North-South Route Basel-Chiasso
3 North-South Route Basel-Chiasso
4 Alpine Panorama Route
4 Alpine Panorama Route
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Places

Altdorf
Altdorf
Flüelen
Flüelen
Sisikon
Sisikon
Seelisberg
Seelisberg
Morschach
Morschach
Brunnen
Brunnen
Gersau
Gersau
Vitznau
Vitznau
Emmetten
Emmetten
Beckenried - Klewenalp
Beckenried - Klewenalp
Buochs
Buochs
Bürgenstock
Bürgenstock
Stans
Stans
Stansstad
Stansstad
Pilatus
Pilatus
Alpnachstad
Alpnachstad
Sarnen
Sarnen
Flüeli-Ranft
Flüeli-Ranft
Sachseln
Sachseln
Giswil
Giswil
Schönbüel OW
Schönbüel OW
Brienzer Rothorn
Brienzer Rothorn
Sörenberg
Sörenberg
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Places of interest

Monument of Wiliam Tell
Monument of Wiliam Tell
Bathing islands Lorelei Altdorf
Bathing islands Lorelei Altdorf
Axenstrasse (Flüelen–Sisikon–Brunnen)
Axenstrasse (Flüelen–Sisikon–Brunnen)
Aussichtsparadies Stoos-Fronalpstock
Aussichtsparadies Stoos-Fronalpstock
Rütli
Rütli
Sweet chestnuts on Lake Lucerne
Sweet chestnuts on Lake Lucerne
Treib - Seelisberg Cable Railway
Treib - Seelisberg Cable Railway
Swiss Holiday Park Morschach
Swiss Holiday Park Morschach
Swiss Holiday Park
Swiss Holiday Park
Wood Trail und Natural Bike Park
Wood Trail und Natural Bike Park
Vitznau Fortress (Festung Vitznau)
Vitznau Fortress (Festung Vitznau)
Hammetschwand Lift Bürgenstock
Hammetschwand Lift Bürgenstock
Medieval town of Stans
Medieval town of Stans
Nidwalden Museum
Nidwalden Museum
Hergiswil Glassworks
Hergiswil Glassworks
Mount Pilatus
Mount Pilatus
High Bridge, Kerns
High Bridge, Kerns
Brother Klaus Museum, Sachseln
Brother Klaus Museum, Sachseln
Burial chapel of Brother Klaus
Burial chapel of Brother Klaus
Mooraculum Sörenberg Entlebuch
Mooraculum Sörenberg Entlebuch
Mire landscapes Salwiden
Mire landscapes Salwiden
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