Cycling in Switzerland
Alpine Panorama Route
Stage 4, Flüelen–Sörenberg
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Alpine Panorama Route
Stage 4, Flüelen–Sörenberg
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.
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.
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.
Length
77 km
Roads and trails
Asphalted: 77 km
Natural surface: 0 km
Natural surface: 0 km
Ascent | Descent
1650 m | 900 m
Fitness level
difficult
Arrival | return travel
Season
Season
Please note: Glaubenbielen pass open from approx. May to October. Info Tel 163.
More …
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.
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
Please note: departure point ferry and departure point scheduled boats approx. 1.5km apart.
Saving metres in altitude Glaubenbielen
There is a bus between Giswil, Bahnhof and Glaubenbielen, Parkplatz that saves about 1150 metres in altitude.
