Aare route - Aare-Route

Tour profile
	height	km	Hm
Oberwald VS (Gletsch)		0	0
Meiringen		38	500
Tuna		100	380
Biel		179	340
Aarau		263	140
Koblenz (Switzerland)		305	120
Overview

The Aare route leads from Oberwald VS above Interlaken and Bern to Koblenz AG on the Rhine.

Route profile

Length: 305 km, of which unpaved: 64 km
Signposting: The route is as Aare route no.8 signposted.
Requirement: easy to medium (except Grimsel Pass)
Slopes:

Oberwald (Gletsch) –Koblenz: 1,700 m

Koblenz – Oberwald (Gletsch): 3,100 m

Incline with Veloverlad in train, bus or ship:

Oberwald (Gletsch) –Koblenz: 780 m

Koblenz – Oberwald (Gletsch): 1050 m

Path condition: Well, 64 km are unpaved
Traffic load:
Suitable bike:
Fitness: Young people, adults, from Meiringen also families
Inline suitability:
Good to know:Brienz – Iseltwald, Hinterkappelen – Golats: short pushing distances.

background

On the Aare route one experiences the growth of the Aare from a glacial lake to the union with the Rhine in Koblenz (Switzerland). The cycle path passes the Brienzer and the Brienz Lake Thun, runs through the capital of Switzerland Bernbriefly touches the Lake Biel, then it goes through the cities Solothurn and Olten until after Koblenz AG.

preparation

getting there

Public transportation

Many places on the national routes from Cycling in Switzerland can be reached by train or by post bus. (please refer Bicycle transport in Switzerland)

Arrival by train Zurich - Oberwald: a good 3 hours journey time, normal price: 55.20 CHF, from Basel SBB: 76.20 CHF.
From Oberwald Bahnhof to Gletsch there are still 389 meters in altitude over 6 km on the Rhone route to be mastered until the Aare route begins.

Bus ride Oberwald - Grimsel Passhöhe: 32 min., Fare: 14.20 CHF
Bus ride Meiringen - Grimsel Passhöhe: approx. 1 hour, fare 25, - CHF,
Bus ride Realp - Furka Passhöhe - Grimsel Passhöhe: 27, - CHF

Train Bus ride Basel SBB - Meiringen - Grimsel Passhöhe: a good 4 hours: Fare: 72, - CHF. (Status 2011)

In addition to the fare, a second ticket for the same amount must be purchased for the bike, or a bike day ticket for CHF 18.00.

By bicycle

Arrival is via the Rhone route from the Valais or from Andermatt possible via the Furkapass. Andermatt can use the North-South route or the Rhine route can be achieved.

At the destination in Koblenz, entry is via the Rhine route possible.

Route description with sights

Oberwald VS (Gletsch) - Meiringen: 38 km

Exhausting cranking on constant bends, emergence in a strange mountain landscape of contrasts: reservoirs and power plants framed by icy green-gray granite mountains - a balancing act for the eye. Steep descent to the Aare Gorgewhere puberty is driven out of the young river.

places:

Glacier · Km: 0 · 1,757m
Grimsel Pass · Km: 6 · 2,164m
Räterichbodensee km: 13 1,769m
Handegg km: 18 1378m
Guttannen · Km: 24 · 1,057m
Ground km 27 871m
Innertkirchen · Km: 32.5 · 622m - busy road, possibly train loading
Geissholz km 35.5 710m
Meiringen · Km 38.5 · 598m

Sights along the way:

French store
Aare Gorge between Innertkirchen and Meiringen
Sherlock Holmes Museum in Meiringen

Route profile:

Of which unsurfaced: 0 km
Altitude meters:

Oberwald (Gletsch) - Meiringen: 480 m

Meiringen - Oberwald (Gletsch): 1,600 m

Requirement: Difficult condition, For: adults
Good to know: The pass is open from around May to October. Information tel. 163.

Detour to Berghaus Oberaar: 5 km

→ From the top of the Grimsel Pass along a panoramic road to Lake Oberaarsee. The almost 200 additional meters in altitude give an insight into the area of origin of the Aare.

Meiringen - Spiez: 47 km

3 km of which are unsurfaced

The Brienzersee, a deeply clear mountain lake, is quiet and serious. Lake Thun, a cheerful shoreline, is cheerful and carefree. Interlaken, which connects the two lakes, is a trendy tourist center, dominated by the icons of the mountains, the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Pure postcard, you rub your eyes.

places:

Meiringen - flat road-free path
Brienz (Wichelmatte) km: 50 568m - steeper gradient, free of traffic
Engi · km: 52 · 727m - easier inclines, sliding distance: approx. 300 m on Lake Brienz (Giessbach Falls, rocky, narrow forest path, traffic-free
Iseltwald · Km: 57 · 577m - another 95 m ascent, then downward. The rest of the way is flat on the bank, free of traffic.
Bönigen · Km: 64 · 568m
Interlaken · Km: 67 · 568m - busy section to behind Leissigen
Lazy Lake · Km: 83 · 558m - slight ascent
Spiez · Km: 85 · 621m

Altitude meters:

Meiringen - Spiez: 480 m
Spiez - Meiringen: 460 m

Requirement: easy to medium
For: families, young people, adults
Good to know: Interlaken West - Därligen Main road. Alternative: rail loading. Brienz – Iseltwald rocky, narrow forest path. Please push your bike (300 m).

Spiez - Bern: 47 km

Of which unsurfaced: 11 km

The official bike path leads away from Lake Thun The only alternative is federal road 6 or Herzroute 99 from Im Hani. Diversity in the wide Aare valley: large villages, industry, open fields and a powerful river in a rich meadow landscape. Entrance to the federal capital of Bern, a Unesco World Heritage Site, which allows cozy shopping under arches.

places:

Tuna · Km: 100 · 559m
Münsingen · Km: 117 · 524m
Bern · Km: 133 · 543m

Altitude meters:

Spiez - Bern: 110 m

Bern - Spiez: 180 m

Requirement: easy
For: families, young people, adults

Bern - Biel (Nidau): 46 km

Of which unsurfaced: 10 km

Further along the Aare and the Wohlensee, fly to the Seeland to the bilingual Biel-Bienne.places:

Wohlensee · Km: 142.5 · 480m
Aarberg · Km: 160 · 440m
Biel · Km: 177.5 · 430m

Altitude meters:

Bern - Biel (Nidau): 320 m

Biel (Nidau) - Thun: 440 m

Requirement: medium
For: families, young people, adults
Good to know: Pushing distance: approx. 100 m at the Wohlensee (steep wooden walkway in the tuff ditch near Steinisweg)

Biel (Nidau) - Aarau (Aare): 84 km

Everything seems to be squeezed into the long ribbon of settlements at the foot of the Jura: Aare and traffic, cities and people, factories and warehouses. In between, the baroque pearl Solothurn. Nevertheless: the rural, peaceful Central Plateau is always close and nature is not far. The “backyard” of Switzerland is extremely exciting.

Of which unsurfaced: 30 km
Altitude meters:

Biel (Nidau) - Aarau (Aare): 140 m

Aarau (Aare) - Biel (Nidau): 190 m

Altitude meters with Veloverlad in train, bus ship:

Biel (Nidau) - Aarau (Aare): 140 m

Aarau (Aare) - Biel (Nidau): 190 m

Requirement: easy
For: families, young people, adults

Aarau (Aare) - Koblenz (Switzerland): 42 km

Always the Aare "naa" (after), a strange mess of gabled houses, irises, cement factory, oriole, Gothic glass pictures, moated castle, synchrotron and a duck paradise. Like water, you drive through floodplains, gorges and reservoirs, along the Reuss, the Limmat and the Rhine.

Of which unsurfaced: 13 km
Altitude meters:

Aarau (Aare) - Koblenz: 120 m

Koblenz - Aarau (Aare): 170 m