ViaBerna - stage 20 Gadmen - Susten Pass

Starting in the beautiful mountain village of Gadmen, the trail then follows the old route of the pass via Obermad. Reissend Nollen, Titlis, Grassen and Fünffingerstöck tower mightily over Wendental. The route passes the huts on Alp Wyssenmad and heads to Steinweng where you can enjoy the view. It’s also worth looking back into Gadmertal as you walk along. This area is one of wild beauty. A paved path takes you through the marshy high moorland landscape to the Alpin Center in Steingletscher. The ascent to Susten Pass takes you further and further into the mountain world. The border to the canton of Uri is at the top of the Susten Pass, 2,259 metres above sea level. The time has come to say goodbye ViaBerna.

With its high natural retaining walls and stone slabs, the old Susten trail, set in a wild mountain landscape, is one of Switzerland’s most beautiful pass routes. Since it was renovated in 1993, you can follow the old pass route, away from the traffic. In the unique mountain landscape with its thundering waters, you get an insight into the techniques used by the former road builders.

The story behind the pass road: When the canton of Valais was annexed by France during the Napoleonic era, Bern was looking for an alternative to the Grimsel Pass route to avoid paying high duties. In 1811 the estates of Bern and Uri built the road link over the Susten Pass but after the fall of Napoleon and, especially after the new pass road was built, it quickly became less important. The former link was restored in 1993 to show how the old pass was built.

The new pass road is 45 km long and was built between 1938 and 1945. Because it is mainly used for tourist traffic, it is normally only open from June to October.

The ascent to Susten Pass gives you a real impression of the Alpine mountain world. Ice streams flow down to Steinalp from the snow-capped summits of Susten and Gwächtenhorn, Tierberg and Giglistock.

ViaBerna is an attractive, fully signposted hiking trail that leads straight through the canton of Bern from Bellelay in Bernese Jura to Susten Pass. The route covered by the Bernese hiking trails is around 300 kilometres long and is made up of 20 stages.