Good route from Glarus - Davos - Austria
Discussion
Hi all,
planning day 4 of my alpine road trip:
http://g.co/maps/2gqu5
we will be starting from glarus and i was thinking of going to davos and then taking the famed top gear davos to stelvio road (Flüelapasss) for a bit, and the heading on the Reschen pass into Austria and then for the Imst to Elmen road (Hahntennjoch) which I read is fabulous to drive and then to the Lech valley, Tannheimer Tal and Oberjoch/Sonthofen.
I need somewhere fairly close after that to stop for the night ? any picturesque/interesting nominations would be graefully received. Oberjoch perhaps ?
Also, if you can comment on the route or critique it in any way then do .. I don't know the road through Scuol and the Rschen pass and may actially have the wrong one marked on the map as there seem to be various roads you can take. Also, when we head to imst maybe we should be going NE through Wens instead of taking the tunnel ?
Any advice would be most welcome. Thanks.
planning day 4 of my alpine road trip:
http://g.co/maps/2gqu5
we will be starting from glarus and i was thinking of going to davos and then taking the famed top gear davos to stelvio road (Flüelapasss) for a bit, and the heading on the Reschen pass into Austria and then for the Imst to Elmen road (Hahntennjoch) which I read is fabulous to drive and then to the Lech valley, Tannheimer Tal and Oberjoch/Sonthofen.
I need somewhere fairly close after that to stop for the night ? any picturesque/interesting nominations would be graefully received. Oberjoch perhaps ?
Also, if you can comment on the route or critique it in any way then do .. I don't know the road through Scuol and the Rschen pass and may actially have the wrong one marked on the map as there seem to be various roads you can take. Also, when we head to imst maybe we should be going NE through Wens instead of taking the tunnel ?
Any advice would be most welcome. Thanks.
Edited by jackal on Friday 20th April 23:31
I've never quite worked out the entire Top Gear route which I believe was described as Davos to "Stelvio" via Bormio but have you spotted the Umbrail Pass route?
If you continue along the fluela all the way through the Schweizer National Park (stunning scenery in within the SNP btw with zero commercial/residential/touristic development permitted - and that means virtually no parking opprtunities either if you want to take a quick shot!) you eventually come to Santa Maria Val Mustair from where you can turn right and take the Umbrail Pass which comes out at the top of Passo Stelvio. The Umbrail is unmetalled in the lower sections (the opposite of the Pikes Peak course perhaps but this only serves to cut down the number of bikes, which is a boon). From memory, it was in great condition with no ruts and worth effort as the top section, which is fully tarmac'd, (where you join the road coming up from Bormio just before the Passo Stelvio itself) was epic.
The IPad Maps App suggests that the suggested Davos to "Stelvio" via Bormio route only takes you half-way into the SCP and then sends you through the Munt la Schera tunnel and on via Livigno and Bormio. I haven't done that myself but it would have to be going some to make it any more memorable than the Umbrail alternative.
If you continue along the fluela all the way through the Schweizer National Park (stunning scenery in within the SNP btw with zero commercial/residential/touristic development permitted - and that means virtually no parking opprtunities either if you want to take a quick shot!) you eventually come to Santa Maria Val Mustair from where you can turn right and take the Umbrail Pass which comes out at the top of Passo Stelvio. The Umbrail is unmetalled in the lower sections (the opposite of the Pikes Peak course perhaps but this only serves to cut down the number of bikes, which is a boon). From memory, it was in great condition with no ruts and worth effort as the top section, which is fully tarmac'd, (where you join the road coming up from Bormio just before the Passo Stelvio itself) was epic.
The IPad Maps App suggests that the suggested Davos to "Stelvio" via Bormio route only takes you half-way into the SCP and then sends you through the Munt la Schera tunnel and on via Livigno and Bormio. I haven't done that myself but it would have to be going some to make it any more memorable than the Umbrail alternative.
Edited by MogulBoy on Monday 23 April 08:31
thanks guys
looks like we might go back west now to annecy/chamonix and head to the lakes for a night:
http://g.co/maps/kt5rq
looks like we might go back west now to annecy/chamonix and head to the lakes for a night:
http://g.co/maps/kt5rq
The drive to Arosa is way nicer than to Davos, it has something like 100 bends and loads of little tunnels etc. However I don't think there is any road over the mountains to the other side.
I wouldn't bother with St Moritz as I found it a really unfriendly place and pretty deserted in the summer (maybe it is better in the winter?).
I wouldn't bother with St Moritz as I found it a really unfriendly place and pretty deserted in the summer (maybe it is better in the winter?).
I agree the road to Arosa is great but a dead end - you have to go back the same route.
If you plan to turn right after Fluela pass i would suggest do not take Fluela but instead drive through Davos - direction Tiefencastel and then take the Albula pass towards engadin (La Punt).
Another possibility would be drive towards Chur, and San Bernardino Pass (up to San Bernardino you could take the old road and not the Motorway and pass through the famous Via Mala Gorge) and before the tunnel below San Bernandino take Spluegen Pass (SS36 from the Boarder to Italy) towards Chiavenna.
If you plan to turn right after Fluela pass i would suggest do not take Fluela but instead drive through Davos - direction Tiefencastel and then take the Albula pass towards engadin (La Punt).
Another possibility would be drive towards Chur, and San Bernardino Pass (up to San Bernardino you could take the old road and not the Motorway and pass through the famous Via Mala Gorge) and before the tunnel below San Bernandino take Spluegen Pass (SS36 from the Boarder to Italy) towards Chiavenna.
The fluela is a good pass, though my experience is that you'll always find a local driving a 20 year legacy much faster than you'd ever dare. Oh, and lots of caravans and bikes if you get the wrong day. Early morning or evening are always the best times.
The valley to and through St.Moritz is very beautiful but not of much driving interest. I quite like St. Moritz and stay nearby in Celerina summer and winter. There are some nice, interesting hotels in the area if you don't want to drive all the way out to Italy. ( This one is lovely and I also fancy trying this)
I've never done the so called 'Top Gear' route. I think they do use the tunnel and then past the lakes.
The Bernina is also quite interesting from Pontresina. The Italian side though is all 50kmph speed limits on the mountains. (except the Stelvio road).
I'm not a fan of the road to Lech. It seems to be permanently being dug up (needs it!), is very narrow and dark through the tunnels so you crawl through at slow speeds looking for cyclists.
The valley to and through St.Moritz is very beautiful but not of much driving interest. I quite like St. Moritz and stay nearby in Celerina summer and winter. There are some nice, interesting hotels in the area if you don't want to drive all the way out to Italy. ( This one is lovely and I also fancy trying this)
I've never done the so called 'Top Gear' route. I think they do use the tunnel and then past the lakes.
The Bernina is also quite interesting from Pontresina. The Italian side though is all 50kmph speed limits on the mountains. (except the Stelvio road).
I'm not a fan of the road to Lech. It seems to be permanently being dug up (needs it!), is very narrow and dark through the tunnels so you crawl through at slow speeds looking for cyclists.
@ Jackal,
Sorry, I just read your questions....What date would you plan your trip. We might do most of the roads before you and inform you asap....As I am living permanently a bit further down from Davos, you might be interested in the following:
Re:
Fluela: unfortunately NOT so interesting, AFAIK road-works and towards the Engadine still bumpy, except the last few miles to Susch,this pass is still closed so I
could not drive it yet...
Therefore the idea going from Davos to Tiefcastel is good, take the Albula, a bit more interesting than the Julier,on JU important road-works, on the Albula a bit less....
I agree with the Umbrail pass, rather nice, you can do some nice slides, beware of people in front of you or behind you, depending on their performance;-) and their car:-)), take your distances to avoid bein sprayed by stones (especially from German and sorry UK cars;-)
If you are staying in Glarus, do not take the motorway towards Landquart-Chur, but take the Kerenzerbergpass from the Glarus side, tight corners, and v ery fast towards the top, stunning views, depending on weather and traffic....
Sorry , have to stop, might revert to you, or send me an e-mail.
ATB
Rainer and Dot
Sorry, I just read your questions....What date would you plan your trip. We might do most of the roads before you and inform you asap....As I am living permanently a bit further down from Davos, you might be interested in the following:
Re:
Fluela: unfortunately NOT so interesting, AFAIK road-works and towards the Engadine still bumpy, except the last few miles to Susch,this pass is still closed so I
could not drive it yet...
Therefore the idea going from Davos to Tiefcastel is good, take the Albula, a bit more interesting than the Julier,on JU important road-works, on the Albula a bit less....
I agree with the Umbrail pass, rather nice, you can do some nice slides, beware of people in front of you or behind you, depending on their performance;-) and their car:-)), take your distances to avoid bein sprayed by stones (especially from German and sorry UK cars;-)
If you are staying in Glarus, do not take the motorway towards Landquart-Chur, but take the Kerenzerbergpass from the Glarus side, tight corners, and v ery fast towards the top, stunning views, depending on weather and traffic....
Sorry , have to stop, might revert to you, or send me an e-mail.
ATB
Rainer and Dot
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