Gotthard Pass to Hospental
Passo del Gottardo (Gotthard Pass) is the most important north-south alpine route in Switzerland. Hiking from Gotthard Pass to Hospental takes you through the beautiful Hospen Valley with views of snowy summits, alpine meadows, and the dam of Lake Lucendro.
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Route Description for Gotthard Pass to Hospental
This hike is on generally easy terrain, but it includes some rocky sections and even a very short crossing on ice (in summer), sturdy footwear is best but you can get by with trail runners.
The starting point of the hike is Gotthard Pass, which has a hotel, restaurants, a sausage kiosk, a museum, and souvenir shops.
The few buildings of the town are situated beside a small lake. Hike along the road on the east side of the lake heading northward. The trail starts on the right side of the road and goes through the valley alongside Gotthardstrasse. There are points when the trail crosses the road.
There are several stream crossings, usually with rock steps to keep you dry. In the middle of the hike (4.8 km from start) the trail will have an exit onto the Gotthardstrasse (Gotthard road) near the Chicco d’Oro restaurant, which is excellent. From the restaurant, cross the road and return to the trail as it continues down the valley until it reaches Hospental. Continue to the train station, referencing the GPS track if needed.
Insider Hints for Gotthard Pass to Hospental
- The route as described is all downhill. If you fancy a more challenging workout, just do it in reverse.
- The Chicco d’Oro restaurant is a fabulous stop for lunch as you hike.
Getting to the Gotthard Pass to Hospental Trailhead
Gotthard Pass is in the canton of Uri and is best accessed by basing yourself at either Hospental or Andermatt. Both villages of Hospental and Andermatt can be reached by train or car from Lausanne (280.0 km) or Zurich (120.0 km). To get to Gotthard Pass for the hike starting from Hospental, take Bus 110 in the direction of Airollo. Take note of the Chicco d'Oro restaurant along the way if you want to eat in the middle of your hike later. Get off at the Gotthard Pass stop (8.0 km) which takes only 20 minutes.
Route Information
Gotthard Pass to Hospental Elevation Graph
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