Name: Sattelegg via Siebnen

A beautiful mountain pass in the Einsielden region, a true test of fitness for all Lake Zurich area riders. A nice scenic ride back along the ridge back to Zurich

Area: Eastern Switzeland - Schwyz/Einsieldn

Date: Various

Length: 100 km (from Zurich Seefeld)
GPS:

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/i...kValue=5512123

Time: 4 to 5 hours riding time

Total Altitude: 1,200 meters (the pass it about 775 meters)

Difficulty: Medium

Ascents:Sattelegg (1200 m) Hirzel (670 m)

Traffic: Can be heavy motorcycle traffic on the pass especially on weeekends and early season

Transportation: None, would be option to take a train from Zurich to Rapperswill, Pffafikon or Lachen to cut off some of the flatter busier sections

Highlights: Hairpin turns on Sattelegg pass, Arriving at the top of the pass and enjoying a well earned rest at the cafe on top, Sihlsee and the scenic farmland on the ride back to Zurich

Description in Detail:

This is a ride I am intimately familar with as I have ridden it many times over the last year or so. I am not sure I would call it one of my favorite rides though, because I always suffer significantly on the Pass. It is not one of the hardest passes in the world or even in Switzerland but this is a pass that always puts me in a world of hurt. The unrelenting gradients on the last 5 kilometers must feel a little like climbing Alpe Huez (I haven't done that yet).

There are infinite routes to do this ride but my description is from Zurich Seefeld area. Starting off on the usual pedal down lake Zurich to Rapperswil (avoid the joyriders and traffic by preferrably leaving in the morning). Go through Rapperswil (don't stop at the brewery) and across the bridge to Pffafikon. At the traffic circle at the end of bridge, go around the round about and contininue in the bike lane to go up the lake towards Lachen. Nothing really significant here, fairly large amount of traffic on this strip and not very scenic, lots of warehouses etc. You will eventually arrive in Lachen, in town you will come to a dead-end on the road (a building which allows one way traffic around the reverse way), there is a cycling sign pointing you to the left, don't follow this, go right and continue through the town of Lachen, at the end of town, you will come to a roundabout, go around the round to the left and go up and over the ramp (bridge)...continue on this road you should go through the small town of Galgenen, there are couple stop lights along this road, and then continue on to Siebnen, go through the village of Siebnen, at the end of the town there is a main road running righ left continuing on to Schubelback -don't take this- but immediately straignt ahead to the left there is a sign for Sattelegg pass. This is the road you want and this is where the fun begins.

Sattelegg pass is about 11.5 km climb, with an ascent of about 775 meters ascent. The first half of the climb is very scenic, with forests, cliff rocks and the gradient is pretty gentle. Don't be fooled it will hurt eventually. You will continue on after about 1 km, you will pass through two short tunnels and around a bend (you should be enjoying the cool breeze coming off the stream near you). You will cross a bridge over this stream, with beautiful views and continue on until you see a little village, here you will see sign to go right to Sattelegg and Willerzell. This is where the suffering at least for my 85 kilo body begins with unrelenting 8% to 9% gradients over the next 5 kilometers, you climb through the village, and follow the road to the right across a bridge, around a hairpin turn and the gradients are getting vicious here. Continue along, enjoy the scenery if you can, I can't as it hurts too much and I am usually praying for the top, there are several very nice hairpin turns along here and after a few turns you have a nice view down to the countryside, the ride only really opens up fully though in the last half kilometer or so. Continue to fight your way up to the top and you will see a big parking lot full of cars and motorcycles and the nice cafe to the right. On the climb, there tends to be alot of motorcycle traffic and some reckless idiots, not much you can do about it but hope for the best.

Now, the descent down is a pretty nice one there are a few corners but nothing to sharp so can get a fairly good pace and now you can enjoy the scenery more. At the bottom of the descent you are in Willerzell, if your legs are feeling strong you can take a left following the Sihlsee and eventually you will be at Ibergeregg Pass (after about 20k). I would typically go the right, following the road for a few kilometers and then take the bridge over Sihlsee towards Einsielden. There may be the option here to follow the signs to Egg and go over the Etzel pass down to Pfaffikon, though I haven't explored this route.

You continue edging around Einsielden up a little climb and come to stop sign, here you should take a right and continue to follow signs pointing to Zurich or Pfaffikon, the traffic can be busy on these stretches but there is a nice bike lane. Follow along this road, at some point you will hit a red light, with an option to go left, but you should continue on straight trhough the stop light , at one point there will be a round about, you should continue on around this following signs to Zurich and Pfaffikon, now you are on a really busy commercial stretch of road, there is a small tunnel and after this tunnel, you should get on the separated bike lane and go down and up a sharp hill, you arrive in the town of Shindellegi. take a left through the town and continue straight ahead, shortly out of town, you should get in the turning lane on the left and follow the signs to Zug, the alternative is to go straight ahead following the signs to Zurich and you will end up back in Pffafikon.

Once you take the turn to left towards Zug, you will be climbing up for maybe half a kilometer with beautiful views of the countyside and the lake. The traffic on this road is pretty light and the views are spectactular, continue on this road, through some little towns, there are few hills but nothing significant, go through the towns of Hutten, Schonberg and eventually you will come to a stop sign in Hirzel, here you can take a right on a very busy road (not preffered) or cross over the road and climb Hirzel, this is not a very tough climb really unless you are shattered already from your ride, there is a short steep bit towards the end but nothing to be scared about, once you reach the top continue on the road straight ahead, you will continue on some beautiful small relatively traffic free roads, at one point along this route the road will go the right and start heading down through the forest, at the second road on the left you should see a cycling route sign, follow this through the forest. You should continue to follow this cycling route sign at one point is running alongside a major highway, you are on a separate road above and to the left, so other than the noise no car concerns, follow this road all the way to Gattikon, at Gattikon, turn right and you will be heading to Thalwil, continue to follow this road down to the stop lights, across the major road here and down the road across and down hill, follow signs for Thalwill centre and Hotel Alexander, and you will eventually come back to Lake Zurich. From here follow the lake back home.

This makes for a great but challenging day.