Altdorf to Engelberg via Surenenpass (Via Alpina Route 1)

Route is 28km with 1900 metres of ascent and 1350 metres of descent (Please ignore the ascent descent data from Wikiloc as it somehow their algorithm that adjusts the gpx coordinates to ground level is not functioning).

Total net time must have been about 5 hrs (watch did not record a section of the climb), we were group of 3 with plenty of stops and we were slow moving through the snow area.

Actual route in SchweizMobil
SchweizMobilActual


From Altdorf you have 2 flat asphalted kilometres until Attinghausen

From Attinghousen to Brüsti (top of the Cable car) you have a steady 1000 metre ascent in just 4.5 kilometres. Often you will go through grasslands but inside of a stone-covered trench which must have been an old farming path. Eventually you get into a steep forested area. The GPS lost signal as you can see from the straight line in the forested area.

From Brüsti we take a more runnable path via meadows up to Chräienhöreli.

From there we followed the ridge up to the stone - snow fields which are present in the last 300 vertical metres of ascent towards the pass. There was quite a bit of snow at the beginning of July so we trod on other people's footsteps and did not follow the official path.

At the top of Surenenpass wind blew so we took advantage of the safety hut to get changed into dry clothes.

From the pass down it was all fairly obvious. The Engelberg side of the pass was fully clear of snow. We continued on route 1 but you can take a detour to Furenalp if you want to remain higher.

You can cut physically more demanding parts of this route by using the cable cars to Brüsti and to Furenalp.

Route can be run in opposite direction. Only thing to note is that in the "trench" section approacching Attinghausen there are quite a few soft stones which will be slippery if wet.