Maighelspass
Description
From Andermatt, the route follows the pass road up to the Oberalp Pass, or you can take the Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway for this section. Immediately after reaching the top of the pass, you’ll ride your mountain bike down a fast singletrack that turns into a gravel road after just a few meters. While the original route of the “Maighels Tour” ran along an exposed path on the mountainside, mountain biking is now prohibited there. An attractive alternative is a well-maintained downhill trail, which requires additional elevation gain but offers excellent flow. The gravel road leads to the Maighels Hut, where you’ll ideally take a lunch break. The remaining 200 meters of elevation gain to the Maighels Pass offer stunning scenery but are technically challenging and at times steep to ride.
This also applies to the descent that follows: The terrain is rough and rocky, requiring precise line selection. Anyone riding too fast here inevitably risks a flat tire. As demanding as the upper part of the descent is, the second section is just as enjoyable. On the Alpstrasse, you ride downhill through the Unteralptal before another singletrack branches off above the Mur-Alp, leading all the way down to Andermatt.
Tip
To reach the Oberalp Pass, take the gondola from Andermatt to Gütsch and then ride to Lutersee. From there, a challenging singletrack leads down to the Oberalp Pass, where the Maighels Tour begins.
Map & GPX-Track
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Details of the tour
32 km
1255 m
1255 m
1436 above sea level
2425 above sea level
1 day
Andermatt
Andermatt
1039
well suited
More information
More tours nearby
User comments (6)
About the author: Thomas Giger
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.
The trail from the Maighelshütte to the pass is 95 percent rideable even on a biobike if you have good technique. The descent is rough and challenging, but rideable. The trail from Lutersee is only recommended to a limited extent, even though the ascent by gondola (16 francs with a Half-Fare Card & Bike) is easy.
Rode the Gütsch descent today. Quite technical in parts, had to descend briefly 2-3 times. The path on the track shortly after the Oberalp Pass is forbidden for bikes. Simply follow the trail and turn off onto the road further down, allow for approx. 150m of climbing. The last few meters to the pass are once again steep and technical. But 95% rideable thanks to the eBike. The descent was quite technical at the start with lots of steps and some rocks pointing in the opposite direction. From time to time I had to push a few meters. Afterwards, as already described, unfortunately a loss of altitude on the alpine road. Tour still recommended if you can ride. Beautiful mountain world up there. Would do the tour again in a heartbeat but only with an eBike. Don't like pushing :-D
Great tour! The Gütsch beforehand is almost a must, even if the cable car isn't riding like today 3.11.24. The last 200m up the Maigels are not without their challenges, you wish you had an e-bike. The descent to the Vermigelhütte is super technical, a dream for experienced riders. It's a pity that the 500 m to Andermatt are "lost" afterwards. Make sure you take every opportunity to avoid riding on the road.
Did the tour with the e-bike today on 11.09.2022. I took the gondola up beforehand and the descent to Lutersee. Mega, mega good the round! Didn't have to carry anything, but had to push briefly from time to time, but no problem thanks to the pushing aid. The descent is challenging. Will do the tour again.
The descent from Maigels is only for absolute top riders with (not delicate) top equipment and only with a fully. Leisure and occasional bikers will inevitably have to push here. It is therefore absolutely not recommended with eBikes, hardtails and/or luggage - unless you enjoy pushing/carrying 200 meters downhill.
We rode the tour on 6.8.20. Unfortunately there were a bit too many hikers at the start, but later after the turn-off towards Maighelspass it was almost deserted again :-)
Unfortunately, the description is very fitting, I got a puncture on the descent. Fortunately, the tubeless rider also has a tube with him (tubeless repair kit didn't help...)
It would have been a shame to do the technically great descent on the run.
After the tour there was enough time to ride the Luterseerunde, which is also highly recommended!