Col du Sanetsch from Sion via Chandolin

A brilliant climb that you simply must do at least once! Towards the end there are a few tunnels, one of which is almost a kilometre long, so don’t forget your lights!! There is an LED strip mounted on the ceiling, which is very handy for seeing the direction of the tunnel (there are a few bends), but it doesn’t provide much light, so do be careful. However, the tunnels actually add extra character to the climb! The climb takes you to the Col du Sanetsch, but there’s not much to do at the summit; the Col is a Col because it provides a passage to the reservoir further on, Lac du Sanetsch (also known as Lac du Sénin). By the reservoir there’s a lovely little auberge where you can have a bite to eat and a drink. You can take a cable car from there to Gsteig in the neighbouring valley, and you can take your bike with you (secured to a rack)! If you want to cycle back towards the Rhône Valley, you’ll have to tackle a steep climb back up to the Col du Sanetsch.

Difficult climb, 2/3 of the way up is mostly forest, then there are a few switchbacks where the view is clearer and you can see the glacier range in the distance. The best views are about 2 before you arrive, and the view on the other side of the pass isn't particularly impressive (but we didn't go down the other side). Very little traffic!