Sustenpass from Wassen

Difficulty points	1070
Length	11.1 mi
Average gradient	7.6%
Steepest segment	12%
Total ascent	4462 ft

Reviews (18)

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

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EpjwPSVk ^premium

9 Mo 5.0 via the Climbfinder app

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

I rode the Sustenpass as my first climb on 3-9-2025 in a round trip from Andermatt that also included the Grimselpass and Furkapass. I loved it in 1 word! Beautiful views, a bit of snow on the highest peaks, tunnels and waterfalls. The road surface is good and because it was a weekday not too much traffic. And just over the top a great view of the Steingletscher!

Mark88 ^premium

9 Mo 5.0 via the Climbfinder app

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Fantastic climb! As the last in the round of Grimsel, Furka and Susten Pass, I found the climb quite tough. An sich the climb is quite doable, nowhere too steep ánd gradual. The biggest issue was the sun. We rode the round trip on a beautiful sunny day and that made the climb hot! Near the motor café I luckily found a tap to refill the water bottles. On the Monday we rode the col, it was not too busy with traffic, just a club of BMW riders. Still, I can imagine it can be very busy on a weekend. Descending to Innertkichen is fantastic!

sebasold ^premium

10 Mo 5.0 via the Climbfinder app

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

I actually found it motivating that this climb is so clear. Seeing the last 2 hairpins coming up 6 km beforehand made me want to press on a bit more!

Fedebici

1 y 5.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Italian. Show original

Spectacular and wicked! Spectacular because of the impeccable road surface, the moderate traffic (start at 7.30am) and above all the views. The climb is consistently hard 7-8-9 ％ on Garmin; this is absolutely a good thing. You can manage it well as there are no tears. Perfidious and bad as a pass because there are not many hairpin bends and very soon you can see the road ahead. The surrounding landscape conveys a unique peace, even the tunnels are beautiful, especially those carved into the rocks. I compare it to my favourite passes like Stelvio, Albula, Nivolet.... The small lake at the top is a glimpse of the second large lake at the base of the glacier. Superlative

LorenzoGbr ^premium

1 y 5.0

From Wassen, it's a quite varied climb despite the lack of hairpins: many tiny tunnels in the lower part, then mostly straight up to the pass. Lots of motorized traffic (Saturday morning). Not super easy due to its length, but there are no steep sections and the gradient is constant and manageable.
The descent towards Innertkirchen is AWESOME! Watch out for the (many) road works.

keniske

1 y 5.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Done this 2x , really a super climb for cycling up but also for descending as there are hardly any turns.
At the bottom there are a few small tunnels where light is not really needed there is enough sky light to see everything well. Highly recommended this one!

RobertS ^premium

1 y 4.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

I must add to my earlier review. I cycled the pass this time not in the heat nor with insane crowds, but when it was closed in June 2024. Hooray, no traffic and cycling among the snow walls in relative coolness. The pass was closed because a lump of snow blocked the pass (see photos's). And with no traffic with good weather, the Susten Pass is a lot more fun and pleasant. It is a risk to crawl under the barrier with your bike though; melting snow causes slush on the road, there are still stones everywhere on the road surface and some might just come down during the ride. But it was worth the risk, what unreal peace and quiet and cycling between the snow walls is insane.

Tornado

2 y 5.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: French. Show original

Magnificent. But mentally demanding because there are only three hairpins in 17 km, so it's a straight line that never ends! Quite an aerial descent to Steingletscher and then a delight with very natural trajectories all the way to the foot of the climb.

At the pass, you can take the small road on the left to go up to a nice restaurant away from the road'yum!

RobertS ^premium

2 y 3.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

My assessment of this climb is quite coloured, as it was the third pass of the day (after the well-known Grimsel and Furka), it was very hot and idiotically crowded with motorbikes and cars's on a beautiful Saturday in June.

The start is boring through a narrow gorge with lots of trees and few views. After a few kilometres, views (not super spectacular) unfold. In the distance, you can then almost spot where the pass height is and where the road and hairpins go. The last stretch, with the hairpin bends against the rock face is very nice though. The highest part of the pass is an anticlimax: it is the start of a tunnel through the rock face. Only after descending through that well-lit tunnel do you encounter the sign with the pass height and name (which is therefore lower).

The best part of this climb? Without a doubt, the descent to Innertkirchen. I am not a good descender, but even I enjoyed this. Truly beautiful scenery. If you can choose, I would climb the Susten Pass from the west, not from the east.

Cyclopaat ^premium

3 y 5.0 01:39:00 (6.7 mph)

I started my (short) version of the Alpenbrevet in Wassen, in lousy weather. This weather continued throughout the climbs up the Grimsel and Furka, so I never really had the beautiful views I was hoping for and experienced before, especially on the Grimsel and the valley between the Grimsel and Furka (or the other way around).

DikkeTInus ^premium

3 y 4.0 01:23:47 (7.9 mph)

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

After the Grimsel and the Furka, the third pass of the day. The run-up to the climb and the first section offers some great views, great.

After a few kilometres I noticed that I had lost all my energy today. The altitude? The cumulative number of altimeters? Or too little to eat? No idea, but this climb was hell for me for over an hour. It also didn't help that I thought the summit was 300hm lower and so I had to scold myself a few times to get to the end. Then resting at the top and getting your reward in the truly amazing descent!

Scissors

3 y 5.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Wonderful climb. Certainly the beginning is worthy of the Efteling Dioramma with its tunnels and bridges. Very regular and runs well. It is at some moments busy with our motorized 'friends' who often have the best for themselves and not so much for their fellow road users who also sometimes can sit in a curve. But that goes for every climb.

F11ACE ^premium

4 y 4.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

First climb during the Alpenbrevet Platinum. 270km with almost 8,000hm. I classified this one quietly with all the violence that would follow. Runs nicely and never gets heavy, but don't get mistaken, it's a long climb. Views are beautiful and the descent is a fine reward.

Kevin ^premium

4 y 5.0 01:42:48 (6.5 mph)

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Endless climb in which the percentages are divided with Swiss regularity. At no point does it get very steep, but especially the length makes the climb exhausting. In combination with Grimsel and Furka this will be an unforgettable cycling adventure.

PelotonDesArdennes

5 y 4.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

The surroundings are beautiful, the climb itself very long :-)
Not the most beautiful of the region (although that is relative, because there are just pearls around), but still a beautiful col.

Jozef-Kempen ^premium

5 y 5.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

If you want to ride the loupe with your racing bike from Innertkirchen (Grimselpass, Furkapass, Sustenpass) it is certainly advisable to maintain your fitness well in advance.

Ruud

6 y 4.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

The photo was taken right at the beginning. Beautiful climb! We started with 31 degrees at the foot. The last kilometer was cold, hard rain dense fog, I loved it! Very gradual climb, with some hairpin turns at the end with good beautiful views, especially if the weather is better than ours last year ;)

BianchiPeter

6 y 4.0

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

A climb doesn't get much more regular than this. It takes a while to find the right cadence and you can keep it up until the top, while enjoying the landscape. In the alpine brevet, this is the first climb of the day; ideal to get going.
This is not a spectacular climb with chasms and lots of hairpins, but I really liked it.

Climbing times

5 mph	02:13:48
7 mph	01:34:43
9 mph	01:13:49
12 mph	00:55:27

Road surface condition

100% 0% 0%

Based on 15 votes

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Traffic

36% 36% 29%

Based on 14 votes

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sustenpass can be cycled from 3 sides. Sustenpass from Innertkirchen is the most popular side, but the summit can also be reached via Sustenpass from Wassen & Sustenpass from Amstëg.

Sustenpass from Wassen is a challenging ascent. For this type of climbing, we recommend mountain gearing, specifically a compact system. This means a small front chainring of 34 teeth, combined with a rear cassette where, depending on your level, strength, and experience, you choose a sprocket with 30, 32, or even 34 teeth. Remember that a smooth cadence is always more efficient!

Sustenpass from Wassen belongs to the Hors Catégorie, the top category. These are legendary and very tough climbs. A solid cycling condition, experience, and a good climbing gear ratio are essential to maintain a smooth cadence and complete the climb comfortably.

Sustenpass from Wassen is 11.1 mi long.

The average gradient of Sustenpass from Wassen is 7.6%.

Sustenpass from Wassen has a steepest segment with an average gradient of 12%.

The summit of Sustenpass from Wassen is at 7467 ft.

At a slow pace of 5 mph, it takes about 02:13:48 to climb Sustenpass from Wassen. At 7 mph the time is 01:34:43, and at 9 mph 01:13:49. For the fastest cyclists, 00:55:27 is an achievable time.

Sustenpass from Wassen is located in the region Uri in Switzerland.

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Short recap

Photos (44)

Reviews (18)

Climbing times

Road surface condition

Traffic

Frequently Asked Questions

Sustenpass from Wassen

Statistics

Short recap

Photos (44)

Reviews (18)

Climbing times

Road surface condition

Traffic

Frequently Asked Questions

Which sides of the Sustenpass can be cycled up?

What gearing is needed for Sustenpass from Wassen?

How difficult is the Sustenpass from Wassen?

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Where is Sustenpass from Wassen located?