Altpassstrasse (Old Pass Road)

This section of the Gotthardpass Section I uses the historical pass road, passing by several small lakes. Part of the road is cobblestone, so you'll be thankful riding a suspension rather than a road bike, but of course you'll need the suspension for the ride down into Airolo anyway.

If you do this ride on a weekend in the summer, you'll likely encounter a veritable carnival at the pass itself. There are also a number of forts and other military installations as well as several small lakes that can be explored in/near the pass. If you haven't found the carnival with its street food, several restaurants also offer sustenance for those who have just completed the climb.

At the pass, you'll transition from the German language region of Switzerland to the Italian language region.