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E-bike Kunkelspass (tour around the Calanda mountain range)

E-Bike · Chur
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Outside Chur Explorers Choice 
  • Churer Rheintal mit Calanda und Kunkelspass
    Churer Rheintal mit Calanda und Kunkelspass
    Photo: Andrea Badrutt, Chur Tourismus
The circular tour of the Calanda massif over the Kunkelspass is a real classic. The historic pass route also offers an impressive scenic experience.
moderate
Distance 58.2 km
4:45 h
995 m
995 m
1,358 m
515 m
You have to do this tour once. For many cyclists it is one of the annual highlights. You experience the mighty Calanda massif from all sides. And who would have thought that it looks so rugged and jagged from the back. The route is extremely varied with the enjoyable start along the Rhine route. Via a side road with little traffic, you reach Pfäfers, where you cross the impressive Tamina bridge that spans the gorge. A long path through the Tamina valley follows via Valens, past the Mapragg reservoir and via Vättis finally to the Kunkelspass. The Überruf mountain inn stands at the top of the pass and offers the ideal opportunity for refreshments before the descent via the Forstrasse, at the beginning through tunnels hewn into the rock, leads down towards Tamins. The way back from there again follows the Rhine back to the Alpine City of Chur.

The Kunkelspass connects the Tamina valley (SG) with the municipality of Tamins (GR). It lies between the steep walls of the Calanda in the east and the mountain group around the Ringelspitz in the west. The narrow road and the tunnel on the Tamins side with the panoramic openings in the tunnel wall were built during the First World War. The Kunkelspass also forms the eastern entrance to the geological wonderland of the Tectonic Arena Sardona. At the pass near the Überruf mountain restaurant there is a seminar room with information about the UNESCO World Heritage Site. A telescope offers the opportunity to have a close look at the Ringelspitz and the Glarus thrust or the demolition niche of the Tamins mountain fall.

The Calanda massif consists of the four peaks Haldensteiner Calanda (at 2,805m the highest), Felsberger Calanda, Taminser Calanda and Berger Calanda (above Untervaz).

Profile picture of Michael Christ
Author
Michael Christ 
Update: August 31, 2022
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
1,358 m
Lowest point
515 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Show elevation profile

Rest stops

Berggasthaus Überuf Kunkelspass

Tips and hints

Outside Chur: Rental and service station in Chur with info lounge and useful accessories for on the road. T +41 81 252 27 53, www.outsidechur.com

Start

Station Chur (584 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'759'472E 1'191'254N
DD
46.853294, 9.529913
DMS
46°51'11.9"N 9°31'47.7"E
UTM
32T 540397 5188997
w3w 
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Show on Map

Destination

Station Chur

Turn-by-turn directions

From Chur you follow the Rhine route 2 to Landquart. There you cross the Rhine and follow a little-used mountain road to Pfäfers, cross the Tamina gorge on the impressive Tamina bridge and then follow the mountain bike route 482 to the Mapragg dam. There you leave the route and ride on the road along the lake. After the lake, you follow route 482 again via Vättis to the Kunkelspass and down to Tamins, from where you finally return to the city of Chur on Rhine route 2.  

Public transport

Public-transport-friendly

Chur train station is easily accessible by SBB (Swiss Federal Railways), Rhaetian Railways, Postbus or Chur Bus. 

By road

Motorway exit Chur Nord or Chur Süd and then drive to the city centre. 

Parking

At Chur railway station two multi-storey car parks are available (Otto & Alex / SBB Park & Rail). 

Coordinates

SwissGrid
2'759'472E 1'191'254N
DD
46.853294, 9.529913
DMS
46°51'11.9"N 9°31'47.7"E
UTM
32T 540397 5188997
w3w 
///inherit.zooms.copper
Show on Map
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Questions and answers

Question from Sandra Peschel · 2 days ago · Community
Hallo! Kann ich dir Tour gut mit einem Tracking E-Bike machen?
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Answered by Michael Christ  · 2 days ago · Outside Chur
Hallo, ja das geht ohne Problem, es sind kein schwierigen oder schmalen Abschnitte dabei.
1 more reply

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Difficulty
moderate
Distance
58.2 km
Duration
4:45 h
Ascent
995 m
Descent
995 m
Highest point
1,358 m
Lowest point
515 m
Public-transport-friendly Circular route Scenic Cultural/historical interest Geological highlights Flora

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  • 6 Waypoints
  • 6 Waypoints
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