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Region: Switzerland
Climbing effort: 1409 cep
Elevation meters: 1791
Steepest kilometer: 11.6%

Steepest 250 m: 13%
Foot: 560 m    Top: 2250 m
Mean slope: 5.9%
Length: 28.8 km

From: Sierre
Road conditions (2025): average
Other race bikers: 1-5 per hour
Motor vehicles: 30-60 per hour
Scenery and road: (4/5)
Restaurant or bar near top: yes

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Other climbs Switzerland

During this climb from Sierre to the Lac de Moiry I encountered only a few other cyclists, as is often the case elsewhere in the Valais. Is this because there are hardly any mountain passes here, so circular routes are only scarcely possible? Often riding up and down the same road is the only option.

This also applies to the largest part of this ride to the Lac de Moiry. On the postive side: nature offers plenty of beauty and there are demanding climbing sections. The first 13 kilometres from Sierre to Vissoie follow the busy road through the Val d’Anniviers, which is also heavily used by lorries. Even so, I found this section attractive, thanks to the views of the Rhône valley and the varied character of the road. In the first five fairly steep kilometres (7–8%) there is a section with six hairpin bends following one another in quick succession. On the stretch between the hamlet of Niouc and Vissoie, relatively little elevation is gained at an average gradient of 3.5%. Here the road runs high above a gorge in the Val d’Anniviers and has to deviate sideways twice to cross side valleys. The almost vertical walls of these side valleys are impressive. In Vissoie the route turns right, and after a short descent the road first climbs quite steeply (8–9%) and then more gently (5–7%) towards the tourist village of Grimentz. At the end of Grimentz the inhabited world is left behind, and the ride becomes more exciting. For four kilometres the road climbs steeply (9–11%). At first there are two hairpin bends, after which the road runs in the longitudinal direction of the valley. When coming around a corner after leaving the forest, the gradient eases briefly and the dam of the Lac de Moiry comes into view. Further ahead you have to push harder again (8%), and shortly before the dam the road makes a wide turn to the left The asphalt gets steep again with two 250-metre-segments of 11 and 12%, respectively. Then you enter into a tunnel with inside another 250-metre-segment at 12%. Immediately after leaving the tunnel, you are almost on top of the dam and have reached the end of the climb. I found the landscape between Grimentz and the reservoir to be of outstanding beauty.

If you still have some energy left, it is highly recommended to continue riding along the lake and then climb gently again for another kilometre with about 50 metres of additional elevation gain. The road ends with a magnificent view of the Glacier de Moiry at the foot of the Grand Cornier (3961 metres).