Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to travel well! Our country, which boasts more than 20,000 km of road, also offers some of the most beautiful alpine roads with sumptuous panoramas.Roadtrip Mosses Pillon Jaun

Moreover, at the beginning or end of the season, when the Alpine passes are closed, many bikers are looking for ideas for medium-altitude routes that can be ridden almost all year round.

So we take you on a day trip that will take you through not one, not two but three passes. All this passing through 3 cantons: FR – VD – BE

In a nutshell

Country: Switzerland Starting point: Coop gas Station, when you exit the motorway in Bulle Duration: 4-6 hours, depending on the breaks, riding style, etc. . Main sights : Hongrin, Corbeyrier, Gruyères, Gstaad, etc.

Whether you are coming from Geneva, Fribourg, Basel or Zurich, we suggest that you start at the Coop service station at the motorway exit in Bulle. Not that it has any particular interest, except for a small terrace where you can drink a coffee while waiting for the latecomers. Yes, because there are always one or two who have to tank, inflate a tyre or look for one of their glove 🙂

General Info

Before we go any further, we wanted to draw your attention to some important things:

1. Not all passes are open all year round, usually from mid-June to the end of September. Also, check online to make sure they are still open when you plan to ride out.
2. Some passes are quite busy, particularly on weekends and during the holidays: motorcyclists, cyclists, camper vans, etc. In addition, and it is very unfortunate, but the behavior of certain road users flirts with unconsciousness / dangerousness. Also, we can only recommend, if possible, that you go there during the week. In addition, the various cantonal police forces provide a dissuasive presence during peak times.
3. Also remember to read our article on the road-trip essentials (here), in order to have all the necessary equipment to tackle this day well equipped.

Ride on!

Departure

Once the group is complete, we will head for the Intyamon via the bypass road, towards Les Mosses/Château-d’Oex. Then, once at the Tour-de-Trême roundabout, we will have the choice of doing the loop in one direction or the other. Depending on the time of day, and the sunshine, especially in spring/autumn, when the sun rays are low, we will decide.

But let’s go on the clockwise loop. Also heading for the Col des Mosses, via Albeuve. There is little risk of getting lost, as it is always straight ahead

But we’ll avoid riding full trottle, as our friends from the police like to take photos, especially on sunny weekends 😉

Also note that there are sections that are constantly in the shade and wet. Thus, we avoid arriving too fast in a curve. But otherwise, we enjoy the curves and the panorama.

When you arrive at the Rosette, be careful to follow Les Mosses and not to go towards Château-d’Oex.

Roadtrip Mosses Pillon Jaun

Option 1 : during the week

If you ride during the week, then you will head towards the Mosses. Then once at the Col des Mosses, you will have the possibility to have a coffee on one of the sunny terraces or to have a bite to eat if you feel like it or if your stomach needs fuel.

Otherwise, head for Ormont and the Col du Pillon via Les Diablerets. You will have a few restaurant options in Les Diablerets. But being a predominantly summer/winter resort, many of the restaurants close in the shoulder season. So maybe you’ll have better luck in Gstaad, although the prices may not be the same.

Then once at the top of the Pillon pass, we continue on to Saanen/Gstaad and finally to Zweisimmen. Once in Zweisimmen, those coming from Bern will have the possibility to return home via Spiez/Thun.

Otherwise, the last pass for the day and not the least, the Jaun pass. The asphalt having been recently redone, the road is a real billiard table. So we enjoy ourselves. But we are still careful, especially in autumn, when there can be bovine excrement on the road, which then becomes quite slippery.

Then, once you reach the top of the Jaun, and after having had a coffee or an artisanal ice cream at the small cheese factory on the right of the road (towards Charmey), you continue towards Bellegarde/Charmey.

In Charmey, the most motivated riders can make a stop at the thermal baths to relax a little after their day on the bike. But if it’s already quite late, then we’ll continue in the direction of Broc/Bulle, and back to square one. Those who wish to do so can then make a detour to the village of Gruyères, to enjoy a fondue.

? End of the loop ?

Roadtrip Mosses Pillon Jaun

Option 2 : during the weekend

 

If you ride at the weekend, then you can make a small detour via the Lac de l’Hongrin/Corbeyrier. Indeed, this is a military road which is close to the public during the week. However, the army leaves it open on weekends. And it has the merit of offering a unique view of Lake Geneva. We can only recommend that you go and see for yourself.

How to get there? When you arrive at La Lécherette, don’t go towards Les Mosses but turn right and follow Lac de l’Hongrin by the military road. Then follow Corbeyrier.

Roadtrip Mosses Pillon Jaun

Once you arrive at the viewpoint (see photo below), continue on to Corbeyrier then go down towards Aigle. And in Aigle, take the direction of the Col du Pillon. The rest of the itinerary is the same as in variant 1.

We hope you enjoyed it.

We hope you enjoyed it. Want to discover more road books? Check out the (travel and route) section of our blog -> here <-

Ride on and see you soon for a new roadtrip

?? ✌? ? ? ? ?

 

Roadtrip Mosses Pillon Jaun