Furkajoch and Dünserberg

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This route through Vorarlberg combines the ascent of three passes, namely the Furkajoch from the west, the Faschinajoch from the north and the Dünserberg from the south. While the climb to the middle one (Faschinajoch) is not very impressive because only the last part of the whole climb is included in the route (only 131 metres of elevation), the climb to the Furkajoch is the toughest in Vorarlberg with 1300 metres of elevation and 1060 climb effort points. With 580 metres of elevation, the climb to the Dünserberg is somewhere in between the other two climbs.

This tour includes only few horizontal or gently ascending sections. For real climbers the last 6.5 kilometres of the climb to the Furkajoch are the highlight of the ride. Here, the gradient varies between 9 and 13%, except for a one and a half kilometre long passage (just 3-5%) approximately in the middle of this steep section.

It is also possible to cycle the route in the opposite direction (counterclockwise), but I prefer the direction suggested here. This way the Furka is biked from the hardest side, which allows cyclists to add this toughest climb of Vorarlberg to their conquests. Moreover, by riding clockwise the most beautiful side of the Dünserberg is cycled ascending and not descending so one may enjoy it for a longer time. Those, who still want to do the loop counterclockwise, will ride the following climbs: Dünserberg from the northwest, Faschinajoch-south and Furkajoch-east. If the 73 kilometers and 2410 meters of altitude of this route are not enough, one could cycle forth and back from the highest point of the Dünserberg climb (Furtsch) to Dünser Älpele. In that case two times 5 kilometers and 450 meters of altitude are added to the tour.

In my opinion the most beautiful parts of the ride are, in the climb to the Furka the three and a half kilometer long passage after Innerlaterns (narrow road; beautiful green surroundings) and, in the ride over the Dünserberg the passage between Düns (5.5 kilometers before Furtsch) and Obersaxen (about 4 kilometers after Furtsch). In that passage, too, the road is narrow. Moreover, before Furtsch there are impressive views of the high mountains and after Furtsch one crosses a beautiful forest.