Cycling day trip from Chiavenna to Hinterrhein

Ready for an epic Alpine ride? Start off in Chiavenna, a charming Italian town known for its stone bridges, lively squares, and delicious pizzoccheri (you might want to carbo-load here!). From there, you’ll wind your way north towards Switzerland—all the way to Hinterrhein, a peaceful mountain village perched high in the Swiss Alps.

This 60 km journey isn’t for the faint of heart: you’ll be climbing over 3,000 meters in altitude (yes, really!) and topping out above 2,100 meters at the highest point. The route is mostly paved, but expect a good chunk of gravel and unpaved stretches, so sturdy tires are a plus. Busy roads make up a part of your ride, but you’ll also find lots of quiet stretches and some feeder tracks that let you enjoy stunning mountain views and, on a clear day, endless sky.

Hinterrhein is well known as the source of the Rhine River—a worthy place to catch your breath, soak in the silence of the Swiss mountains, and maybe brag a little about this wild cross-border ride!