Stockalperweg (Simplon - Gondo)

Descent from the Simplon Pass to the Gondo customs house on the Swiss-Italian border. This is the second part of a day that we had started with the descent from Simplon to Brig.

We used the postal bus to go up to the pass on both occasions. Find schedules and fares here: https://www.postauto.ch/. The route is the 631, leaving almost hourly from Brig and Visp. On weekends it is best to make reservations. Pedaling the road is not advisable because it is also busy with heavy vehicles and especially the ascent from Gondo is narrow and goes through tunnels.

The descent to Gondo is largely smooth and well marked with "Stockalperweg" signs, and is very well maintained. After the village of Simplon, the valley narrows and we are close to the creek, which was very rushing during our tour in mid-June 2018 due to the melting of so much snow this past winter. To avoid the road, you climb up several overhead but well-protected footbridges to the spectacular Gondo fort crossing, with a very long but well-lit tunnel that will spit you out above the most technical part of the descent, with serpentines and lots of boulders. At worst you push on, it is a short section. When you reach Gondo you take the bus back up.

?