Ibergeregg is a green saddle at 1,406 metres in the central Swiss Prealps, and it is one of those passes that locals ride on a whim rather than a mission. It connects Schwyz, the old town that gave the country its name, with the valley of the Minster river and the village of Oberiberg, and it forms the western half of the loop with the Pragel Pass. The road is not high enough to be a major crossing, but it is wild enough to feel like it, with alpine pasture, fir forest and the rocky ridges of the Mythen above.
The two Mythen peaks, the Grosser and Kleiner Mythen, are the landmark of the area. They rise as sharp, pale limestone teeth over Schwyz, easily recognisable from many parts of central Switzerland, and a path climbs the larger one to a summit with a view across several lakes. From the pass, the shape of the mountains can be seen to best effect on a clear morning, when the air is cool and the light is sharp. The slopes are grazed by cattle in summer, and in autumn the animals descend to the valley in a parade with bells and flowers.
The road has all the character of a good Swiss pass. From Schwyz it climbs in a long series of bends through meadow and beech forest, passes the village of Rickenbach, and enters the open pastureland near the summit. The surface is generally excellent, the gradients are moderate, and the corners are easy to read. On the far side, the road drops toward Oberiberg and the Alpthal. It is a popular road with riders, particularly on sunny weekends, when traffic may be heavy and the cafes at the top fill with leather and helmets.
There is a mountain restaurant at the pass, which does solid Swiss food, including rösti, sausage and cake. The cheese of the region, produced in summer in the alpine huts, is worth a look at farm shops along the road. The pass is generally open throughout the year, but the road is snowy in winter, and ice can persist on shady stretches into April. Check conditions and carry a layer, because the weather can turn quickly.
Muotathal, about five kilometres from the summit on one side, and Schwyz, about six kilometres away on the other, both have services. Fill the tank before the climb, and plan your loop so that you are not caught short in the quiet valleys.