Plan for Day 2: Bern to Solothurn: 56.7 miles

Day 2: Bern to Solothurn (map included at the end)

The morning of Day 2 follows the Aare as it slowly loops around north of Bern. This should be quite a nice lazy morning, as the path by the river is very nice. As the river leaves the suburbs of Bern, I'll leave the easy intro to the trip and start the real trip down towards the North Sea.

The route will first move along the edge of the Lake Wohlen Reservoir west of Bern, before dropping down to the the city of Aarberg, a likely lunch spot. From there, the Aare turns into the Aare-Hagneck Canal, which takes the river down into Lake Biel. The route then goes along the edge of Lake Biel, almost to the city of Biel, where the Aare leaves the lake in a second canal.

Following the second canal, I'll head down to the city of Buren an der Aare. This is where the valley of the historic Aare (which bypassed Lake Biel) joins the canalized version and the river turns back into a river. From here, the ride goes along lazy farm roads (often dirt) down the river to Solothurn.

Solothurn is an old city, capitol of the Solothurn Canton, and is known as the most beautiful Baroque city in Switzerland. I'll be staying in the Swiss Quality Hotel, which is right on the river in the center of town. I should arrive in the mid-afternoon and have some time to explore the city.

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*) Bike down the street in front of the hotel towards the plaza (less
than 1 block away).

*) Bike diagonally across the plaza and leave going in the same
direction out of the opposite corner.

*) Continue in front of the government buildings and take the first
right turn down the hill.

*) Continue as the road loops around to the right. Take the first
left.

*) Continue as the road jogs left through a plaza. Continue across
the traffic circle and across the bridge. Turn left immediately after
the bridge and follow the right bank.

*) Continue along the right bank all the way around the peninsula.
Continue as the river turns north. Cross underneath the railroad
tracks. Continue until the river starts to make a slight turn to the
right. Cross over a bridge to the left bank.

*) Continue downstream along the left bank around a peninsula. There
doesn't look to be a path right along the river the entire way, but
there should be signs. If not, just stay as far right as possible and
backtrack if necessary. Cross over at the first bridge, which looks
like a busy road/rail bridge, but supposedly has a pedestrian
crossing.

*) Continue along the right bank north and then around a northern
peninsula as the road/trail loops around to the south. When the river
turns left, you might be forced up on to roads. If so, continue
south, as there is a very narrow isthmus. When you hit the right bank
bank, continue right/downstream. Continue south around a southern
peninsula. Continue along the right bank as the river turns west.
After the road/path crosses under a bridge, the path will slightly
leave the river and join a more major road. Continue downstream down
the road.

*) Continue along the road until it turn slightly away from the
widening river and enters a settled area. Take the first left back
towards the river/lake.

*) Continue along the river past another souther peninsula. As the
river goes north, take the first road right.

*) Take the road for a short distance until it hits the main road.
Turn left (north).

*) Follow the road north for a short distance until it hits a T
intersection. Turn left.

*) Follow the road for a short distance and take a forward left back
towards the river/lake.

*) Follow the road along the lake until it moves back inland and hits
the main road. Turn left.

*) Continue along the lake for some distance, until the road moves
inland and hits a small cluster of houses. Turn left.

*) Continue along the lake, moving inland as necessary to avoid
obstacles, until you hit the dam/lock at the exit of the lake. Cross
over.

*) If possible, bike along the left bank of the river until you hit a
bridge. If that is closed off as part of the power plant, continue on
the road, staying as far right as possible. This should take you
straight to the bridge. Turn right immediately after the bridge and
go backwards (upstream).

*) Take the first left.

*) Take the first left.

*) Make a switchback back to the right uphill.

*) Continue on the road until you cross under power lines and hit an
intersection with some buildings. Turn back left.

*) Continue through a town, staying as right as possible. This will
leave you on a road going north out of town.

*) This road will sweep you down towards the river and into a second
town. Turn left in the town back towards the river.

*) Stay on this road for over a mile as it takes you along the river.
Eventually, it will hit a bridge over the river. Take the bridge and
turn right on the far side.

*) Continue along the road as it leaves the river, heads through a
small town, and turns north. At the end of the town, there will be a
Y intersection and turn right.

*) Continue to the next intersection and loop around to the next road
to the right heading in the opposite direction.

*) Continue on this road until it hits the river. Turn back to the
left.

*) Continue along the river until the next bridge. Take it across the
river and turn left on the far side.

*) Continue along the right bank for some distance. You will enter
the town of Aarberg, with the city center off to the right. This
could be a good spot for lunch.

*) Contineu through Aarberg, staying on the right bank. The river
will turn into a canal at this point and run almost directly west.
After it turns slightly north, you'll hit a main road. Take a right.

*) Take the first left.

*) Follow the road until it hits the lock where the Aare dumps into
Lake Biel. There should be a path leading off to the right along the
shore next to the trees. Take this, if possible. Otherwise backtrack
to the main road.

*) In general, stay as far left as possible and as close to the lake
as possible for the next several miles. Eventually, you'll hit the
Aare outlet canal. Turn right.

*) You will basically stay along the right side of the Aare from here
all the way to Solothurn. As you get closer to Solothurn, there will
be a couple northern peninsulas that will require turning slightly
inland. As leave the second one, you'll hit a main road, which will
parallel the river and take you in to Solothurn. As you enter the
city, the road will turn right away from the river. Follow the road
under a set of railroad tracks and then turn left at the major
intersection.

*) Follow the road around a plaza and turn right towards a bridge at
the far corner of the plaza.

*) Turn left just before the bridge. The hotel will be on the right
next to the river.

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