‘Big Three Lakes’ hike: Bettmersee, Blausee, Märjelensee
Three idyllic mountain lakes and the imposing Great Aletsch Glacier: this fantastic circular hike lets you experience the element of water in a particularly impressive form.
closed
difficult
Distance 20.6 km
Leaving the mountain station of Bettmeralp cable car, you head up to Lake Bettmersee. Now follow the path along the western shore of the lake and then on uphill to Lake Blausee. From there, the route takes you up to Biel and Hohbalm, where you cross over to the other side of the ridge. On the following section of the trail to the “Roti Chumma”, views of the Great Aletsch Glacier accompany you all the way. You may also see Valais Blacknose sheep, which spend the summer grazing on the sparse alpine meadows. Once you arrive at the “Roti Chumma”, the monumental glacier is right before you. However you keep on towards Märjela and Lake Märjelensee. Passing the Gletscherstube, the route takes you back in the direction of the sunny plateau. Go through the illuminated Tälligrat-Tunnel (Upper Tälli) and on up to Fiescheralp. From here you can either let the cable car whisk you down to Fiesch, or continue on the Herrenweg trail to Bettmeralp, the starting point of the tour.
Author’s recommendation
Plan a break at the Gletscherstube! Here you can digest all you’ve seen so far as you fortify yourself for the remainder of the hike.

Author
Aletsch Arena AGUpdate: December 24, 2021
Difficulty
difficult
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
2,489 m
Lowest point
1,924 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Rest Stop
Mountain hut GletscherstubeSafety information
Summer sports report
Use of the trails and the information on this website is at hikers’ own risk. Local conditions may entail changes to routes. Aletsch Arena AG accepts no liability for the accuracy and completeness of information on this website.
- Bring a map. Download full description of this route including large-scale map by clicking on «Print» icon, top right of this page.
- Use marked trails only, and observe all signposting – for your own safety, to safeguard grazing animals and to avoid disturbing wildlife.
- Close gates after passing through.
- Please be considerate to other trail users, and to the plants and animals.
- Do not leave any waste in nature.
Tips and hints
Aletsch Arena AG
Furkastrasse 39
CH-3983 Mörel-Filet
+41 27 928 58 58
info@aletscharena.ch
www.aletscharena.ch
Start
Bettmeralp, top station of aerial cable car (1,923 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'647'617E 1'137'405N
DD
46.386321, 8.057643
DMS
46°23'10.8"N 8°03'27.5"E
UTM
32T 427540 5137403
w3w
///relocated.denim.upholds
Destination
Bettmeralp, top station of aerial cable car
Turn-by-turn directions
Bettmeralp cable car mountain station – Bettmersee – Blausee – Biel – Hohbalm – Roti Chumma – Märjelensee – Obers Tälli (tunnel) – Fiescheralp – Bettmeralp
Note
all notes on protected areas
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
By train from Brig or Oberwald to Betten valley station. Take the Bettmeralp cable car (Aletsch Bahnen AG) up to Bettmeralp.Getting there
Take Kantonsstrasse 19 to the Betten Valley Station exit. Take the Bettmeralp cable car (Aletsch Bahnen AG) up to Bettmeralp.Parking
Large pay car park near the valley station of the Bettmeralp cable car (Aletsch Bahnen AG).Coordinates
SwissGrid
2'647'617E 1'137'405N
DD
46.386321, 8.057643
DMS
46°23'10.8"N 8°03'27.5"E
UTM
32T 427540 5137403
w3w
///relocated.denim.upholds
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Book recommendation by the author
Get a free panoramic map at the cable car stations and info centres of the Aletsch Arena.
Author’s map recommendations
SwissTopo maps 1:25’000: 1269 Aletschgletscher
Book recommendations for this region:
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Equipment
We recommend:
- good footwear
- clothing suitable for the weather: always carry a waterproof jacket
- hat or cap
- sunscreen
- bottle for water
- picnic
- camera
- binoculars (optional)
- hiking poles (optional)
- printout of this hike (click «Print» icon, to download)
Status
closed
Reviews
Difficulty
difficult
Distance
20.6 km
Duration
6:30 h
Ascent
750 m
Descent
750 m
Highest point
2,489 m
Lowest point
1,924 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
Questions and answers
Rating
Photos from others