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Hiking Trail recommended route

Multi-Day Tour through the Aletsch Region

Hiking Trail · Switzerland · closed
Responsible for this content
Aletsch Arena AG Verified partner  Explorers Choice 
  • Hängebrücke Belalp - Riederalp
    Hängebrücke Belalp - Riederalp
    Photo: Aletsch Arena AG
m 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 km
On this breathtakingly beautiful but also demanding multi-day tour, it’s one spectacular Aletsch Arena highlight after another over a distance of 44 km and a hiking time of 17 hours.

This route passes through an inaccessible area and is therefore closed. Current information

closed
difficult
Distance 43.4 km
17:00 h
2,181 m
3,219 m
2,871 m
1,007 m
Day 1

The starting point of the tour is Hotel Belalp. You hike down the Steigle to Aletschji, from where you cross the Leng Acker to the old glacier ascent and the Belalp-Riederalp suspension bridge. At 124m long and 80m high, the suspension bridge is the highlight of this stage! Once on the other side, you start the ascent to Riederfurka. From Riederfurka you hike down to the destination of the first stage, Riederalp.

Accommodation: Accommodation in Riederalp

 

Day 2

From Riederalp, take the Gletscherbahn up to the Moosfluh view point, which is the starting point for the second stage. Head east to Biel and then make the short climb up to Hohbalm. From there, the trail crosses the north-facing slopes of Bettmerhorn and Eggishorn without much change in altitude, ending at Lake Märjelensee. Views of the Great Aletsch Glacier accompany you all along this stretch of the route.

Accommodation: Gletscherstube

 

Day 3

From the Gletscherstube mountain hut, climb up to the little lake of Tällisee, a beautiful lookout point, and on to Tälligrat Ridge along a nicely laid-out footpath. Continue on up the switchback trail to the Horli-Hitta and Eggishorn view point, where a unique vista awaits you. Then hike back along the same path to the Gletscherstube. The last section of the day’s stage takes you via Märjelenwang down to the Burghütte.

Accommodation: Burghütte

 

Day 4

Day 4 promises thrills galore: the tour begins with a relatively challenging, steep descent that calls for sure-footedness. Around 600 metres of elevation difference have to be tackled on this terrain. This is followed by the crossing of the 160m-long Aspi-Titter suspension bridge, which spans the Weisswasser Gorge at a height of 120 metres. You’ll need a head for heights, but you can also look forward to stunning glimpses into the depths below. Once you’ve crossed the bridge, the trail still holds a number of challenges: sure-footedness and a head for heights are also a must on the steep climb to the highest point of the hike. Once there, you hike to Bellwald and continue downwards via Fürgangen to the second suspension bridge of the fourth day’s stage: the 280m-long Goms Bridge crosses the wild young Rhone, which rushes by 92m below. On the other side of the bridge, Mühlebach awaits you. There you’ll find restaurants where you can replenish your energy levels for the final stage, which takes you to Fiesch via Ernen.

Author’s recommendation

Get the Aletsch Explorer Pass! The combined cableway and train ticket gives you unlimited travel in the Aletsch Arena!
Profile picture of Aletsch Arena AG
Author
Aletsch Arena AG
Update: October 26, 2022
Difficulty
difficult
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
2,871 m
Lowest point
1,007 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Asphalt 7.53%Dirt road 0.48%Forested/wild trail 12.86%Path 71.02%Road 2.50%Lift/cableway 4.09%Unknown 1.48%
Asphalt
3.3 km
Dirt road
0.2 km
Forested/wild trail
5.6 km
Path
30.8 km
Road
1.1 km
Lift/cableway
1.8 km
Unknown
0.6 km
Show elevation profile

Safety 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

Belalp, top station of aerial cable car (2,094 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'641'248E 1'135'757N
DD
46.371923, 7.974703
DMS
46°22'18.9"N 7°58'28.9"E
UTM
32T 421142 5135882
w3w 
///directly.clapper.headache
Show on Map

Destination

Public transport hub Fiesch

Turn-by-turn directions

Day 1: Belalp - Hotel Belalp - Aletschji - suspension bridge - Riederfurka - Riederalp
Duration 5 h | Distance 11,4 km | Ascent 604 m | Descent 782 km

 

Day 2: Moosfluh – Biel – Hohbalm – Roti Chumme – Märjelensee – Gletscherstube
Duration 4 h | Distance 10,6 km | Ascent 735 m | Descent 282 m

 

Day 3: Eggishorn – Tälligrat/Tällisee – Gletscherstube - Burghütte
Duration 4 h | Distance 10,2 km | Ascent 508 m | Descent 1123 m

 

Day 4: Aspi-Titter suspension bridge - Bellwald - Fürgangen - Goms Bridge - Mühlebach - Ernen Fiesch
Duration 4 h | Distance 11,9 km | Ascent 262 m | Descent 964 m

Note


all notes on protected areas

Public transport

Public-transport-friendly

From Brig railway station, take the No. 624 bus to the Blatten bei Naters stop (journey time: 15–20 min.).

Getting there

Take Cantonal Road 19 to the Brig exit, then follow Blattenstrasse from Naters to the valley station of the Blatten-Belalp cable car in Blatten bei Naters.

Parking

Large pay car park at the valley station of the Blatten-Belalp cable car.

Coordinates

SwissGrid
2'641'248E 1'135'757N
DD
46.371923, 7.974703
DMS
46°22'18.9"N 7°58'28.9"E
UTM
32T 421142 5135882
w3w 
///directly.clapper.headache
Show on Map
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:

Show more

Recommended maps 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)   

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Photos from others


Status
closed
Difficulty
difficult
Distance
43.4 km
Duration
17:00 h
Ascent
2,181 m
Descent
3,219 m
Highest point
2,871 m
Lowest point
1,007 m
Public-transport-friendly Linear route Multi-stage route Scenic Refreshment stops available Geological highlights Fauna

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