Riederfurka – Knebelbrücken Trail
Hiking Trail
· Aletsch Arena· closed
Superb pleasure hike with a few exposed spots around Riederhorn. Trail features: superb views and log bridges. The historic, Victorian Villa Cassel on Riederfurka is simply magnificent.
closed
moderate
Distance 9.6 km
Starting in Riederalp, this hiking trail takes you around the Riederhorn. The trail begins with a climb up to Riederfurka, then gently loops round around the Riederhorn below the Casselweg trail down to Oberried and then back to Riederalp. On the way, you pass three ‘Knebelbrücke’ bridges, and some trail sections are somewhat exposed. From mid-June to mid-October, this hiking trail at the heart of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site offers huge variety: you cross a total of three bridges (German: Brücken) made of round wooden logs (German: Knebel) – hence the name “Knebelbrücken” Trail. In the past, the constructions were a little more primitive and hazardous. Today, the bridges are passable without difficulty, though somewhat exposed. As you go, you look out towards the villages in the valley and the Gibidum reservoir above the Massa Gorge. The gorge was carved into the rock long ago by the ice of the Great Aletsch Glacier. One particular highlight of the hike is the historic Villa Cassel, built in 1902, on Riederfurka. Surrounded by green meadows and set against a backdrop of snow-capped 4000-metre mountains, the magnificent building doesn’t quite fit into the unspoilt landscape. It was the private holiday residence of Sir Ernest Cassel, an extremely wealthy Anglo-German banker. Before descending towards the Knebelbrücken, we recommend a bite to eat in the tea room of the Victorian villa, where illustrious guests such as Winston Churchill once came and went. Today, the historic house is home to the Pro Natura Centre Aletsch, a nature conservation centre plus guesthouse – and at the same time the gateway to the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Author’s recommendation
The hike can be shortened by taking the cable car from Ried-Mörel to Riederalp (West).

Author
Aletsch Arena AGUpdate: December 21, 2021
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
Riederfurka, 2,066 m
Lowest point
Nieschbord, 1,492 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Safety information
Summer sports reportUse 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 AGFurkastrasse 39
CH-3983 Mörel-Filet
+41 27 928 58 58
info@aletscharena.ch
Start
Riederalp, cable car station (West) (1,925 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'645'190E 1'136'264N
DD
46.376228, 8.025977
DMS
46°22'34.4"N 8°01'33.5"E
UTM
32T 425092 5136311
w3w
///larger.rigs.spoiled
Destination
Riederalp, cable car station (West)
Turn-by-turn directions
The trail starts at Riederalp cable car station (West) and heads up to Riederfurka. It then runs above the Massa Gorge on its way down to Oberried, before climbing back up to Riederalp.
Note
all notes on protected areas
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
By train from Brig or Oberwald to Mörel-Filet, then on foot to the Riederalp cable car (Aletsch Bahnen AG). From here you ride up to Riederalp.Getting there
Take Kantonsstrasse 19 to the Mörel-Filet exit, then follow signs for the parking facilities. Take the Riederalp cable car (Aletsch Bahnen AG) up to Riederalp.Parking
- Limited parking spaces (charges apply) at Mörel-Filet station. Further parking options are signposted.
- Large multi-storey car parks (charges apply) at the entrance to Mörel-Filet and in the village centre.
Coordinates
SwissGrid
2'645'190E 1'136'264N
DD
46.376228, 8.025977
DMS
46°22'34.4"N 8°01'33.5"E
UTM
32T 425092 5136311
w3w
///larger.rigs.spoiled
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
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
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
9.6 km
Duration
3:45 h
Ascent
606 m
Descent
608 m
Highest point
2,066 m
Lowest point
1,492 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
Questions and answers
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