Walks In The Valais – Switzerland

The 120 routes in this guidebook take walkers through the Swiss Valais in the Pennine Alps, with such peaks as the Matterhorn, Dent Blanche and Monte Rosa providing a perfect background. Detailed coverage of Bettmeralp, Lötschental, Saastal, Mattertal, Turtmanntal, Val d’Annivers, Val d’Hérens, Val de Nendaz, Val de Bagnes, Val d’Entremont, Val ferret, Vallée de Trient.

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Route 32 - St Niklaus (Jungen: 1955m) – St Niklaus (1127m)

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Grade: 1
Distance: 3.5km
Height loss: 828m
Time: 1½–2hrs
Location: North of St Niklaus

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High above St Niklaus the tiny alp hamlet of Jungen (Jungu on the LS maps) is an attractive huddle of hay barns, dark-timber chalets and a small white chapel perched on steeply sloping meadows. On the opposite side of the valley, to which the hamlet has a direct view, a long, gently angled crest of snow and ice rises to the pinnacles of Nadelhorn, Lenzspitze and Dom, with the long, trunk-like Ried glacier trailing from them towards the Mattertal. It’s a glorious view, but it’s just one portion of a larger panorama that stretches to the distant head of the valley and includes the Brunegghorn and Weisshorn on the west flank.

A small cablecar enables visitors to reach Jungen from St Niklaus without effort, while the twisting footpath alternative will take about 2½hrs to ascend. The plan here is to ride the cablecar to the alp, spend time enjoying the views (refreshments are available at the splendid Jungerstübli restaurant), then walk back down to St Niklaus.

The cablecar building is found near the railway station in St Niklaus, and the lift operates from mid-June to mid-September. On arrival at Jungen there are several paths you could take to vary the views. Just above the hamlet there’s a junction. The left branch gives an opportunity either to explore the lonely Jungtal that digs into the mountains to the west or to climb to the 2894m Augstbordpass (in 3¼hrs). The right branch leads to Embd and Moosalp, the latter being at the end of a 3½–4hr höhenweg route, perhaps best walked in the opposite direction.

The Moosalp–Jungen Höhenweg is a visually delightful walk, about 9km long, that remains above the 2000m contour most of the way. Moosalp, where it begins, is a saddle on a ridge spur above Torbel, and may be reached by postbus from Stalden.

After spending time in Jungen return to St Niklaus by the path which begins its descent alongside the chapel, at first steeply beyond the lowest buildings, then twisting in forest – a series of small white shrines have been placed beside the path on the way down to the valley, most having been dedicated by local families. About 35mins from Jungen come to a path junction and continue ahead, the alternative path cutting sharply back to the left.

The way leads into a rocky cleft drained by the Jungbach, which is crossed by footbridge, after which the gradient eases, with the path winding round the hillside in long loops before leaving tree cover and crossing through parcels of meadowland to reach St Niklaus railway station.