Explore the Swiss Alps from west to east, from the Matterhorn and the great valleys of Zermatt and Saas-Fee to the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau above the Bernese Oberland and the Bernina and Silvretta ranges on the borders of Italy and Austria. One of the world's great mountain destinations, the Swiss Alps offer a lifetime of walking, trekking, climbing, and ski mountaineering in some of Europe's most spectacular scenery.

This large-format Cicerone planning companion by celebrated author Kev Reynolds is a comprehensive guide to the Swiss Alps, covering every mountain area in the country valley by valley across seven regional chapters. Rather than a conventional route guide with detailed step-by-step descriptions, it is a richly detailed reference work designed to inspire and inform, directing the reader to the finest walks, treks, climbs, and ski tours in each area and providing everything needed to plan a Swiss Alps adventure at any level.

• Explore the full sweep of the Swiss Alps across seven regional chapters, covering the Chablais Alps, Pennine Alps, Lepontine and Adula Alps, Bernina, Bregaglia and Albula Alps, Bernese Alps, Central Swiss Alps, and the Silvretta and Rätikon Alps, with dozens of individual valleys described in detail.
• Plan walks, treks, climbs, and ski tours across every level of ability and ambition, from gentle valley walks and multi-day hut-to-hut treks to serious alpine climbs on the 4000m peaks of the Pennine Alps and Bernese Oberland.
• Discover the Swiss Alps valley by valley, with each section covering access, accommodation, mountain huts, recommended maps, and the finest routes and activities available, giving you a complete picture of what each part of the range has to offer.
• Prepare thoroughly with comprehensive practical information on when to go, getting there and around Switzerland, accommodation and mountain huts, Swiss mapping, health considerations, mountain safety, plant and animal life, and environmental ethics.
• Identify the best destinations for your chosen activity using the at-a-glance information provided for every mountain area, covering peaks, passes, valleys, and bases across the full breadth of Switzerland.
• Navigate the wide range of Swiss mapping available with detailed guidance on the Federal Office of Topography swisstopo series and Kümmerly and Frey Wanderkarten, ensuring you have the right maps for every area and activity across the Swiss Alps.

An essential addition to the shelf of anyone who loves or dreams of the Swiss Alps, this trusted Cicerone reference work is the book to reach for when planning your next adventure in one of Europe's greatest mountain ranges. Let Kev Reynolds be your guide to the Swiss Alps.

The Swiss Alps – Quick Facts

Location: Switzerland – the full sweep of the Swiss Alps, from the Chablais in the west to the Silvretta and Rätikon in the east
Type of book: Large-format mountain range reference and planning guide; not a conventional route guide but a comprehensive reference work covering every mountain area in Switzerland valley by valley
Activities covered: Walking, hiking, trekking, scrambling, climbing, and ski mountaineering
Difficulty: For outdoor enthusiasts of all standards; climbing grades quoted where applicable; multi-day trekking routes outlined for more experienced trekkers
Regional chapters: Chablais Alps; Pennine Alps; Lepontine and Adula Alps; Bernina, Bregaglia and Albula Alps; Bernese Alps; Central Swiss Alps; Silvretta and Rätikon Alps
Key centres: Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Kandersteg, Mürren, Wengen, Pontresina, St Moritz, Arolla, Engelberg, Meiringen, Klosters, Leysin
Key highlights: The Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, Weisshorn, Dom, Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, Finsteraarhorn, Schreckhorn, Wetterhorn, and all major Swiss 4000m peaks, passes, valleys, and centres
Navigation/mapping: Comprehensive guidance on swisstopo Federal Office of Topography maps and Kümmerly and Frey Wanderkarten series covering the full Swiss Alps
Best time to go: Year-round; summer for walking, trekking, and climbing; winter for ski mountaineering

Author Highlight

“[This book is] a handy resource for the active hillwalker, trekker, climber and ski tourer; a guide and gazetteer to the peaks, passes and valleys, providing sufficient background information to help anyone planning a visit to make the most of their time there. Questions such as ‘Where to walk, climb or ski?’, ‘What multi-day treks are available and where do they go?’, ‘Where are the mountain huts, what are their facilities, which peaks do they serve?’, and ‘Where are the most suitable valley bases?’ – all these and more are addressed in detail.”

- Kev Reynolds author of The Swiss Alps

Overview Map

Introduction

About this Book
The Mountain Ranges

Practicalities

When to Go
Weather
Getting There
Getting Around
Accommodation
Mountain Huts
Maps and Guidebooks
Health Considerations

The Mountains

Mountain Activities
Safety Dos and Don’ts
Mountain Rescue
Plant and Animal Life
Environmental Ethics
Information at a Glance

Chapter 1: Chablais Alps

1:1 Val de Morgins
1:2 Val d’Illiez
1:3 Vallon de Susanfe
1:4 Rhône Valley Approaches
1:5 Vallée du Trient
Access, Bases, Maps and Guides

Chapter 2: Pennine Alps

2:1 Val Ferret
2:2 Val d’Entremont
2:3 Val de Bagnes
2:4 Val de Nendaz
2:5 Val d’Hérémence
2:6 Val d’Hérens
2:7 Val de Moiry
2:8 Val d’Anniviers
2:9 Turtmanntal
2:10 Mattertal
2:11 Saastal
2:12 Simplon Pass
Access, Bases, Maps and Guides

Chapter 3: Lepontine and Adula Alps

3:1 Simplon Pass East
3:2 Binntal
3:3 Val Bedretto
3:4 Valle Leventina
3:5 Val Verzasca
3:6 Valle Maggia and its Tributaries
3:7 Valle di Blenio
3:8 Vals Calanca and Mesolcina
3:9 The Northern Valleys
Access, Bases, Maps and Guides

Chapter 4: Bernina, Bregaglia and Albula Alps

4:1 Val Madris and the Averstal
4:2 Engadine Valley: Left Bank
4:3 Val Bregaglia
4:4 The Bernina Alps
4:5 The Swiss National Park
Access, Bases, Maps and Guides

Chapter 5: Bernese Alps

5:1 Alpes Vaudoises
5:2 Les Diablerets to the Rawil Pass
5:3 The Wildstrubel Massif
5:4 Kandersteg and the Gemmipass
5:5 Blu?emlisalp and the Gasterntal
5:6 The Kiental
5:7 Lauterbrunnen Valley
5:8 Grindelwald and the Lu?tschental
5:9 Haslital and Grimsel Pass
5:10 The Southern Valleys
Access, Bases, Maps and Guides

Chapter 6: Central Swiss Alps

6:1 Uri Alps: Dammastock Group
6:2 North of the Sustenpass: Titlis Group
6:3 Glarner Alps
Access, Bases, Maps and Guides

Chapter 7: Silvretta and Rätikon Alps

7:1 Silvretta Alps: Lower Engadine
7:2 Silvretta Alps: Prättigau
7:3 Rätikon Alps
7:4 The Alpstein Massif
Access, Bases, Maps and Guides

APPENDIX A Glossary of Alpine Terms
APPENDIX B Selective Bibliography
APPENDIX C Index of Maps
APPENDIX D The Swiss 4000m Peaks

Index

Seasons

Information for the walker, trekker, climber and ski mountaineer to participate in their chosen activity in all seasons

Centres

Arolla, Engleberg, Grindelwald, Kandersteg, Klosters, Lauterbrunnen, Les Haudered, Leysin, Maggia, Meiringen, Mürren, Pontresina, Promontogno, Sass Fee, St Moritz, Sonogno, Vicosoprano, Wengen, Zermatt, Zernez

Difficulty

For outdoor enthusiasts of all standards. Climbing grades are quoted where applicable. Multi-day trekking routes are also outlined, suitable for the more experienced trekker

Must See

The Matterhorn, Monte Rosa, Weisshorn, Dom, Finsteraarhorn, Schreckhorn and Westterhorn, Eiger, Mönch, Jungrau - all the major Swiss peaks, passes, valleys and centres.

Swiss cartography is world class, with national survey maps published by the Federal Office of Topography (www.swisstopo.ch) covering the whole country with sheets of several different scales: 1:25,000, 1:50,000, 1:100,000 and 1:200,000.

The 1:50,000 series, which is perfectly adequate for the majority of walkers, mountaineers and ski tourers, includes a set of maps with major walking routes marked. These Wanderkarten are distinguished by the letter T given after the individual sheet number, while sheets marked with ski touring routes (Skitourenkarten) are distinguished by the letter S. National survey maps detailed at the end of each chapter in this book are listed with the prefix LS (Landeskarten der Schweiz).

The complete 1:25,000 series (more than 230 separate sheets) is also available on eight CD-ROM discs under the heading Swiss Map 25.

Independent publisher Ku?mmerly & Frey (www.swisstravelcenter.ch) also produces a series of maps for walkers at a scale of 1:60,000. As with LS maps, these Wanderkarten have major walking routes and mountain huts prominently marked, and the clearly defined contours and artistic use of shading produce an instant representation of ridge, spur and valley. Again, details of relevant sheets are given at the end of each chapter.

Ku?mmerly & Frey also has a limited series of 1:120,000 sheets which provide a useful overview of regions such as Graubu?nden, Valais (Wallis) and the Bernese Oberland, and a separate sheet (Wanderland) at 1:301,000 showing all the main long-distance walking routes in Switzerland, with a comprehensive index on the reverse.

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