Walking in the Valais

Mountain safety

Preface to the fourth edition

Introduction

The Valais region

The valleys

Getting there

Transport within the Valais

Accommodation

Weather

Notes for walkers

Suggested equipment

Recommended maps

Using this guide

Grading of walks

Fieschertal and the Aletsch Glacier

Walk 1 Fieschertal – Burg Hut – Fieschertal

Walk 2 Fieschertal – Gletscherstube Märjela

Walk 3 Burg Hut – Gletscherstube Märjela

Walk 4 Fiescheralp – Gletscherstube Märjela

Walk 5 Gletscherstube Märjela – Aletschgletscher – Biel – Fiescheralp

Walk 6 Gletscherstube Märjela – Aletschgletscher – Riederfurka

Walk 7 Riederfurka – Aletschwald – Hängebrücke – Belalp

Lötschental

Walk 8 Ferden – Kummenalp – Fafleralp

Walk 9 Ferden – Kummenalp – Lötschenpass Hut

Walk 10 Lötschenpass Hut – Selden – Kandersteg

Walk 11 Fafleralp – Petersgrat – Kandersteg

Walk 12 Fafleralp – Krindeln

Walk 13 Fafleralp – Anen Hut – Fafleralp

Walk 14 Fafleralp – Blatten – Goppenstein

Walk 15 Ried – Bietschhorn Hut

Saastal

Walk 16 Gspon – Kreuzboden

Walk 17 Kreuzboden – Weissmies Hut

Walk 18 Kreuzboden – Trift – Saas Grund

Walk 19 Kreuzboden – Almagelleralp – Saas Almagel

Walk 20 Saas Almagell – Almagelleralp – Almageller Hut

Walk 21 Saas Almagell – Saas Grund – Saas Balen

Walk 22 Saas Almagell – Furggalp – Saas Almagel

Walk 23 Saas Almagell – Furgtälli – Saas Almagel

Walk 24 Mattmark – Antrona Pass – Saas Almagel

Walk 25 Mattmark – Ofental – Mattmark

Walk 26 Mattmark – Monte Moro Pass – Mattmark

Walk 27 Saas Grund – Saas Fee (via Kapellenweg)

Walk 28 Saas Grund – Seng – Saas Fee

Walk 29 Saas Fee – Saas Almagell – Saas Fee

Walk 30 Saas Fee – Gletschergrotte – Spielboden

Walk 31 Saas Fee (Hannig) – Mischabel Hut

Walk 32 Saas Fee (Hannig) – Gletschersee – Saas Fee

Walk 33 Saas Fee (Felskinn) – Britannia Hut

Walk 34 Saas Fee (Plattjen) – Britannia Hut

Walk 35 Saas Fee (Plattjen) – Hannig

Mattertal

Walk 36 Jungen – St Niklaus

Walk 37 St Niklaus – Randa – Täsch – Zermatt

Walk 38 St Niklaus – Grächen

Walk 39 St Niklaus – Gasenried

Walk 40 Grächen – Hannigalp – Saas Fee

Walk 41 Grächen – Gasenried

Walk 42 Randa – Schaliberg – Randa

Walk 43 Täsch – Täschalp

Walk 44 Täschalp – Täsch Hut

Walk 45 Täschalp – Täsch

Walk 46 Zermatt (Sunnegga) – Täschalp – Täsch

Walk 47 Zermatt (Sunnegga) – Fluhalp – Findeln –Zermatt

Walk 48 Zermatt – Findeln – Eggen

Walk 49 Zermatt (Riffelberg) – Riffelsee – Zermatt

Walk 50 Zermatt (Rotenboden) – Monte Rosa Hut

Walk 51 Zermatt (Schwarzsee) – Hörnli Hut

Walk 52 Zermatt (Schwarzsee) – Stafelalp – Zermatt

Walk 53 Zermatt – Zmutt – Zum See – Blatten – Zermatt

Walk 54 Zermatt – Herbrigg – Hubel – Zmutt

Walk 55 Zermatt – Zmutt – Schönbiel Hut

Walk 56 Zermatt – Trift

Walk 57 Zermatt – Trift – Höhbalmen – Hubel – Zermatt

Walk 58 Zermatt – Höhbalmen – Zmutt – Zermatt

Walk 59 Zermatt – Höhbalmen – Schönbiel Hut

Walk 60 Zermatt – Trift – Rothorn Hut

Walk 61 Zermatt – Trift – Mettelhorn

Turtmanntal

Walk 62 Gruben – Chalte Berg

Walk 63 Gruben – Meidpass – Hotel Weisshorn

Walk 64 Gruben – Augstbordpass

Val d’Anniviers

Walk 65 Chandolin – Cabane d’Illhorn – Illhorn

Walk 66 St–Luc (Tignousa) – Bella Tola

Walk 67 St–Luc (Tignousa) – Meidpass – Gruben

Walk 68 St–Luc (Tignousa) – Hotel Weisshorn – Zinal

Walk 69 Zinal – Forcletta – Gruben

Walk 70 Zinal – Hotel Weisshorn – Ayer

Walk 71 Zinal – Cabane de Tracuit

Walk 72 Zinal – Roc de la Vache – Zinal

Walk 73 Zinal – Cabane d’Ar Pitetta

Walk 74 Zinal – Cabane du Grand Mountet

Walk 75 Zinal – Cabane du Petit Mountet

Walk 76 Zinal (Sorebois) – Cab. du Petit Mountet – Zinal

Walk 77 Grimentz (Moiry) – Col de Sorebois – Zinal

Walk 78 Grimentz (Parking du Glacier) – Cab. de Moiry

Walk 79 Grimentz (Barrage de Moiry) – Haut Tour du Lac

Walk 80 Grimentz (Barrage de Moiry) – Lac des Autannes

Walk 81 Grimentz (Moiry) – Sex de Marinda – Grimentz

Walk 82 Grimentz – Zinal

Val d’Hérens

Walk 83 Les Haudères – La Sage

Walk 84 Les Haudères (Ferpècle) – Bricola

Walk 85 Les Haudères – Veisivi – Roc Vieux

Walk 86 Arolla – Lac Bleu – La Gouille

Walk 87 Arolla – Les Haudères – Evolène

Walk 88 Arolla – Cabane de la Tsa

Walk 89 Arolla – Plan de Bertol

Walk 90 Arolla – Pra Gra

Walk 91 Arolla – Cabane des Aiguilles Rouges – Arolla

Walk 92 Arolla – Pas de Chèvres

Walk 93 Arolla – Col de Riedmatten – Cabane des Dix

Walk 94 Le Chargeur – Cabane des Dix

Walk 95 Le Chargeur – Col de Riedmatten – Arolla

Walk 96 Le Chargeur – Cabane de Prafleuri – Le Chargeur

Val de Bagnes

Walk 97 Verbier – Clambin – Cabane du Mont Fort

Walk 98 Cabane du Mont Fort – Cab. de Louvie – Fionnay

Walk 99 Fionnay – Cabane de Panossière

Walk 100 Mauvoisin – Cabane de Chanrion

Val Ferret

Walk 101 Praz de Fort – Plan Bagnet – Cabane d’Orny

Walk 102 Ferret – Grand Col Ferret

Walk 103 Ferret – Lacs de Fenêtre

Walk 104 Ferret – Champex

Walk 105 Champex – Sembrancher

Walk 106 Champex – Cabane d’Orny

Walk 107 Champex – Alp Bovine – Col de la Forclaz

Walk 108 Champex – Fenêtre d’Arpette – Col de la Forclaz

Vallée du Trient

Walk 109 Trient – Chalet du Glacier – Trient

Walk 110 Trient – Col de Balme – Croix de Fer

Walk 111 Trient – Ref. Les Grands – Col de Balme – Trient

Multi–Day Tours

Tour 1 Tour of the Upper Mattertal

Tour 2 Tour du Val d’Anniviers

Tour 3 Tour of the Weissmies

Tour 4 Tour of Monte Rosa

Tour 5 Grand Tour of Monte Rosa

Tour 6 Tour of the Matterhorn

Tour 7 Tour of the Val d’Hérens

Tour 8 Tour of the Dents du Midi

Tour 9 Chamonix to Zermatt: Walker’s Haute Route

Tour 10 Tour of Mont Blanc

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Useful addresses

Appendix C Bibliography

Appendix D Glossary

The Landeskarte der Schweiz (LS) series of maps that cover the Valais region are magnificent works of art. Open any sheet and a picture of the country immediately leaps from the paper – for by clever use of shading, contours and colouring, the line of ridges and rock faces, the flow of glaciers and streams, the curve of an amphitheatre, narrow cut of a valley, expanse of a lake, and the forest cover of a hillside all announce themselves with great clarity. They are a source of inspiration prior to setting out and a pleasure to use day by day.

At the head of each valley section in this book, a note is given in regard to the specific map recommended for use. In every instance the 1:50,000 series of Wanderkarten, produced in collaboration with the Swiss walking organisation the SAW (Schweizerische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Wanderwege), has been chosen. Although more detail is presented on the 1:25,000 sheets, the Wanderkarten – distinguished by their orange covers and with the letter ‘T’ after their official number – should be adequate for most, if not all, the walks described. These maps are available in the UK from Edward Stanford’s in London (see Appendix A for the address) or locally in the Valais from bookshops or tourist offices.

The commercial publisher Kümmerly + Frey also covers the Valais with a series of 1:60,000 maps based on the LS sheets, and these are mostly available in local resorts. Their 1:120,000 sheet Wallis covers the entire canton and is a useful locator, with a number of major long walking routes outlined in red.

Some regional tourist authorities also produce their own Wanderkarten to show walking routes based on specific resorts or valleys, and these are on sale at the local tourist offices.

August 2018

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