Hike to the Glacier View in Bellwald
Bellwald
0/7°
Alpine hike with fabulous views of the second longest glacier in the Alps, the Goms, as well as the Valais four-thousanders. The ascent with the chairlift to the starting point of the hike is an experience in itself.
Difficulty
IntermediateLength
8.9 kmDuration
2:15 h
Description
The Fiescher Glacier, at almost 15 kilometers in length, is the second longest glacier in the Alps. It is one of the jewels of the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch, which protects the mightiest glacier in the Alps and its surroundings. The area also includes nine four-thousanders – including the Finsteraarhorn (4,273 m), which towers above the Fiescher Glacier.
This invigorating hike climbs the slopes above Bellwald and leads to a viewpoint offering the best views of the Fiescher Glacier. From here, the route returns to the starting point via a different path. Before the descent begins, the trail runs a bit higher and allows views of the Goms.
The chairlift takes hikers at the start of the route from Bellwald to Richenen, the starting point of the hike. With its mountain lake, restaurant with sun terrace, and adventure course for children, Richenen is an ideal place for families to linger. The course includes a play boat, forest house, slide, musical instruments, and a research station where the little ones can let off steam and simultaneously get to know the local flora and fauna.
The village of Bellwald itself should not be overlooked; it is one of the oldest and best-preserved villages in Valais and lies on one of the sunniest spots in the canton. Life here still seems somewhat more relaxed, though the cable car, opened in 1956, improved access to the village. The car-free village center with its sunburned houses and barns, as well as the baroque church, is full of historic charm.
Highlights of the hike:
- Sunny alpine hike with great views of the Goms.
- View of the Fiescher Glacier, the second longest glacier in the Alps, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch.
- Scenic chairlift ride to the starting point of the hike, where a restaurant and adventure playground for children invite you to linger.
Turn-by-turn directions
The hike starts at the mountain station of the Richenen chairlift. From here, the path steadily climbs northwest along the flank of the Fiescher valley to the viewpoint "Glacier View". The return route first briefly follows the same path before turning left and following a higher path back to Richenen.
The route can easily be extended, for example by walking the return path to Bellwald instead of taking the chairlift.
Several other hikes lead to the two spectacular suspension bridges in the region. The Aspi-Titter, built in 2016 and 160 m long, spans the gorge below the Fiescher Glacier at a height of 120 m. The Goms Bridge crosses the Rhone near the valley station of the Fürgangen-Bellwald cable car at 280 m.
Start
Richenen, mountain station of the chairlift (2075m)
Destination
Richenen, mountain station of the chairlift (2076m)
Author's recommendation
Technical information
Altitude
2430m
2076m
Ascent
+439m
Descent
-438m
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Public transport
Approach
Parking
Source
This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion
