Mule Track Gries Pass
Obergoms
-3/2°
ClosedThe mule track is a scenic ascent along a mule path from the Rhone Valley up to the remote pass summit at the Italian border. The hike combines history, pristine landscapes, and a pioneering ecological project.
Difficulty
DifficultLength
20.77 kmDuration
8:00 h
Description
This hike in the heart of the Alps is also a journey through time. A historic mule track leads through wild landscapes to a trio of Alpine passes that have a lively history of exchange from past to present.
Since Roman times, Obergoms has welcomed traders and travelers from both sides of the Alps. One of the most important Alpine crossings then led over the Grimsel and Gries passes, which was the shortest connection between Switzerland and Italy at that time.
The hike starts at the valley floor of the Rhone Valley in the picturesque village of Ulrichen, where up to 100 pack animals passed daily in the past. From here, the route follows the historic mule track up into the Wild Ägene valley. One of the most important trades back then was Sbrinz cheese from Central Switzerland, which gave the long-distance hike ViaSbrinz its name from Central Switzerland to Italy.
The more modern trade route also leads up this valley – namely the road to the Nufenen Pass, which connects Valais with Ticino. The hike leads south to the end of the valley, where a 21st-century attraction awaits: the wind turbines of the Gries wind park, the highest wind park in Europe at 2,500 m above sea level. The facility is designed to produce electricity for almost 3,000 households and is thus an important pillar of the Valais energy strategy, which strongly relies on renewable energies.
The hike passes above the sparkling Gries reservoir up to the pass summit at the Italian border. At this quiet spot, there is a great view of the Valle di Morasco as well as the Bernese and Valais Alps. The route then leads via Corno Pass, which connects Valais with Ticino, back to the Nufenen Pass.
Highlights of the hike:
- Historic mule path once used by traders, pilgrims, smugglers, and mercenaries.
- Diverse landscapes – from the lush Rhone Valley to the glaciers of the Alps.
- Gries wind park, the promising energy project in Valais.
Turn-by-turn directions
The hike from Ulrichen train station up to the Gries Pass is clearly marked.
It is possible to shorten the hike by skipping either the Gries Pass or the Corno Pass. Various shortcuts lead directly to the Nufenen Pass.
At the summit of the Nufenen Pass, there is a restaurant for refreshments. The bus stop for the return trip is also located here.
The long-distance hike ViaSbrinz takes five days and covers over 110 km from Stansstad on Lake Lucerne to Ponte in the Italian Val Formazza. The described hike includes a section of the last stage of this multi-day hike.
Start
Ulrichen (1346m)
Destination
Nufenen Pass (2478m)
Author's recommendation
Technical information
Altitude
2556m
1347m
Ascent
+1789m
Descent
-657m
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
