Trail Saastal
Saas-Grund
1/11°
ClosedThe trail in the Saas Valley leads from Saas-Grund along the Saaser Vispa to Saas-Balen and Saas-Almagell, offering impressive views of the Saas four-thousand-meter peaks.
Difficulty
IntermediateLength
22.63 kmDuration
5:00 h
Description
Perfectly prepared trails lead through snowy larch forests and along the frozen Saaser Vispa with an impressive view of the four-thousand-meter peaks of the Saas Valley: this is how cross-country skiing is fun.
The entrance to the trail is in Saas-Grund, directly at the bridge in the direction of Saas-Fee. From there, the trail follows the stream downstream and turns left after the third bridge. The trail continues over a forest clearing to the hamlet Bidermatten. After a short descent, follow the Vispa further to the round church in Saas-Balen.
Then a long ascent follows. This leads along the Vispa back to Saas-Grund and then via Saas-Almagell to the chapel Zermeiggern. In the last kilometers towards «Eiju Sand», you can enjoy the unique nature with the view of Europe’s largest earth dam, the Mattmark dam. The trail returns the same way to Saas-Almagell.
Please observe the current trail report.
Turn-by-turn directions
The trail starts in Saas-Grund at the bridge leading to Saas-Fee and follows the stream downstream. At the third bridge, the trail climbs up on the left at the edge of the forest before descending in a curve in front of the hamlet Bidermatten down to the stream again. Always following the stream, it continues on to Saas-Balen. In front of the houses and round church, the trail goes to the road, the northernmost and lowest point of the trail. From there, it follows the same path back to Saas-Grund via Bidermatten.
Arriving at the bridge towards Saas-Fee, the trail this time follows the stream upstream. At the third bridge, the trail crosses the water and the road. Across a snowy meadow, the trail leads to another stream. Passing the hamlet «Unner de Bodme», the trail continues upstream to Saas-Almagell.
At the crossroads by the bridge/weaving room, the trail continues straight to Zermeiggern. Beyond the chapel and the balancing basin, the last bridge is crossed. From there, the trail runs on the road and climbs up to «Eiju Sand», the southern end of the trail.
From «Eiju Sand» it goes down the same way to Saas-Almagell. At the end of the snowy meadows, the trail turns left and climbs up to «Biele». In two hairpin bends, it goes down to the hamlet «Unner de Bodme» and follows the stream downstream back to the starting point in Saas-Grund.
Start
Saas-Grund village (1558m)
Destination
Saas-Grund village (1558m)
Author's recommendation
Several bus stops are located along the trail. The buses run every 30 minutes back to the starting point.
There is an extra loop in Saas-Grund.
Technical information
Altitude
1870m
1485m
Ascent
+385m
Descent
-385m
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Public transport
Travel with the SBB to Visp and change there to the PostBus towards Saas-Fee (Bus 511).
Get off at the «Post» stop in Saas-Grund.
Approach
The Saas Valley is easily and conveniently accessible by car from all directions, whether from Switzerland or abroad: from the north via Bern through the Lötschberg car transport, from the east via the Furka Pass or Furka car transport, from the south via Simplon Pass or Simplon car transport, and from the west via Lausanne along the Rhone valley to Visp and from there towards Saas-Fee.
From Visp, drive south towards Saas-Fee. At the roundabout «Killerhof» near Stalden, take the second exit to Saas-Fee. Follow the road to Saas-Grund.
Parking
Several parking options in Saas-Grund:
- Bergbahnen Hohsaas
- Village square
Source
This activity is brought to you by Saas-Fee/Saastal. Valais/Wallis Promotion is not responsible for the content provided.