Snowshoeing
Alpe Äpnet – Hannigalp Trail
Grächen
-5/3°
From Alpe Äpnet through snowy landscapes and the larch forest of Grächen – these are the highlights of the Hannigalp Trail. A somewhat demanding snowshoe route where you are rewarded at the destination for the ascent.
Difficulty
IntermediateLength
2.47 kmDuration
1:19 h
Description
At the idyllic Alpe Äpnet above Grächen, cattle graze in summer, filling their bellies with juicy alpine grass and fresh herbs. Even though you won’t find the animals there in winter, the place is picturesque. Recharge your energy here before you set off on the Hannigalp Trail. Initially still in open terrain, it soon leads into the snow-covered larch forest. Pace yourself because after the first flat stretch, the path soon goes uphill. Naturally, your goal, Hannigalp, is situated at 2114 meters above sea level. Enjoy the tranquility and look forward to a culinary reward on the panoramic terraces right in the middle of the Hannigalp ski area. And although you spend most of the time in the forest, there are always opportunities to admire the magnificent Alpine panorama featuring the Weisshorn.
Turn-by-turn directions
On foot, head from Grächen towards Alpe Äpnet, where you put on your snowshoes and walk along the edge of the forest across the ski slope. Shortly thereafter, you enter the romantic Grächen winter forest and wade along a path towards Hannigalp. The return route follows the same path. If you want to take it easy, you can take the Märchengondelbahn cable car back to Grächen.
Start
Alpe Äpnet (1778m)
Destination
Hannigalp (2117m)
Author's recommendation
When it has freshly snowed, the Grächen forest shows its most beautiful side and makes this snowshoe hike a truly unique and unforgettable experience.
Technical information
Altitude
2118m
1767m
Ascent
+351m
Descent
-11m
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Best time of the year
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Tags
Getting there
Information
Public transport
Accessible by train and bus. From Visp or St. Niklaus train station, take the bus to Grächen.
Approach
A9 highway towards Visp. Cantonal road towards Saas-Fee / Zermatt to the Grächen turnoff.
Parking
Grächen is partially car-free. There are two parking garages at the entrance to the village.
Source
This activity is brought to you by Valais/Wallis Promotion
