- 16 km
- 5 h 30 min.
- Easy
Short info
- Starting point
- Seilbahnstation Riederalp West,
2204 m a.s.l. - Endpoint
- Seilbahnstation Fiescheralp,
1926 m a.s.l. - Track
- 16 km
- Duration
- 5 h 30 min.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Ascent
- 762 m
- Descent
- 472 m
- Lowest point
1922 m a.s.l. - Highest Point
2378 m a.s.l.
The tour
This memorable hike takes you along the Great Aletsch Glacier from Riederalp to Fiescheralp. After a short ascent up to Riederfurka the trail leads through the Aletsch Forest, which has the oldest trees in Switzerland. As the forest thins out, views of the majestic glacier open up before you. Laid out beyond the northern slopes of the Bettmerhorn and Eggishorn is the ruggedly romantic Märjela region. Once through the Tälligrat tunnel you will have reached Fiescheralp.
Please check the signs in the area about possible barred paths!
Alternative Route
Start on Hohfluh (cutting out the ascent to Riederfurka)
Bypassing the Tälligrat tunnel
Meals
Villa Cassel, Gletscherstube, restaurants on Riederalp and Fiescheralp
General Tips
Note the signage and any information boards on the spot. Further information about the Swiss footpath network and the signposting can be found here.
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Point of interest
View Point: Driest and Zenbächen glaciers
High above the Great Aletsch glacier, between the Fusshorn and the Zenbächenhorn are enthroned two mountain glaciers, the Driest and
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Point of interest
View Point: Phenomena on the Glacier
When the ice is stretched by tensile stress near to the surface, the fragile part of the glacier ice, cracks in the glacier occur, called
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Point of interest
View Point: Rock Sagging Great Aletsch Glacier (Hohfluh)
The majority of the Aletsch area consists of skewed schists and gneisses of old crystalline which is 1,2 - 2 billion years old. Since the
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Point of interest
Gauge Installation Lake Märjelen
Switzerland's National Hydrological Survey arranged in 1908 a thorough investigation of the water level fluctuations of the Lake M&au
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Point of interest
Slice Weathering in the Aletsch Forest
The frost weathering (including frost wedging) is caused by the volume expansion of freezing water, contained in pores and crevices. It i
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Point of interest
Suone Riederfurka
On the way from Biel or from the Moosfluh in direction Alte Stafel and Aletsch forest you encounter scattered dry stone walls. Some are w
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Point of interest
Nutcracker
The Nutcracker (in Valais dialect: Zapfuräärggu / Zapfu = fir cone; Rääggu = croak) has a striking dark brown plumage
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Point of interest
Large Banded Grasshopper
The yellow to olive - Green Large Banded Grasshopper (Arcyptera fusca) measures about 2-4 cm. Note the black markings and the bright red
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Point of interest
Location Hotel Jungfrau-Eggishorn
The Hotel Jungfrau Eggishorn is situated high above the Fiesch valley at the bottom of the Eggishorn, and was meeting place for illustrio
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Point of interest
Bogs in the Aletsch Forest
The emergence of the Aletsch forest is documented in a special archive, namely in bogs, which have been formed in rock hollows within the
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Point of interest
Trails through the water world (Riederalp - Fiescheralp)
The Institute of Geography of the University of Berne has elaborated various hydrological excursions in Switzerland. One of it is the iss
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Point of interest
Access Point Märjela
The access points placed at the border to the UNESCO World Heritage site Swiss Alps Jungfrau - Aletsch symbolize that you are now enterin
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Point of interest
View point: Fiescher glacier
From the trail starting on Märjelenalp and leading around the Tälligrat you can enjoy a splendid view to the Fiescher glacier,
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Point of interest
View point: Great Aletsch Glacier (Märjela)
From this point on the edge between the valley of the Great Aletsch glacier and the Eggishorn you overlook the glacier in its entire leng
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Point of interest
Access Point Riederfurka
The access points placed at the border to the UNESCO World Heritage site Swiss Alps Jungfrau - Aletsch symbolize that you are now enterin
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Point of interest
Scheuchzer's cottongrass (Märjela)
Pretty small woollen head adorning the banks of some ponds and fens. The so-called Scheuchzer’s or white cottongrass (Eriophorum sc
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Point of interest
Tälligrat Tunnel
The accelerated loss of the Great Aletsch glacier in the 20th century led to a decline in the lake Märjelen. The lake was divided by
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Point of interest
Last Witness of the Ice Age in the Aletsch Forest
The Aletsch forest harbors beside the exceptionally diverse flora and fauna some more natural wonders. The moraine rampart from the late
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Point of interest
The Pro Natura Centre in the Villa Cassel
The Aletsch Centre of Pro Natura in the Villa Cassel is located in the Canton Valais in middle the fantastic mountain landscape around th
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Point of interest
World Heritage Info Point - Riederalp
Well informed about the World Heritage Region: The info point of the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch offers a large pan
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