The Moosalp - A mountain prize in a class of its own for racing cyclists
Many paths lead to the Moosalp. Which one do you choose?
VISP - STALDEN - TÖRBEL - MOOSALP
If you tackle this challenging climb with an altitude difference of 1400 meters on a racing bike, the route from Stalden will surprise you with numerous south-facing switchbacks. Along old village centers and sun-baked houses, the road winds its way up the mountain. Black-nosed sheep and Eringer cows provide entertainment along the route.
Route:
Ausgangspunkt ist Visp. Von Visp fährt man auf der Hauptstrasse entlang der Vispa in Richtung Süden bis nach Stalden. In zwei 180 Grad Kurven fährt man durch das Dorf, bis man im oberen Dorfteil nach rechts abbiegt und die Hauptstrasse verlässt. Ab hier wird es ruhiger und der Verkehr lässt nach. Jetzt gilt es die Atmung zu kontrollieren und einen guten Rhythmus zu finden, welchen man über eine längere Zeit halten kann. Ruhig schlängelt sich die Strasse mit vielen Kurven durch den steilen Berghang hoch. Vorbei an steilen Felswänden und Bergklippen führt die Strasse bis ins Bergdorf Törbel. Wer müde ist, kann sich eine Abkühlung im Hotel Weisshorn gönnen. Es gibt diverse Stellen, um die Trinkflasche aufzufüllen und es besteht die Möglichkeit, um neuen Proviant im Lebensmittelgeschäft Konsum zu besorgen. Nun folgt der Schlussaufstieg. Nachdem man sich durch die steilen Strassen von Törbel gekämpft hat, lässt man das Dorf hinter sich und es wird wieder ruhig. Die Natur wird mit jeder Pedalumdrehung noch schöner und die Strasse immer besser. Dann wird es endlich flacher und man erreicht die Anhöhe der Moosalp. Nach ein paar Hundert Meter erreicht man dann endlich das Etappenziel. In den Bergrestaurants Dorbia und Moosalp kann man seine Batterien wieder auffüllen und die Leistung geniessen.
Would you like an additional round? If this is not enough, you can make a detour between Stalden and Törbel to Embd (follow the signs and leave the mountain road at the bend with the tunnel). One of the steepest mountain villages in Europe. Then take the same way back to the road to Törbel.
Distance: 22.6 kilometer
Vertical meters: 1'420 vertical meters
Tip:
Bärgüf: Do you like the route from Stalden to Moosalp? Then take part in the legendary Bärgüf and ride the route as often as you can in one day and show solidarity with people suffering from cancer. By participating you donate money for cancer research. You can find more information here.
Urchigs Terbil: Return to Törbel on another day and take another look at your performance. Combine the trip with a stop at the "Urchigen Terbil", the open-air museum in Törbel. Book a guided tour and immerse yourself in the former life in a Valais mountain village. Information and booking options can be found here.
VISP - BÜRCHEN - MOOSALP
The north side of the Moosalp. A more even ascent than the route via Törbel and more opportunities to rest. On the last 5 kilometers a beautiful forest track awaits you, which lets you enter Moosalp with a view of the majestic Mischabel group.
Route:
The starting point is Visp. From Visp you drive west across the Vispa and then immediately turn left onto the main road in the direction of Bürchen. The road then winds up the mountain with many curves through vineyards and numerous wooded areas. After about 10km you take a left turn and after one kilometer you reach the mountain village of Bürchen. The Restaurant Alpenrösli, the Restaurant Ronalp, the Hotel Bürchnerhof or the Pizzeria Mamma Mia, which are all located directly on the route, are good possibilities for stops or to fill up on drinks and provisions. Afterwards, the route continues steeply uphill to the upper end of the village to the Egga point. From there on, one is immersed in the endless forests of the Moosalpregion. The temperature cools down a bit due to the shade of the trees and the air becomes pure and fresh. The narrow road leads about 5km up to the mountain restaurant Panorama. Here you have reached the height and can treat yourself to a first summit snack. After that, the road continues flat for a few hundred meters to Moosalp.
Would you like to do an additional round? If you want to do a few extra meters, turn off on the main road from Visp to Bürchen at the large junction to Zeneggen and drive via Zeneggen and Hellela to the Egga point above the village of Bürchen. Bürchen is bypassed in the process.
Distance: 18.4 kilometer
Vertical meters: 1'410 vertical meters
TURTMANN - BÜRCHEN - MOOSALP
The route from Turtmann to Moosalp is the longest of the three routes to the pass and the only one that goes downhill. The ascent to Bürchen is very pleasant and invites a high ascent speed.
Route:
The starting point is Turtmann. From Turtmann you start directly on the road in the direction of Eischoll, Unterbäch and Bürchen. The road winds up the mountain with many curves and you quickly gain altitude. Soon you can spot the former military airstrip in the valley, which has the large inscription "There is a man", reminding you of a former place name of Turtmann. The road climbs very pleasantly up to the village of Eischoll. Then there is a chance to rest: it goes downhill briefly towards Unterbäch. The village of Unterbäch is passed through and it goes through tight curves until Bürchen. Then you ride across the whole village until you get on the route from Visp - Bürchen - Moosalp and ride via Egga to Moosalp.
Would you like an additional round? If you are looking for a real challenge, you can drive between Turtmann and Eischoll into the wild and romantic Turtmann Valley to Gruben. There you have a fantastic view of the glacier landscape of the four-thousand-meter peaks Bishorn and Weisshorn. Then take the same route back to the main road in the direction of Eischoll.
Distance: 27.5 kilometer
Vertical meters: 1'550 vertical meters
