Mystical larch forests, sun-baked wooden facades, lush mountain meadows - images that describe the Valais in its most beautiful natural splendor. In the Moosalpregion you hike along the Suonen, surrounded by a dozen four-thousand-meter peaks, through rustic villages. In between, enjoy an aperitif in a restaurant and then continue through the vast forests that stretch across the large area of the Moosalpregion. There are countless possibilities to discover the Moosalpregion on foot - just lace up your hiking boots, start walking and enjoy!
We recommend the following hiking highlights:
Boys - Moosalp
The classic! The hike from Jungen to Moosalp is one of the most popular routes in the region due to its minimal altitude difference. You will enjoy a wonderful view of the glacier world of the Mischabel group on the opposite side. You will be rewarded with the fabulous culinary delights of Moosalp.
Route:
By car or public transport you drive to St. Niklaus, the starting point of the hike. The cable car then takes you comfortably up to Jungen at 1,975 meters above sea level. From Jungen you follow the Mattertal valley in the direction of Moosalp. You will enjoy a breathtaking view of the Mischabel massif with the Dom, the highest mountain in Switzerland. The path is very pleasant to walk and has no big climbs. It is always between 1'946 and 2'196 meters above sea level. After about 3.5 hours you will arrive at Moosalp, where the Moosalp Restaurant and the Dorbia Restaurant are at your disposal for refreshments.
This hike can also be hiked in the opposite direction.
Moosalp - Augstbordhorn
For those who want to know! The tour to the Augstbordhorn is rewarded with a fantastic panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. The alpine landscape, in which the marmots and chamois live, make the hearts of mountain lovers beat faster. The highest point of the Moosalpregion is definitely worth a hike. But beware: in bad weather or evening thunderstorms, this tour can also be dangerous, as you are exposed to the weather without protection.
Route:
The starting point and destination of this hike is Moosalp. At the beginning, the trail starts steeply in the direction of the west. You walk on a wide forest road up to an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level. From now on, the road becomes a narrow hiking trail that leads directly into the Törbel valley. On the right side of the slope you walk up to an altitude of 2,440 meters above sea level in the direction of the Törbel valley. Then you turn right and walk steeply up to the Arb, a plain at 2,500 meters above sea level. Then follows the next steep step, which leads in a zigzag path directly to the Helmini ridge. Along this beautiful and wide ridge, which becomes flatter and flatter in the upper part, you reach the March at 2,875 meters above sea level. The day's destination is now directly on the left side 20 minutes walk away. First you hike briefly down and then the ascent to the summit cross of the Augstbordhorn follows.
The descent is basically the same route as the ascent. Only at the point Arb you can also walk directly via a zigzag path down to the mountain station of the Unterrat ski lift and from there via a wide road back to Moosalp.
Panorama circuit - stand
For those who do not know Moosalp yet, this hike is the perfect way to get to know it and acclimatize to the altitude of 2,000 meters. The "Stand" is one of the beacons of the region. It is the highest point on the high plateau of Moosalp and offers you an incredible panoramic view over the whole Upper Valais and twelve four-thousand-meter peaks.
Route:
The starting point and destination is the Moosalp. From Moosalp, you pass the alpine stable and head out into the beautiful nature of the high plateau. The path is flat, starts wide and then becomes narrower and narrower. There are many ways to reach the first point, the stand. This viewpoint is one of the most visited places of Moosalp and offers you a wonderful panoramic view of the region. After that, the path goes slightly downhill to the Boniger lake. This lake is a real lake only at the beginning of summer. After that, the term moor is more appropriate. After the Bonigersee, the trail continues downhill to the Breitmattsee. This is really a small lake, which is beautifully situated and serves perfectly as a photo spot. After Breitmattsee, it is still downhill to Breitmatte. This is a large clearing in the vast forest area of the Moosalpregion. Arrived at the big stone house of Breitmatte, turn left in the direction of Ledi. The path continues slightly downhill before turning left uphill again at the Ledi point towards Bürchneralp. There, the Panorama mountain restaurant invites you to enjoy a fine raclette before tackling the last section to Moosalp.
High trail Bürchneralp - Bürchen
Bürchen from its most beautiful side and this mainly downhill! This hike leads from the Bürchneralp with a beautiful view in the direction of the viewpoint Gibidum. The way back brings you to the most beautiful forests of Bürchen.
Route:
The starting point is the Bürchneralp below the Moosalp at the Panorama restaurant. From there, it first goes a little uphill in the direction of Unterrat. After this short climb, the trail follows almost exactly the 2,100 meter contour line to Gibidum point. All along the way, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of the magical Bietschhorn and the Rhone Valley. After the Gibidum point, the trail turns 180 degrees and brings you back to the village of Bürchen on lower forest paths. Arriving at the main road in Bürchen, the nearby restaurants Bürchnerhof, Pizzeria Mamma Mia, Restaurant Ronalp or Alpenrösli invite you to take a breather.
Wandfluh Chapel
This somewhat different hike takes you only downhill to the 300-year-old Wandfluh Chapel just outside Raron. The Wandfluh Chapel is forged tightly against the rock and has withstood any weather or human evil over the many years. It is to the credit of the parish of Bürchen that the door of the Maria-Hilf chapel nevertheless remains open and pilgrims as well as hikers can enter. Another special feature of this hike are the many prayer houses along the way. At each of these small chapels you can read a Bible text and enjoy a magnificent view of the Rhone Valley.
Route:
The starting point is the big church in Bürchen-Hasel. From there it goes directly down towards Mauracker, the lowest village part of Bürchen. Directly past the small chapel through the narrow streets in the direction of Birch. From there it zigzags directly down to the Wandfluh chapel just before Raron. On the way you pass numerous small prayer huts. The trail ends in the Rhone valley near Raron.
Children's hiking trail "MoosAlbi and his forest animals
On a beautiful summer day MoosAlbi made his way from the Brandalp in Unterbäch to Bürchen to enjoy the sun and play with his friends. MoosAlbi left his playground equipment so that you can also experience his adventures. Balancing with Schwarznasi and flying with Buschi is not only fun for MoosAlbi, but also for you!
Route:
The starting point is the Brandalp, which you can reach comfortably with the chairlift from Unterbäch. From Brandalp, after a short flat section, you will head slightly downhill towards the first playground equipment. The hiking trail leads you along a wide forest path downhill in the direction of Bürchen. After a short ascent, the hiking trail leads you out of the forest onto an asphalt road with hardly any traffic. This makes the whole trail also suitable for families with strollers. At the end of the trail, a pond with a fireplace awaits you. If this is not enough, the restaurants Alpenrösli or Ronalp are also close by.
The starting and finishing points Bürchen (Postbus Visp-Bürchen) and Unterbäch (cable car Raron-Unterbäch) are easily accessible by public transport.
Fireplaces
Between Bürchen / Törbel and Moosalp there are several fireplaces at your disposal. All of them have a grill and firewood. You can park your car at each barbecue site within walking distance. Pack your picnic basket and enjoy a fine meal in the middle of nature.
