Flower paradise in the Färmeltal

10.16 km long
Difficulty: medium
Condition: medium
Hiking Trail
  • 3:30 h
  • 10.16 km
  • 620 m
  • 650 m
  • 993 m
  • 1,587 m
  • 594 m
  • Start: Matten
  • Destination: St. Stephan
In June, spring also arrives in higher altitudes. Alpine meadows turn into colorful, fragrant flower gardens. A trip at this time of year to the Färmeltal, a side valley of the upper Simmental, leads into a lush and intact natural world. Mountain hiking trail from Stalde. Little hard surface.

Time seems to have stood still in the Färmeltal. Because there is sometimes considerable avalanche danger here in winter, the valley has remained untouched by any tourist development to this day and is therefore largely intact.
From the Matten station, head village-wards and after crossing the Färmelbach, climb uphill along the slope. Shortly after the hiking route branches off from the road, the opposite side of the Färmelbach is crossed again. Following the stream, you now go upward through pleasantly shady mountain forest. At Bachweiden, the hiking route joins the road but soon branches off again. Along the way, the sulfur spring deserves attention, unmistakably announcing its mineral content to the nose. At Stalde, the path becomes a bit steeper and more exposed to the sun. On the south slope, it first goes over meadows, later through forest thinned by storms, up to the Dachbode. In June, mountain meadows adorned with countless flowers in all colors greet you here. This view is crowned by a delightful panorama: to the east, the idyllic Färmeltal can be overlooked, to the north, the wildly eroded peaks of the Spillgerte massif offer a fascinating sight, and towards the west and south, the upper Simmental shows its loveliest side.
Now it goes downhill: first over fragrant meadows and pastures, then on an alpine road, but soon again on a narrow forest path. From the Gandbodewald, you follow the Zälgbach stream down to the Grodey district of the municipality of St. Stephan and finally to the St. Stephan station.

Berner Wanderwege
Berner Wanderwege

Good to know

Pavements

Street
Asphalt
Trail
Path

Best to visit

suitable
Depends on weather

Directions

Matten - Bachweiden - Färmeltal/Stalde - Dachbode - Grabe - Gandbodewald - St. Stephan

Equipment

We recommend the following equipment: sturdy mountain boots, medium-sized backpack with hip belt, sun protection, rainwear, hiking poles, first aid kit, picnic, sufficient fluids, mobile phone.

Directions & Parking facilities

Outbound: by train via Spiez and Zweisimmen to Matten near St. Stephan

Return: from St. Stephan by train to Zweisimmen

Additional information

Association Berner Wanderwege, Bern, Tel.: 031 340 01 01, E-Mail: info@beww.ch, Homepage: www.bernerwanderwege.ch

License (master data)

Safety guidelines

This route runs entirely or partly on mountain hiking trails.

Map

Swisstopo hiking map 1:50,000 263T Wildstrubel

Nearby

Address

Flower paradise in the Färmeltal
Sankt Stephan