Hiking all year round - Panoramic winter hiking trail Wispile (Fondue route)

8.61 km long
Difficulty: medium
Condition: easy
Great panorama
Winter Hiking
  • 2:40 h
  • 8.61 km
  • 20 m
  • 750 m
  • 1,175 m
  • 1,917 m
  • 742 m
  • Start: Gstaad, Wispile mountain station
  • Destination: Gsteig, Post stop

The high trail over the elongated ridge of the Höhi Wispile offers a unique view of the mountain world in the border area of the cantons of Bern, Valais, and Vaud. This hike is also highly worthwhile in winter. It is either completed by returning on the same route to the Wispile cable car mountain station or with a sled ride down to Gsteig. The route is marked with pink-colored signposts.

One of the most impressive winter hikes in the canton of Bern is found on the Wispile near Gstaad. The mountain, popular in summer, also offers very beautiful hiking trails with wonderful panoramas in winter. However, the cable car only operates over the holidays and in February (check the timetable). From the mountain station, the panoramic winter hiking trail runs over the broad and elongated ridge of the Wispile to Chrinetritt. On the well-prepared and wide path, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the snow-covered mountain world. Halfway to Chrinetritt, at the Alp Vordere Höji Wispile, you can enjoy your own fondue in the oversized fondue caquelon in a wonderful setting. The backpack with all ingredients is available at the mountain station (order required at 033 744 11 15!). At the end of the Wispile ridge, the panoramic winter hiking trail ends. For those who prefer a leisurely pace, it is possible to walk back on the same route to the Wispile mountain station. A bit more challenging is the descent from Chrinetritt to Gsteig. For this route, it is recommended to take a sled and enjoy the descent at a fast pace. From Gsteig, the PostBus takes you back to Gstaad.

Berner Wanderwege
Berner Wanderwege

Good to know

Pavements

Path
Trail
Unknown
Street

Best to visit

suitable
Depends on weather

Directions

At Chrinetritt, the elevation contours come closer together, and the winter hiking trail ends here. From now on, there is only one direction: downhill, and quite steeply. Those without a sled can return on the same path used so far to the starting point, the Wispile cable car mountain station. (Sleds can be rented at the valley station of the cable car.) The descent is quite fast, especially in the first part up to Chrine, as the route is sometimes quite steep. Since some sections are also quite narrow, appropriate caution is required. After crossing the Usseren Saaligraben, the descent runs along an alpine road and is therefore less steep. Through some wide hairpin bends, you reach Rohr and from there straight to Gsteig. The village scene is dominated by an impressive group of buildings consisting of a church (with richly decorated Renaissance pulpit inside), a former parsonage, and the Gasthof Bären (besides rich carvings, the log building also features a beautiful inn sign from 1805). From here, it is just a few steps north to the PostBus stop at Post Gsteig.

Equipment

We recommend the following equipment: sturdy and waterproof mountain boots, light to medium backpack, cold protection, sun protection, hiking poles, pocket first aid kit, snacks, tea in a thermos bottle, mobile phone.

Directions & Parking facilities

By car to Gstaad / Wispile cable car valley station.

Arrival: by train via Zweisimmen to Gstaad; from there on foot (15 min) or by PostBus to the valley station of the Wispile cable car

Return: by PostBus from Gsteig to Gstaad, Wispile valley station, or Gstaad train station

Additional information

Bernese Hiking Trails Association, Bern, Tel.: 031 340 01 01, E-Mail: info@beww.ch, Homepage: www.bernerwanderwege.ch

Literature

Hiking suggestion from the hiking book Schneepfade in the Bernese Oberland, hiking book series of the BWW

License (master data)

Safety guidelines

This route runs on groomed winter hiking trails.

Map

Swisstopo hiking map 263T Wildstrubel 1:50,000

Nearby

Address

Hiking all year round - Panoramic winter hiking trail Wispile (Fondue route)
3780 Saanen