Winter hiking trail Sunnbüel - Gemmi

Kandersteg/Sunnbüel - Schwarenbach - Daubensee - Gemmipass

From Kandersteg/Eggeschwand, the Kandersteg–Sunnbüel cable car takes you to the starting point of the Gemmi trail. The valley station is located outside the village. It can be reached from the train station either by bus or on foot via Bütschels-Chesmilchbrügg (see route 15a). From the Sunnbüel mountain station, the prepared winter hiking trail leads along a flat path southwards. The high alpine panorama quickly captivates you. The east side is dominated by the mighty Altels massif, while to the south, already on Valais territory, the Rinderhorn group proudly rises. However, this impressive mountain range also keeps the sun away until late morning. Therefore, it is recommended not to start the Gemmi route too early in the morning (and not too early in the year either; the ideal time is March). Over the wide plain of the Spittelmatte, the hiking trail approaches the larch forest and thus the border between the cantons of Bern and Valais. With a moderate ascent, it continues up to Schwarenbach. The mountain hotel of the same name is also open in winter. A nostalgic plaque on the building recalls how the wealthy crossed the Alpine passes in the pioneering days of tourism: sitting – in sedan chairs, on carrying chairs, or with single-axle horse-drawn carts. Modern travelers get over the mountains in a much more natural way... A somewhat different expression of our modern civilization is provided by the high-voltage lines that run across the Gemmi area; they indicate that today not only people but especially goods and, for example, electricity cross the Alps. Along the steep slope below the Felsenhorn, the path continues upwards to Seestutz. The Daubensee, lying under a thick ice and snow cover in winter, can be seen here in its full length. The prepared winter hiking trail partly runs along the shore, but also partly crosses the lake’s surface to the valley station of the Daubensee cable car. The last short but somewhat challenging ascent to the pass height can be shortened by cable car as desired. At the destination, the Gemmipass, a magnificent view awaits: a whole necklace of majestic peaks of the Valais high Alps decorates the horizon, including, of course, the most famous Valais mountain, the Matterhorn. Down below lies Leukerbad, behind it the Rhone valley. The descent into the valley in winter is necessarily done by cable car. It brings hikers quickly to the largest thermal spa and wellness center in the Alps. Several thermal springs here discharge about 4 million liters of water daily at 51 °C. Due to its at least 40-year journey through alpine rock, this water is rich in calcium, sulfur, and iron. Not only spa guests and rehabilitation patients appreciate its positive effects – it can also stimulate tired pass hikers with its invigorating powers.

Outbound trip: By train to Kandersteg. Then by bus to the valley station of the Sunnbüel cable car in Eggenschwand. With the cable car up to Sunnbüel.

Return trip: From Leukerbad by bus to Leuk. From there by train via Visp.

This route runs on prepared winter hiking trails.