Walliser Steppen- und Föhrenweg
Overview
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Distance 11 km
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Duration 3 h 45 min
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Ascent 640 m
Intro
Walking along historic irrigation channels (also known as Suonen), adventurous tunnels, larch forests, with a view of Glishorn, Matterhorn, the Leone Group and Mischabel – experience all this and more on the hike from Birgisch via Mund, the so-called saffron village, to Eggen.
Description
After arriving in Birgisch the route follows the road to Oberbirgisch and near Gärwi it turns into a hiking trail. On the Obersta channel it enters the Gredetsch Valley with its steep, rocky slopes. The natural landscape here is still intact for the most part and this is why it was selected as a Unesco World Heritage site. The name of the valley (”D'Gredi” or “Gredetsch”) refers to its straight path, running from south to north. At the end of it the Nesthorn appears with the Gredetsch Glacier in front of it. The hikers might also want to look behind them because in good weather the Matterhorn is visible on the horizon. Through small tunnels the trail reaches Üssers Senntum where it turns and follows the Stigwasser channel heading for Mund.
The sun-drenched village is situated at 1200 m on the right side of the Rhone Valley. Mund is primarily known for saffron, which has been growing in Switzerland since the 14th century, but Mund is now the only place where it is still cultivated. Approximately two kilograms are harvested every year. In order for the plants to grow, the soil has to be sandy and well-drained. The rocky countryside of the Valais with steep slopes exposed to the south is ideal for this.
Down the valley the road branches off to Finnu and the hikers will be tempted to stop frequently to look at the panorama, ranging from Rosswald and the Leone Group to Glishorn, Mischabel and the Matterhorn. The trail passes two chapels near Chaschtler and then reaches the highest point of the route. It follows the Finnu creek down to Finnu, leading through pine forests, especially during the last part of the walk. Eggen, which belongs to Eggerberg, is the destination of the hike. In Swiss German, the people of Eggerberg are nicknamed after the bright colour of the green lizards living here (Grieniga).
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Birgisch
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Eggen
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| Ascent |
640 m
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| Descent |
680 m
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| Distance |
11 km
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| Duration |
3 h 45 min
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| Duration back |
3 h 50 min
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| Technical requirements |
Medium
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
|
| Theme |
With panoramic view
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| Signalization |
Signalisation in both directions
|
| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/r... |
Quick Facts
Route number
