Senda Sursilvana
Overview
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Distance 15 km
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Duration 5 h
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Ascent 680 m
Intro
A section that particularly delights flora lovers. But those with an interest in geology will constantly look up towards summits known to hold mountain crystal. The interesting composition of the route makes this section a “kings stage”.
Description
Andermatt is located in the Urserental valley and was first mentioned in a document in 1203. Gotthard, Oberalp and Furka became accessible between 1818 and 1830, which meant Andermatt became a holiday, spa and trading resort. After the opening of the Gotthard railway tunnel in 1882, the village experienced an economic downturn.
The hike starts at the train station. Passing the military complex, you climb a path up dozens of hairpin bends for around two hours. Beautiful flora accompanies you all the way to Ober Teufelstalboden. Above the tree line, you enjoy a superb view across the Urserental valley. In the years 1920 and 1946, the plan was to build a reservoir in the high valley. The Schöllenen Gorge would have gained a dam wall over 200 metres high.
An hour later, you reach the cable car station and the Gütsch restaurant. On a gravel road below the Chli and Gross Schijen peaks, you arrive at the Lutersee lake. It is in an attractive location in a hollow, surrounded by rocks. A little further on is the Oberalp Platten middle station. From now on, the path that you follow to the Felli Gap is rocky again. The backdrop along the way is provided by two mountain ranges that surround you, then an incredible view of the Felli Valley from the Felli Gap. However, the hiking trail continues in the other direction, along the Fellibach stream. Initially quite barren and rocky, the landscape soon becomes more attractive. Streams, waterfalls and the lush green of the meadows are to be seen on the descent of 500 metres to the Oberalp Pass.
For a long time, the Oberalp Pass was not of great importance and was almost exclusively used by locals. Military and strategic considerations then led to a road being built in 1863/64. Tourists were first transported over the pass in a five-horse stagecoach, later by postbus and, from 1926, finally on the cogwheel-driven Furka-Oberalp Railway, today the Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway.
From the Oberalp Pass you are in the Surselva, the valley of the Vorderrhein River, until it merges with the Hinterrhein near Reichenau. The Surselva region, created in 2016, covers the same area as the Surselva district. Besides the main valley, the side valleys Val Medel, Val Sumvitg, Val Lumnezia, the Valser Tal and the Safiental are also part of the district.
A gravel road leads from the pass up the mountain to Alp Tiarms, where you then switch to an attractive path. Passing Val Vals, a 153-metre-high arch dam can be seen on the opposite side. This stores the 41 million m3 of water from the Lai da Curnera. The path continues winding past Val Giuv and Val Milà.
Shortly before the last side valley, Val Strem, you find yourself right above the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Porta Alpina was the project name for an underground train station in the middle of the Gotthard Tunnel with a connection to Sedrun. It would have been the deepest train station in the longest tunnel in the world and would have had the highest and fastest lift in the world. However, the project was not pursued further for financial reasons. This stage ends in Sedrun. Although there is no connection to the fast Gotthard railway, it is connected to the attractive Matterhorn-Gotthard railway.
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 |
Oberalppass
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Sedrun
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| Direction |
One way
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| Altitude (meter above sea level) |
1800 m
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| Ascent |
680 m
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| Descent |
1250 m
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| Distance |
15 km
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| Duration |
5 h
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| Duration back |
5 h 35 min
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| Technical requirements |
Medium
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| Physical requirements |
Difficult
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| Season |
May - October
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| Theme |
Over a pass, With panoramic view
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| More information | https://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/wanderland/etappe85... |
Quick Facts
Route number
