Hiking in the Aletsch Arena

Find your hiking trail in the Aletsch Arena

In the beautiful Swiss Alps in the region of Wallis, or Valais in French, you’ll find a gem of a hiking area. Discover the Aletsch Arena, home to the largest glacier in Europe, the Aletsch Glacier. The Aletsch Arena is comprised of wooden chalets in its traffic-free villages, making it a perfect basecamp for your day-hiking trails.

Hike over long suspension bridges on high alpine paths, and along stunning long-distance trails. The centerpiece, of course, is the Aletsch Glacier itself. It’s the largest glacier in the Alps, stretching over 20km, and is made up of 11 billion tons of ice from the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks. Its meltwater carves through Massa Gorge into the Rhone. Recognized for its breathtaking beauty, the region has UNESCO World Natural Heritage status. Another highlight of the Aletsch Arena is the stone pine forests that go back up to 1000 years. While hiking through this forest you’ll see a glimpse of the Aletsch Glacier at the time. Magical!

More than 300 kilometers of hiking trails are waiting for you to be discovered. From easy day-hiking trails to difficult alpine long-distance trails, this area has everything to offer for beginners, families, and experienced hikers alike.

Aletsch Glacier

The Aletsch Glacier is a majestic ice river stretching over 20km, making it the largest glacier in the Alps. This glacier is a vital part of the region’s ecosystem. An absolute must-visit is the Pro Natura Center at Villa Cassel to learn more about the ecosystems and the impact of climate change on the glacier. Surrounded by iconic peaks such as the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, the Aletsch Glacier is one word: iconic. It’s a big part of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site and symbolizes beauty and fragility in the mountainous glacier areas, attracting visitors and researchers to study its response to climate change.

Suspension bridges

The Aletsch Arena is also known for its five suspension bridges: Belalp-Riederalp, Aspi-Titter, Goms Bridge, Massegga, and Bodmer Bridge. These bridges span impressive distances and are situated in the Aletsch Goms region, offering breathtaking views of the Wallis landscape from high above the ground. Find out more about these bridges here.

Car-free villages

Halfway to the higher elevations, the sunlit terraces of Fiescheralp, Bettmeralp, and Riederalp offer a great place to stay before setting out on the trails. Accessible by six cable cars from the Rhone Valley, these villages can be a starting point for your next hike. With the Aletsch Explore Pass you can use all of the cable cars in the region, making it easy to explore all hiking trails nearby.