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🥾 Trail Info 🔽
- 🚗 Arrival: Parking is available in Mörel at the valley station of the Riederalp cable car. The hike ends in Fiescheralp, from where you can take the cable car down to Fiesch and return by train to Mörel. Also easily accessible by public transport.
- 💰 Costs: The hike itself is free of charge. Only the cable cars (Moosfluh and Fiescheralp) require a ticket, with discounts available using the Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass. Here you can find the current prices
- 🥾 Equipment: Sturdy, ankle-high hiking boots are essential. Bring sunscreen, enough food and water, and hiking poles if available.
- 🥵 Difficulty: The route is rated T2, technically easy, but the ascent from Moosfluh up to the Bettmerhorn is very demanding and requires good fitness. For a more relaxed option, start directly at the Bettmerhorn.
- 📍 Start and End: Start at the Moosfluh cable car mountain station, finish at Fiescheralp. This is not a round trip.
- ⏱️ Time: Pure hiking time is around 4 hours. With breaks or photo stops you should plan for 5–6 hours.
- 📊 Ascent & Descent: About 660 m (2,165 ft) of ascent and 780 m (2,560 ft) of descent. Demanding but very scenic and varied.
- 🌿 Trail surface: 9 km (5.6 mi) of rocky mountain path plus 4 km (2.5 mi) on mountain road. Good sure-footedness required.
- 🦌 Wildlife & Plants: Typical Alpine flora with mountain roses and alpine herbs. Marmots can often be heard, and with some luck you may even spot deer. The Aletsch Arena offers a rich variety of flora and fauna. Equally idyllic is the Lej Nair hike near St. Moritz, where golden larches are reflected in the water.
- 👨👩👧 Family check: Suitable for sporty families with sure-footed children from around 10 years old. Not recommended for smaller children or strollers.
- 📌 Signage & Markings: The trail is well marked throughout with yellow signposts and red-white painted markings. Getting lost is highly unlikely.
- 🐕 Hiking with dogs: Dogs are welcome but should be kept on a leash. Bring enough water and be mindful of grazing animals.
- 💡 Tips: A detour to Lake Märjelen is highly recommended – from there you can look directly into the glacier. The way back, however, is steep.
- 🏡 Accommodation & Restaurants: At Lake Märjelen you’ll find the Gletscherstube, perfect for a break or even an overnight stay. Highly recommended for sunrise and sunset views.
- 🌄 Highlights: The panoramic views of the Aletsch Glacier and Lake Märjelen are among the most memorable moments of the hike. If you are looking for a spring hike in Switzerland the route in Gais in the Appenzell region is a top pick with blooming meadows and sweeping alpine views.
The Aletsch Glacier hike begins at the Riederalp–Moosfluh cable car station. A scenic 20-minute walk leads from the village of Riederalp through picturesque landscapes and past traditional Swiss chalets to the station. Alternatively, you can first explore the charming car-free village of Riederalp. Important: apply sunscreen already here, as most of the hike takes place in full sun.
Once you have explored all the places on your list, you can comfortably take the cable car from Riederalp up to Moosfluh at 2,333 m (7,654 ft). At the top, you’ll be greeted by a breathtaking view of the Aletsch Glacier. Particularly impressive here is the abundance of Alpine roses – a perfect combination of floral beauty and glacier panorama.
At the beginning you walk through a fairytale-like landscape with green meadows and well-marked hiking trails. Gradually, the path becomes rockier and climbs steadily uphill. If you start from Moosfluh Alp, the trail leads directly up the steep ascent to the Bettmerhorn. The easier option begins directly at the Bettmerhorn. In the photo below you can see the Bettmerhorn small in the upper right corner, taken from Moosfluh.
The ascent to the summit makes many hikers break a sweat – I wasn’t the only one who had to stop several times to catch my breath. At over 2,600 m (8,530 ft), the air is noticeably thinner. After about 1 hour 30 minutes you’ll reach the Bettmerhorn, from where the trail continues parallel to the glacier. Simply follow the signs in the direction of “Fiescheralp.”
From here begins the most beautiful part of the hike: you walk with a constant view of the impressive Aletsch Glacier, while the trail winds its way over hills and valleys. From this point on, it turns into a true mountain hike with rocks and large boulders along the path.
The hike along the glacier takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Along the way, you’ll pass several impressive viewpoints. Take a look at the photos and videos to get a first impression of the stunning scenery.
After about 2 hours of hiking you reach a fork in the trail, from where you can see Lake Märjelen and Vordersee in the distance. A steep path leads down to the glacier, giving you the rare opportunity to look directly into it or even step a little inside. For me, this was an absolute highlight, even though the climb back up was a real challenge.
Here you can see with your own eyes how quickly the Aletsch Glacier melts on hot summer days… unfortunately. At Alp Märjelen you have the chance to stop at a mountain hotel, enjoy a nice lunch, or even spend the night. After a short refreshment, the trail continues through a 1.5 km (0.9 mi) long tunnel. Inside, the temperature drops noticeably – for me it was a welcome cool-down during the summer heat. After about 20 minutes in the dark, a light finally appeared at the end of the tunnel, and we continued our hike towards Fiescheralp.
As we emerged on the other side of the tunnel, the summer heat hit us once again. But the view made up for everything: in front of us lay the imposing Valais mountains, and the trail led past charming old alpine huts – a picture-book Alpine scene.
From here we set out on the final stretch towards Fiescheralp, which took about 1 hour 30 minutes. Along the way, breathtaking views of the Valais mountains kept opening up. Since I was traveling by public transport, I had to hurry a bit at the end to catch the last cable car. After a total hiking time of around 5 hours, I arrived in Fiescheralp exhausted but very satisfied. I could clearly feel the effort of the early ascent in my legs. 😅
Details and Elevation Profile
Frequently Asked Questions about the Aletsch Glacier Hike
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The classic panoramic hike begins at the Moosfluh cable car mountain station in the Aletsch Arena. From here you already enjoy a breathtaking first view of the Aletsch Glacier. The trail follows the UNESCO World Heritage site all the way to Fiescheralp, where the tour ends. Both starting and finishing points are easily accessible by cable car.
The hike is officially classified as T2. Technically it is not difficult, but there are some challenging sections: the ascent from Moosfluh up to the Bettmerhorn is very strenuous and sweat-inducing. Those who wish to avoid this part can take the cable car up to the Bettmerhorn and start there. From that point, the route continues more moderately with varied but manageable ascents and descents all the way to Fiescheralp.
The pure walking time is about 4 hours. Since there are many photo spots and viewpoints along the way, it’s best to plan an entire day. With breaks, a picnic, or a detour to Lake Märjelen, the tour can easily take 5 to 6 hours. Those who want to experience sunrise or sunset can even spend the night at the Gletscherstube hut.
The season runs from June to October. The most recommended time is midsummer, when the trails are snow-free, or autumn, when the crisp air and colorful alpine meadows create impressive panoramas. Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, the light conditions are best for photography – and you’ll also meet fewer hikers on the trail.
The biggest highlight is the view of the Aletsch Glacier itself – at 23 km (14 mi) it is the longest glacier in the Alps. Along the route you’ll find numerous panoramic viewpoints, and Lake Märjelen even offers the chance to hike right down to the glacier. The flora and fauna are also a true experience: marmots, deer, and alpine flowers shape the unique mountain landscape.
The route is suitable for sporty families with children from around 10 years old who are sure-footed and used to longer hikes. It is not suitable for smaller children or strollers, as some sections are steep and rocky. Families benefit from the fact that both the starting point at Moosfluh and the endpoint at Fiescheralp are accessible by cable car, which makes the tour more flexible.
