From the Gemmi Pass to Sunnbüel

The start of this hike is at the Gemmi Bergstation (Leukerbad). Take a one-way cable car ticket from Gemmi to Leukerbad.

Signposting: Purple-tipped posts (winter route).

(S) From the top station, head towards the clearly visible sign for Daubensee. Follow the track down to the junction at the bottom station of the small Daubensee cable car.

(1) Continue along the easternmost track, around Lake Dauben. Walk to the northern end of the lake, then over the small pass at Seestutz.

Signposting: Purple posts with orange caps ( winter route).

(2) Head into the Spittematte valley and make your way to the Schwarenbach inn.

(3) Continue the descent to the border between the cantons of Valais and Bern (alt. 1,898 m).

(4) Continue through the Sunnbüel valley to a fork.

(5) Turn right and head back up towards the Sunnbüel cable car (E).

See the Practical Information section for details on returning to Leukerbad.

• Gemmi Cable Car Ascent with Guest Card: CHF 12.50.
• Sunnbüel cable car: 17.50 CHF for the return journey.
• Return to Leukerbad: 2 to 3 hours depending on the timetable.

1. From the car park, heading west, cross the River Kander and take path no. 56 to Kandersteg CFF/SBB station.
2. Take a train towards Brig.
3. From Brig, take a train to Leuk.
4. Take bus 171 from Leuk to Leukerbad

Train and bus timetables

• Signposting: from Gemmi to Seestutz – purple-tipped posts; from Seestutz to Sunnbüel – purple posts with orange tips (winter route).
• The trail is accessible without snowshoes, but snow crampons are recommended.
• From Gemmi to Schwarenbach, the winter route does not follow the summer path. The path is a track groomed by a snowcat, right across Lake Daubensee!
  This route cannot therefore be used for a summer hike.
• From Schwarenbach to Sunnbüel, the route follows the summer path.
• Trail and piste conditions: check the following website: Leukerbad
  Hike completed by the author on 20 March 2025

• Leukerbad
• Gemmipass.
• Daubensee
• Schwarenbach: built in 1742, the inn was once a customs post, perched at an altitude of 2,061 metres. The Berghotel in Schwarenbach has welcomed some very famous figures, such as the writers Mark Twain, Alexandre Dumas, Jules Verne and Guy de Maupassant (the inn), the painter Pablo Picasso and even Lenin.
• Sunnbüel
• Kandersteg