Grächen – Gruben

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This ninth stage will take you from Crächen to Gruben. The route begins with a descent to the village of Sankt Niklaus. You will then need to tackle the long climb to Jungu before beginning the ascent of the Augstbord Pass (2,892 metres). From Abiheiji (Twära Ridge), the well-signposted path leads through a vast scree slope to the Augstbord Pass. The descent to Gruben is pleasant; it first follows the Grüobbach stream and then crosses the Grüobwald forest.

It is possible to avoid an 850-metre climb by taking the cable car between Sankt Niklaus and Jungu.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: From Airolo to Grimentz via the Alpine Passes Trail

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.52 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 11h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 6,430 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 5,712 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 9,469 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,586 ft
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Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 5,315 ft - Grächen – Hotel Walliserhof
  2. 1 : mi 0.42 - alt. 5,285 ft - Sign No. 6
  3. 2 : mi 0.84 - alt. 4,859 ft - Sign No. 6
  4. 3 : mi 1.17 - alt. 4,810 ft - Sign No. 6
  5. 4 : mi 1.64 - alt. 4,304 ft - Sign No. 6
  6. 5 : mi 2 - alt. 3,953 ft - Sign No. 6 – Wichel
  7. 6 : mi 2.5 - alt. 3,612 ft - Sign No. 6
  8. 7 : mi 2.92 - alt. 3,648 ft - Signpost No. 6 – Sankt Niklaus
  9. 8 : mi 3.03 - alt. 3,701 ft - Sign No. 6 - St. Niklaus Bahnhof
  10. 9 : mi 4.01 - alt. 4,573 ft - Sign No. 6
  11. 10 : mi 4.18 - alt. 4,728 ft - Sign No. 6
  12. 11 : mi 4.95 - alt. 5,640 ft - Sign No. 6
  13. 12 : mi 5.51 - alt. 6,447 ft - Sign No. 6 – Jungu
  14. 13 : mi 6.26 - alt. 7,077 ft - Signpost No. 6 – Fork in the road
  15. 14 : mi 7.68 - alt. 8,107 ft - Abiheiji – Twära Ridge
  16. 15 : mi 8.81 - alt. 8,284 ft - Sign No. 6
  17. 16 : mi 9.99 - alt. 9,462 ft - Sign No. 6 - Augsbordpass (2892 m)
  18. 17 : mi 11.58 - alt. 8,048 ft - Sign No. 6
  19. 18 : mi 11.86 - alt. 7,769 ft - Grüobu Oberstafil
  20. 19 : mi 12.17 - alt. 7,411 ft - Sign No. 6
  21. 20 : mi 12.49 - alt. 7,126 ft - Sign No. 6
  22. E : mi 13.52 - alt. 6,017 ft - Gruben – Hotel Schwarzhorn

Notes

This hiking route follows the Alpine Passes Trail, which is marked on Swiss maps.

Signposting: at every major junction, you will find signposts:
- Sign No. 6 with a No. 6 sticker indicating this trail.
- R sign: Yellow sign with a hiker pictogram

Before setting off, it is advisable to check the Suisse Topo website for any trail closures and diversions. This information is updated in real time.

As well as the Visorando app, you can also download the swisstopo app ( free of charge), where you’ll find this information too.

Transport: Timetables

Weather: before setting off, check the Swiss Weather Service or Météo Blue

Hiking kit, including good walking boots.

Accommodation:

Other walks in the area

Walking Grachen - Saas-Fee

Visorando Member
Grachen - Saas-Fee
↔11.39 mi ↗+5,226 ft ↘-4,606 ft ◔9h 45 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Grächen (Valais)
And here is the last stage of this route, and what a stage it is! A pleasant climb to reach Hannigalp and find the famous balcony trail that overlooks the valley leading to Saas Fee.

Walking Grachen - Europahutte

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Grachen - Europahutte
↔9.30 mi ↗+4,780 ft ↘-2,789 ft ◔10 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Grächen (Valais)
Grachen, an important village, dominates the Zermatt valley, which you will be flying over all day. After a gentle climb to Saint-Nicolas on its pedestal, you just need to pass from scree to scree to reach the welcome Refuge d'Europahutte after a long traverse.

Walking Gasenried – Bordierhütte mountain refuge

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↔4.51 mi ↗+4,436 ft ↘-348 ft ◔5h 55 ▲Very difficult
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Walking Jungu – Grüben

Visorando Member
↔7.79 mi ↗+3,848 ft ↘-4,318 ft ◔6h 55 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from St. Niklaus (Valais)
The first of the three stages that make up the northern traverse of the massif from east to west.No particular difficulties: you just need to take care on the first section, which follows a narrow path along the cliff face. Fixed equipment (ropes) secures the most exposed sections.The route starts from the same cable car used on the previous stage to descend to St-Niklaus.

Walking Saint Nicklaus - Gruben

Visorando Member
Saint Nicklaus - Gruben
↔9.72 mi ↗+6,283 ft ↘-3,980 ft ◔8 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from St. Niklaus (Valais)
A beautiful mountain stage with a pass bearing the sweet name of Augstbordpass.

Walking Sankt Niklaus - Zermatt

Visorando Member
Sankt Niklaus - Zermatt
↔12.37 mi ↗+2,178 ft ↘-541 ft ◔7h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from St. Niklaus (Valais)
This fourteenth and final stage is the longest, but does not present any difficulties. The route from Sankt Niklaus to Zermatt is obvious. It follows the Matter Vispa, the river that flows down from Zermatt, and the rack railway line, which terminates in Zermatt. All the ingredients for a picture-postcard Swiss scene are there: the Matterhorn, glaciers, the torrent, churches with bulbous steeples, the little rack railway and the magnificent car-free village of Zermatt.

Walking Bordierhütte – Gross Bigerhorn – Gasenried

Visorando Member
↔7.05 mi ↗+2,687 ft ↘-6,745 ft ◔5h 35 ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from St. Niklaus (Valais)
The second stage involves the ascent of the Gross Bigerhorn, which will really put your legs to the test, followed by the return to the car park. Grade T3–T4 (challenging mountain hike – alpine hike).

Walking Gspon – Saas Fee

Visorando Member
↔10.96 mi ↗+2,884 ft ↘-3,163 ft ◔7h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Staldenried (Valais)
This seventh stage will take you from Gspon to Saas-Fee. This scenic route follows the Saastal valley as far as Saas-Grund. Very soon, the Balfrin will be your companion for the day, followed by the peaks of the Mischabel massif, including the Dom, which rises to 4,546 metres. Once you reach Saas-Grund, the final ascent to Saas-Fee involves a climb of just 200 metres.

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