The banks of the Aare between Olten and Aarau

(S) Head to the banks of the Aare as you leave the station and immediately follow the quay on the right towards Aarau.

(1) 200 m after passing under a railway bridge, do not cross the river but take the small road that descends to the left before the bridge. Following the banks of the Aare, you will reach a dam which you cross, then follow the left bank of the river.

(2) Follow the yellow markers closely and generally stay as close to the bank as possible; you will eventually move away from it slightly to cross a wood and reach a T-junction.

(3) Take care to cross the small stream properly and do not veer off to the right. You will find yourself on the left bank of the Aare, opposite the imposing Gösgen nuclear power station. Continue along the Aare to the left until you reach a bridge.

(4) Cross the bridge and then turn immediately left to continue following the river on its right bank.

(5) Bally Park, which you cross, is the ideal spot for a break. The path continues along the Aare and then passes the old ‘Bally’ factories before continuing along the quays of the village of Schönenwerd.

(6) 300m past the municipal swimming pool, turn left through the woods to rejoin the riverbank, which you follow through the woods until you reach a power station

(7) Go round the power station and follow the banks of the Aare to Aarau. You’ll pass a racecourse and then an athletics track before reaching the quays, which you follow to the second bridge.

(8) At the second bridge, turn right towards the town centre. Continuing straight on, after a short climb and an underpass, you arrive at the SBB station, the end of the walk.

As the route avoids passing through the centres of the villages, there are few opportunities to stock up on supplies whilst staying strictly on the route. Please make sure to take plenty of water with you.