In Grächen, mountain trails, Suonen and village history offer different ways to shape your stay. Hannigalp is a destination for a gondola ride as well as a hike; circular trails along the Suonen lead through larch forests, and a visit in the village tells the story of historic buildings and traditional architecture. You can focus on mountain hikes, winter activities or learning about Grächen’s history.
Hannigalp and trails in the Matter Valley
The Hannigalp cable car runs from Grächen, at 1,619 metres, to Hannigalp, at 2,114 metres. The Hannigalp fairytale gondola accompanies the ride with narrated fairytales; its operation depends on the season or timetable. Check the timetable before your visit. At over 2,000 metres, Hannigalp has a large play area suitable for families with children. Its availability may depend on seasonal operation.
If you prefer to travel on foot, there is a moderately difficult hiking route from Grächen to Hannigalp. From Hannigalp, you can go on further hikes or take the gondola back to Grächen. A longer route follows the Europaweg from Grächen to Zermatt through the Matter Valley. The 40-kilometre Europaweg tour can be shortened by PostBus and train; check the timetables for these connections when planning your trip.
Suonen, forest trails and glacier scenery
The circular hike along the Eggeri and Chilcheri Suonen follows flat trails through larch forests. There are rest areas and play spots along the way. For a different hiking destination, a forest trail from Grächen follows the Suonen to the snout of the Ried Glacier in about an hour and a half. There, you can admire the glacier moraine. The circular hike and the glacier trail therefore differ both in their route and in their destination.
The Alpe Äbnet also offers its own connection to the landscape and local culture: its meadows are dotted with larch and Swiss stone pine, and the alp can only be reached on foot or by mountain bike. During the seasonal ascent to the alpine pastures, Hérens cows gather at the “Ringchrommu”; after wrestling matches, the “fighting cow” is crowned. This custom adds an insight into a traditional practice to the hiking and nature themes.
Village tour and local museum
The village tour is a walk through the history of Grächen, offering insights into historic buildings from the early modern period. It also explores traditional barns and their round stone supports. A free brochure for the village walk is available from the Tourist Office. It helps you find your way along the signs on the self-guided tour; check that the brochure is available before you travel.
The Grächen local museum presents the village’s history and its development into today’s holiday resort through objects, photographs, statistics, pictures and information. The village tour brings the architectural history to life outdoors, while the museum offers a broader view of Grächen’s development. Both are suitable if, alongside the scenery and hiking opportunities, you would also like to get to know the village itself.
Winter activities and different routes
In winter, the Hannigalp ski area has 44 kilometres of pistes; operation is seasonal. Another option is a three-kilometre family winter hike from Grächen to Bärgji. Along this route, views extend across the Matter Valley and to the surrounding four-thousand-metre peaks. The snowshoe trail from Lake Grächen to Hannigalp is also three kilometres long and takes about an hour and a half. Both activities have the same stated distance, but differ in activity and destination: Bärgji is the destination of the winter hike, while Hannigalp is the destination of the snowshoe route.
Discover more destinations: Sankt Niklaus, Visperterminen, Saas-Grund, Gasenried, Baltschieder, Visp, Embd, Staldenried.
Back to the main travel overview: Visp.
