Grächen – Hiking, Village History and Winter Trails

Grächen lies at 1,619 metres in the Matter Valley, on a terrace above the neighbouring village of St. Niklaus. From Grächen, at 1,619 metres, the Hannigalp cable car travels up to Hannigalp at 2,114 metres. The fairytale gondola accompanies the ride with narrated fairy tales; it operates seasonally or according to the timetable.

Hiking trails to Hannigalp and through the Matter Valley

A hiking route leads from Grächen to Hannigalp and is of moderate difficulty. From Hannigalp, you can go on further hikes or take the gondola back to Grächen. This excursion therefore centres on one uphill route and two options for spending time at Hannigalp or making the return journey.

The Europaweg leads from Grächen to Zermatt through the Matter Valley. The 40-kilometre Europaweg route can be shortened by PostBus and train. If you plan to use these services, check the timetables in advance. This keeps the stated distance clear as a hiking route, while shortening it with public transport remains an additional planning option.

Bisses, forest trails and glacial scenery

A circular hike along the Eggeri and Chilcheri bisses follows flat trails through larch forests. There are rest areas and play areas along the way. The route thus combines the two named bisses with forest sections and places to take a break; it is a specific alternative to the trails towards Hannigalp.

A forest trail leads from Grächen along the bisses to the snout of the Ried Glacier in about an hour and a half. Visitors can admire the glacial moraine at the Ried Glacier. Alpe Äbnet is accessible only on foot or by bike and features meadows with larch and Swiss stone pine trees. During the cattle drive to the alpine pastures, Eringer cows gather in the “Ringchrommu”; after wrestling matches, the “Ring Cow” is crowned.

Village tour and local history

The village tour is a walk through Grächen’s history. It offers insights into historic buildings from the early modern period and explains the traditional barns and their round stone supports. A free brochure for the village walk is available from the Tourist Office and helps you find your way along the signs for the self-guided tour. Check before travelling whether the brochure is available.

The Grächen local history museum documents the village’s history and development into today’s holiday resort through objects, photographs, statistics, pictures and information. A small anniversary exhibition presents the life of the humanist Thomas Platter from Grächen (1499–1582) and the era in which he lived. This offers a look at both the resort’s development and the life and times of a historical figure.

Winter trails and play activities

The Hannigalp ski area has 44 kilometres of pistes; it operates seasonally. For a winter walk, the three-kilometre family route leads from Grächen to Bärgji. It offers views of the Matter Valley and the surrounding 4,000-metre peaks. The snowshoe trail from Lake Grächen to Hannigalp is also three kilometres long and is listed as taking about an hour and a half. The two winter routes can therefore be distinguished by trail type, destination and the available information on distance and duration.

At over 2,000 metres, Hannigalp has a large play paradise suitable for families with children; its availability may depend on seasonal operations. In Grächen, Robi’s Forest Play Park includes a 2,000-square-metre woodland play area with slides, huts and caves. The facilities also include a climbing park with various courses and zip lines.

Discover more destinations: Visp, Visperterminen, Randa, Baltschieder, Embd, Saas-Grund, Zermatt, Saas-Fee.

Go to the overview of the wider region: Visp.