Quick Summary

  • 3 day hike in Turtmanntal in the Wallis (one valley over from Zermatt)
  • We only used public transport to get to and from the Turtmanntal
  • The Üssers Barrhorn (3610m) has become quite renowned in recent years as being one of the highest peaks in the Alps with an officially marked hiking trail
Download GPX

Day 1: Ascent to the Turtmannhütte SAC

The view toward the Turtmanngletscher at the end of the Turtmanntal.
Sport Hiking
Difficulty T2
Distance 5.6 km
Ascent 590 m
Descent 0 m
Public Transit Access? Yes

Summary

  • Travelled to the Turtmann (Talstation) via public transit
    • Train to Turtmann
    • PostAuto to the cable car station
  • Took the cable car to Oberems and then an alptaxi (part of the standard SBB timetable) to the Vorder Sänntum
  • Hiked along gravel roads to the Turtmannsee
  • From the Turtmannsee, we took the (only) hiking trail leading up to the Turtmannhütte SAC
  • Stayed overnight at the hut to prepare for the next day
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Image 5
Image 6
Image 7
Image 8
Image 9
Image 10
Image 11
Image 12

Day 2: Üssers Barrhorn

The Üssers Barrhorn (left) and Inners Barrhorn (right), as seen from the Schöllijoch.
Sport Hiking
Difficulty T3+
Distance 9.6 km
Ascent 1010 m
Descent 1010 m
Public Transit Access? N/A

Summary

  • With this being the most strenuous of the three days, our primary objective for the day was to summit the Üssers Barrhorn
  • The crux of the hike was a short ascent up a somewhat exposed couloir
    • This was secured by a metal wire which acted as a handhold
    • Since it was raining on our descent, this section was quite slippery given the fairly smooth rock
  • The remainder of the hike consists mainly of moraine and scree
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Image 5
Image 6
Image 7
Image 8
Image 9
Image 10
Image 11
Image 12
Image 13
Image 14
Image 15
Image 16
Image 17
Image 18
Image 19
Image 20
Image 21
Image 22
Image 23
Image 24

Day 3: Return to Gruben

Descending back into the valley from the Turtmannhütte.
Sport Hiking
Difficulty T2
Distance 9.7 km
Ascent 220 m
Descent 870 m
Public Transit Access? Yes

Summary

  • A relaxing and comparatively short hike to the previous day
  • From the Turtmannhütte SAC, we followed the hiking path along the upper part of the Turtmanntal
  • There was an alp taxi that was part of the standard SBB timetable. However, it drove very infrequently so we decided to charter an alp taxi ride from Gruben back to Oberems
    • While quite a bit more expensive than the standard alp taxi faire, it was well worth the cost given how many hours of waiting we ended up saving.
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Image 5
Image 6
Image 7