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Other routes in the Urbachtal

If Route 4 seems to be rather longer or more demanding than you’d care to tackle, don’t despair, for the valley is well worth a visit no matter what your demands may be. It’s also possible to drive there from Innertkirchen, thus reducing the time and effort otherwise required to explore it. Should you decide to drive into the valley, park with discretion in its lower reaches soon after entering. You should be able to find a space to park just off the road in order not to block it.

 By following Route 4 a very pleasant walk may be had to Schrätteren (allow 3–4hrs for the walk there and back; Grade 2). Or, if this is still too far, simply wander to Röhrmatten and back for an overview of a valley that is practically unique in the Bernese Alps.

ROUTE 5

Innertkirchen (625m) – Guttannen (1050m) – Grimsel Hospice (1980m)

Start Innertkirchen (625m) Distance 19km (one way) Height gain 1355m Grade 2–3 Time 6½hrs Location Southeast of Innertkirchen

The Grimsel Pass has been used for centuries; in times both of war and of peace. It has been used by traders transporting goods from the north of Switzerland to Italy – and vice-versa – and by mountain peasants, hunters, mercenaries and pilgrims. A mule track was the first ‘road’ to cross it, and when the specially engineered highway (mostly used today) was opened in 1895, there were some 300 horses stabled in Meiringen for use in drawing the post coaches over it. Parts of the old mule track through the Haslital are still in evidence, and this walk follows it wherever possible. There are paths in other places, sometimes the walk is on the road itself, but from Handegg, midway between Guttannen and the Pass, a Bergweg is taken through the wild upper part of the route. Note that there is a slight danger of avalanche early in the season.