Via Alpina
HARD (3.3/10)Griesalp → Kandersteg
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Route briefing
What comes next
Climbs, descents, huts and decisive places in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Griesalp
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-10
About 0 min in
17.1 km remaining
+1569 m remaining
Climb
0 m
1317 m climb
5.9 km at 22.5% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-10
About 0 min in
17.1 km remaining
+1569 m remaining
Descent
5.9 km
1145 m descent
6.4 km at 17.8% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-10
About 2h 35m in
11.2 km remaining
+22 m remaining
Hut
5.9 km
Blüemlisalphütte
Hut
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-10
About 2h 36m in
11.2 km remaining
+22 m remaining
Route note
6.7 km
Schwarzhorn
Peak
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-10
About 2h 57m in
10.4 km remaining
+22 m remaining
Descent
12.7 km
430 m descent
4.4 km at 9.7% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-10
About 5h 35m in
4.4 km remaining
+2 m remaining
Finish
17.1 km
Kandersteg
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-10
About 7h 33m in
0 m remaining
Trail route lab
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Via Alpina is a 17.1 km point-to-point hard hiking route in Switzerland, running from Griesalp to Kandersteg. The route covers 1,569m of ascent and 1,812m of descent, with elevations ranging from 1,171m to 2,752m. Allow approximately 7h 32m for the full route.
The route is divided into 5 segments. The toughest stretch is the 5.9 km from Griesalp to Blüemlisalphütte, climbing 1,373m.
About 52% of the trail is runnable, but the remaining steep sections will push most people into power-hiking mode. The steepest pitches reach 60% gradient.
Budget roughly 4,826 kcal of energy expenditure and 4.5 L of water.
Mountain route up to 2752m. Best June–October; snow possible into June.
Trail Splits
Waypoint-to-waypoint breakdown with estimated hiking times (Naismith's Rule).
| Segment | Dist | ↑ Ascent | ↓ Descent | Time | Cum. km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
📍 Griesalp → Blüemlisalphütte | 5.9 km | +1373m | -39m | 3h 30m | 5.9 |
🏠 Blüemlisalphütte → Schwarzhorn | 0.8 km | +18m | -229m | 22 min | 6.7 |
⛰️ Schwarzhorn → Fuli Flue | 2.2 km | +15m | -493m | 53 min | 8.9 |
⛰️ Fuli Flue → Berghaus Unterbärgli | 1.4 km | +19m | -279m | 33 min | 10.4 |
🏠 Berghaus Unterbärgli → Kandersteg | 6.7 km | +144m | -772m | 2h 13m | 17.1 |
| Total | 17.1 km | +1,569m | -1,812m | 7h 32m | 17.1 |
Pace & Fuel Calculator
Adjust your flat 10K pace to see personalized finish time, calorie burn, and hydration needs.
Terrain Analysis
Surface & Technicality
Gradient describes steepness, not exposure, scrambling, footing or current conditions. Technical difficulty is unknown where no mapped rating is available.
Tree cover and UV
🌤️ Mixed. Sections above the treeline are open to the sky; lower sections have some canopy. Carry sun protection for the open parts.
Canopy is inferred from elevation against a 2000 m Alpine treeline and from gradient below it, not from observed tree data — treat it as an estimate. It is a different question from the terrain shade above, which is about whether a mountain is between you and the sun at a given time.
Current Conditions
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, the weather on Via Alpina is usually best from July to August. Snow is likely at the high point (2754 m) in November to June.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (1,172 m) and high point (2,754 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this trail: at the lowest point (1,172 m) and the highest point (2,754 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Good | Good | Mixed | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| High point, day / night | -6°/-11° | -6°/-12° | -4°/-10° | -2°/-7° | 3°/-3° | 8°/1° | 10°/3° | 10°/4° | 6°/1° | 3°/-2° | -2°/-6° | -4°/-10° |
| Low point, day / night | 4°/-4° | 4°/-4° | 6°/-2° | 10°/1° | 15°/6° | 19°/10° | 21°/11° | 21°/12° | 17°/8° | 13°/6° | 8°/1° | 6°/-2° |
| Rain, mm | 94 | 81 | 87 | 78 | 108 | 99 | 99 | 97 | 87 | 96 | 98 | 104 |
| Snow at high point | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | – | – | Possible | Possible | Likely | Likely |
| Daylight | 8 h 58 | 10 h 18 | 11 h 49 | 13 h 31 | 14 h 58 | 15 h 48 | 15 h 30 | 14 h 15 | 12 h 38 | 11 h | 9 h 28 | 8 h 37 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. These values describe the whole trail's lowest and highest points. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Averages cannot establish current trail conditions. Check recent local reports, the forecast and restrictions before departure. Snow and ice can persist on shaded sections or arrive outside the usual season.
Current snow conditions
Insufficient evidence
Enable “Current snow map” in the route map’s Map layers to see the surrounding snow evidence. Current conditions do not describe a future departure date.
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Safety & Bailouts
We do not have a verified emergency exit plan for this route. A nearby settlement, hut or route endpoint is not necessarily reachable or open. Do not leave the trail based on a straight-line distance or compass direction.
Review possible exits against current local information before your trip. In an emergency, contact local rescue services; this page is not live rescue guidance.
Suggested Gear List
Auto-generated based on 17.1 km, 1569m ascent, max altitude 2752.2m, ~8h duration.
- 👟 Trail running shoes / hiking bootsRequired for any trail
- 📱 Phone (charged) + offline mapNavigation & emergency contact
- 💧 3L hydration vestWater source information is incomplete; plan supplies before departure
- 🍫 Trail mix, bars & sandwichEst. 4826 kcal burn
- 🧴 Sunscreen SPF 50+UV intensifies above 2000m
- 🧢 Sun hat / capExposed alpine terrain
- 🧥 Windbreaker / shell jacketSummit at 2752.2m — wind chill
- 🆘 Emergency space blanketCritical if injured at altitude
- 🕶️ Sunglasses (cat 3+)Snow & rock glare at altitude
- 🧤 Warm mid-layer (fleece)Temps drop ~6°C per 1000m
- 🔦 Headlamp8h route — plan for delays
- 🩹 Mini first aid kitBlister plasters, tape, antiseptic
- 🥢 Trekking poles52% steep terrain, 1569m+ ascent
- 🧊 Microspikes / light cramponsSnow risk in Jan, Feb, Mar
- 🦵 GaitersKeep snow out of boots
- 💰 Cash (CHF/EUR)Mountain huts often cash-only
Logistics
This route runs from Griesalp to Kandersteg (17.1 km by trail). You'll need to arrange transport back to your starting point.
Nearby Points of Interest
⛰️ Peaks
- Schwarzhorn km 6.7 · 713m off trail
- Chlyne Bundstock km 6.8 · 1.4 km off trail
🏠 Mountain Huts
- Blüemlisalphütte km 5.9 · 793m off trail
📍 Nearby Places
- Pochtenalp 243m off trail
- Nessli km 0.4 · 390m off trail
- Zürcherweide 576m off trail
- Lärchenboden km 0.7 · 722m off trail
- Mutzboden 838m off trail
Route Details
- Network
- National Trail Network
- Sport
- hiking
- Start
- Griesalp
- End
- Kandersteg
- Start Coordinates
- 46.54732, 7.76143
- OpenStreetMap
- View on OSM →
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Route resources
Specialist links and source details for this route. Everyday actions are kept in the route rail above.