Niwärch–Gorperi Suonen Trail – Suonen Trail in Valais loop from Eggerberg
Niwärch–Gorperi Suonen Trail – Suonen Trail in Valais loop from Eggerberg
5.0
(2)
49
hikers
Niwärch–Gorperi Suonen Trail – Suonen Trail in Valais loop from Eggerberg
07:41
16.4km
1,240m
Hiking
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: May 6, 2026
Tips
Includes a segment that may be dangerous
A part of this route comprises technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience may be required.
After 5.60 km for 1.63 km
Waypoints
Start point
Train Station
Get Directions
1.29 km
Traditional Village Pathway in Valais
Highlight • Trail
2.17 km
Suonen Trail in Valais
Highlight • Trail
Translated by Google •
Tip by
2.38 km
Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site
Highlight • Natural Monument
The UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch is one of the most beautiful and valuable mountain landscapes in the world. The world heritage stretches from the eternal ice in the high mountains to the Mediterranean steppe landscape in the south and documents current climate change. The imposing north faces of the Bernese High Alps embody impressive evidence of the alpine mountain formation.
Text / source: Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch
wnf.ch
Translated by Google •
Tip by
2.55 km
Gorperi Suone
Highlight • Structure
Text / source: Brig Simplon Tourismus AG
Translated by Google •
Tip by
3.31 km
Niwärch–Gorperi Suonen Trail
Highlight • Trail
Translated by Google •
Tip by
4.35 km
Bisse de Savièse Waterfall
Highlight • Waterfall
Showing Translation
Tip by
4.43 km
Suonen Trail in Valais
Highlight • Trail
The water pipes, watercourses or suonen, French for “bisses”, run through the country like blood vessels in a human body - today they are almost 2000 kilometers long. Most of them are likely to have originated between 900 and 1000 years ago. Whether copied in North Africa, as some say, or invented by themselves: necessity makes people inventive - even when it comes to cheating on the lack of precipitation. There is plenty of water in the glacier region of Valais, but it is in the wrong place for the people: almost inaccessible in the deep gorges of the streams. The Suonen make this water usable for people. And as dream paths they open up the unique natural and cultural landscape of the Valais.
Suonen are dividing lines in many Valais landscapes: late in summer, when the rocky steppe withers and yellows, the mats and meadows below the suonen are lush green because they are watered. Their water is particularly suitable for irrigation for two reasons: Glacier water - as you can easily see from its cloudiness - contains considerable amounts of minerals and natural suspended matter such as phosphorus, lime and lots of potassium and magnesium salts. This is pure natural fertilizer. The air provides oxygen and the sun on the south-facing slopes provides heat. On its long way through meadows and along rock faces, the glacier water warms up by several degrees. This later reduces the cold shock when watering flowers and grasses. Traditional irrigation, with its gentle methods, has produced the biodiversity that, together with the late cutting of the hay meadows, made up the inestimable value of the Valais cultural landscape and, in some cases, still does today.
Before mechanization, the water from the glacier streams, which was conducted over the suonen, made everyday life easier for people: Its power drove sawmills and mills and thus made it possible to build houses; Hydropower ground the flour used to bake rye bread. But the modern irrigation systems with their water cannons also have a beneficial effect in the end: The management is still facilitated and that is why the bisses keep their function.
Suonen also protect the landscape: they repeatedly release water into their surroundings and thus defend against erosion on entire valley flanks through vegetation. In the event of forest fires, their water can still be used for extinguishing purposes. The canton has therefore made the maintenance of important old water pipes a condition since the 1980s if modern irrigation systems are to be approved. Only natural materials may be used for maintenance.
Text / source: By Luzius Theler, revision of the management center
myswissalps.ch/story/480
Translated by Google •
Tip by
10.1 km
Honegga
Viewpoint
12.2 km
Beautiful Forest in Valais
Highlight • Forest
16.4 km
End point
Train Station
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
10.1 km
4.41 km
1.07 km
290 m
280 m
237 m
Surfaces
6.85 km
4.02 km
3.49 km
1.22 km
385 m
382 m
< 100 m
Sign up to see more specific route details
Sign up for free
Elevation
Sign up to see more specific route details
Sign up for free
Weather
Powered by Foreca
Monday 8 June
14°C
6°C
52 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h
to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route
Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
Comments
Want to know more?
Sign up for a free komoot account to join the conversation.
Sign up for free