Aletsch Glacier Trails
Walking routes ranging from the accessible cliff-edge viewpoint trail above Riederalp to the full Aletsch panorama traverse high on the southern moraine.
Moosfluh Viewpoint Trail
From the Moosfluh gondola station (2,333m above Riederalp), the viewpoint trail follows the ridge directly above the glacier edge. The Aletsch glacier fills the entire valley below: a river of white and grey ice 2 to 3km wide, flowing south from the Jungfraujoch accumulation zone. The medial moraines (dark lines of rock debris) running down the centre of the glacier give scale to the ice; they are themselves hundreds of metres wide but appear as thin lines from the ridge. The trail is straightforward and flat, suitable for all fitness levels. The Moosfluh area is known for autumn colours (larches and bilberry turning orange and red in September and October) against the backdrop of the glacier and the Valais peaks.
Riederalp to Bettmeralp Panorama Walk
The ridge walk from Riederalp (1,930m) to Bettmeralp (1,957m) traverses the high terrace above the north side of the Aletsch glacier, keeping the ice in view for the entire 12km. Both villages are car-free and sit on the same geological shelf; the walking path between them passes through the Pro Natura Aletsch Forest (an arolla pine and larch forest above the treeline, protected since 1933 and one of the few intact montane forests in the Alps). The Betmersee is a small lake near Bettmeralp that reflects the glacier below. The walk covers genuine Alpine terrain with consistent glacier views throughout and can be extended by continuing to Märjelen lake at the glacier edge.
Aletsch Glacier Full Traverse (Guided)
Walking on the Aletsch glacier surface with a certified mountain guide is one of the most unusual and impressive experiences available in the Alps. The guided traverse crosses from the Konkordiaplatz (the broad accumulation basin where several glaciers merge at 2,850m) down the main tongue of the glacier to the exit point near Märjelen. On the glacier surface you are surrounded by ice on all sides; crevasses are bridged by snow bridges that guide experience allows you to cross safely. The medial moraines (which looked like thin lines from the ridge above) are revealed to be massive ridges of rock debris 10 to 15 metres high. The meltwater streams flowing on the ice surface are bright blue. This is a full-commitment day requiring physical fitness and comfort with altitude.
Guided Experiences at Aletsch Glacier
The Aletsch is Europe's longest glacier at 23km. The UNESCO World Heritage site can be explored from multiple viewpoints — from Bettmerhorn above, from Fieschertal at the snout, or on guided walks across the ice itself.
Guided glacier hike on the Aletsch
Guided walk on the Aletsch glacier surface with crampons, starting from Konkordiaplatz. 3 glacier tongues converge at Konkordia — a glaciologist explains the retreat history. Access via Jungfraujoch.
Book glacier hike →Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe
Train journey to Jungfraujoch (3,454m) — the highest railway station in Europe. Observatory, sphinx platform, and panoramic views over the Aletsch. Day tour from Grindelwald or Interlaken.
Book Jungfraujoch →Aletsch Arena hut-to-hut trek
Guided 3-day hut traverse above the Aletsch: Riederalp to Bettmerhorn to Fiescheralp, with glacier and Monte Rosa panoramas. Mountain huts booked in advance. Summer snow on upper sections.
Book hut trek →Links go to GetYourGuide for real-time availability. Check guide certifications and cancellation policy before booking.
The Aletsch glacier is one of the clearest illustrations of the Pleistocene ice ages still visible at human scale. During the Last Glacial Maximum, 21,000 years ago, glaciers like the Aletsch covered the entire Alpine range and extended into the lowlands. The Aletsch is what remains: 23km of ice, up to 900m deep, moving slowly downhill on a bedrock carved by its own immense weight. It has been retreating since the mid-19th century; photographs from the 1870s show the glacier extending 2km further down the valley than it does today.
How to base yourself
The three villages above the glacier are Riederalp, Bettmeralp, and Fiescheralp, all car-free and all on the same terrace above the glacier's north wall. Riederalp has the most accommodation options and the best access to the Moosfluh viewpoint. Bettmeralp has the Betmersee lake and the main terminus for the ridge walk from Riederalp. All three are linked by walking trails along the ridge and by gondola connections from the Rhône valley below. The cable cars from Mörel (for Riederalp), Betten (for Bettmeralp), and Fiesch (for Fiescheralp) are not covered by the Swiss Travel Pass but are reasonably priced. Staying overnight in the car-free villages gives you the early morning light and the late afternoon glow on the glacier that day visitors miss.
The glacier in time
Visiting the Aletsch in 2026 means seeing a glacier in active retreat. The 2023 summer alone removed more mass from the Swiss glaciers than in any previous year on record. The Märjelen proglacial lake at the lower end of the glacier fluctuates in size from year to year; it was partially drained after the Little Ice Age maximum (around 1860) and has been reforming as the glacier retreats again. The Pro Natura information centre at Villa Cassel near Riederalp provides context on the glacier's history and current dynamics. If you are visiting any glacier in the Alps in the coming decades, visiting now rather than waiting gives you the most complete view of what remains.
When to go
The ridge trails above the glacier are open from June to October. July and August are the busiest; September and early October offer the best combination of clear weather, autumn colour (larches and bilberry on the ridge), and fewer visitors. The guided glacier traverse is available from late June to mid-September when snow bridges over crevasses are stable. The Moosfluh viewpoint is accessible as long as the gondola operates (check seasonal dates for Riederalp and Bettmeralp gondolas). Winter skiing operates at all three villages on the terrace.
Common Questions
Yes for any serious glacier travel on the main Aletsch tongue. Glaciers have hidden crevasses; snow bridges that look solid from above can collapse unexpectedly. A certified mountain guide assesses conditions daily, knows the safe crossing points for that season, and carries the equipment to rescue from a crevasse fall. The Moosfluh ridge trail and the Riederalp-Bettmeralp panorama walk are entirely outside the glacier boundary and require no guide. If you want to be on the ice itself for more than a brief touch at the very accessible margin near Märjelen, book a guide.
The Aletsch is by far the largest accessible glacier in the Alps, significantly bigger than the Mer de Glace at Chamonix (once comparable but now dramatically retreated) or the Gorner Glacier near Zermatt. The combination of scale (23km), the ridge viewpoint above (Moosfluh at 2,333m gives a complete aerial view of the glacier), and the quality of the hiking infrastructure around Riederalp and Bettmeralp makes Aletsch the best single destination for experiencing Alpine glaciation at its most impressive. The Mer de Glace at Chamonix is more accessible and has better visitor infrastructure but is now a fraction of its former size and significantly less impressive. For anyone with a serious interest in glaciers, Aletsch is the definitive destination.
