Hike /gpx
Walenstöcke Circuit
Ristis
- Distance
- 24.6 km
- Duration
- 9:10 h
- Ascent
- 1442 m
- Descent
- 1443 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Fitness
- Hard
- Route type
- Loop
01/ Overview
The route
A long, demanding circuit around the seven Walenstöcke, leading from alpine pastures across the rocky Rot Grätli to Bannalp and back to Ristis via Walenalp.
From the Ristis cable-car station, the trail initially crosses open alpine pastures to Planggenstafel. The mountain path soon steepens considerably and reaches the Rugghubelhütte SAC at just under 2,300 m. Beyond the hut, the pastures gradually give way to rocky terrain. Near Rot Grätli, the route climbs to just over 2,500 m and reaches its highest point. Snowfields may linger beyond the pass even in summer.
The long descent leads via Schoneggli towards Bannalp. Along the way, views open up over Bannalpsee, a reservoir in the canton of Nidwalden. On the lower alpine pastures, the rugged mountain scenery temporarily becomes gentler. After another ascent, the trail crosses Walegg and continues to Walenalp.
Across open slopes and with constant ups and downs, the route continues to the Brunnihütte SAC. From there, the final section descends to Ristis, where, after around 25 kilometres and just over nine hours, the Ristis cable-car station (Brunni-Bahnen) is reached.
02/ Along the route
What's along the way
Where the route climbs and where it descends. Hover the profile to find the spot on the map.
03/ Conditions
Current conditions
What to know before you set off. Closures and snow are re-checked every day.
How we check: Every night we match the route against the official closures and detours from the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO). Any reported closure that touches the route shows up here.
How we check: We look up a live public transport connection from your starting point to the stop closest to the trailhead. If it ends further away, the nearest stop may be a cable car or bus that isn't running right now.
How we check: Snow depth estimated daily at the lowest and the highest point of the route. Estimates: check the situation on site.
04/ Getting there
Getting there
From your door to the trailhead and home again, by train and bus or by car. Computed live from the timetable.
Or from
Outbound
Return
05/ Weather
Weather on the way
Forecast for the lowest and the highest point of the route.
Weather
06/ Trail & landscape
Trail & landscape
Which paths you walk on and the landscape they lead through.
Larches count as conifer forest here.
07/ Export
Take the route with you
Load the track onto your GPS device, print a route sheet for the trail or send the route to your hiking group.
Share
Send the link to friends or your hiking group.
Export GPX File
For hiking apps, GPS watches and navigation devices.
Print Route Sheet
A4 with map, elevation profile, waypoints and emergency numbers.
