Gasenried: Hiking Trails and Chapel History

Gasenried is a year-round inhabited clustered settlement at an altitude of 1,659 metres on the right-hand side of the valley above St. Niklaus. It belongs to the municipality of St. Niklaus in the district of Visp, Canton of Valais. For trip planning, the routes starting in and passing through Gasenried offer different levels of detail: the standard ascent to the Bordier Hut is described by ascent time and elevation gain, while the Europaweg is described by the length and duration of a longer route.

Hikes to the Bordier Hut and on the Europaweg

The standard ascent from Gasenried via Alpja leads to the Bordier Hut SAC at 2,886 metres. The ascent is listed as taking 3 hours and 45 minutes, with an elevation gain of 1,240 metres; the route is rated T3. A new route to the hut, completed in 2023, is considered technically easier, does not cross a glacier, and is marked red-white-red. This information helps you assess the ascent according to its specific requirements: the time and elevation gain refer to the ascent, not a round trip.

The Europaweg runs from Grächen via Gasenried to the Europahütte. The new route is 16.70 kilometres long, takes 7 hours and 35 minutes, and is rated moderate. It involves 1,446 metres of ascent and reaches its highest point at 2,333 metres. Unlike the standard ascent to the Bordier Hut, the focus here is on the route's length and duration. When comparing the two options, also bear in mind that the time listed for the Bordier Hut explicitly refers to the ascent.

From Visp, take the train to St. Niklaus and change there to the PostBus to Gasenried to reach the route to the Bordier Hut. Check the current timetable before your trip. For information about whether the Europaweg is open or closed, contact the Europahütte directly. Grächen Tourism accepts no responsibility for the condition of the trail or whether it is passable.

Meadows, larch forest and ridge

The Grächen–Gasenried–Grat hike passes traditional buildings, crosses meadows and winds through a larch forest. It follows the traces of the Ried Glacier and offers mountain panoramas. The trail climbs steeply through the forest, past a glacier gate, up to the ridge at 2,322 metres. The Ried Glacier lies southeast of Gasenried; the hike therefore combines a specific landscape route with views of the area around the glacier.

The Grächen–Gasenried–Schalbettu route is designated as suitable for outings with a pushchair. Another route description covers the Wasserleiten hike: it leads through larch forest and meadows to the Baroque chapel in the hamlet of Gasenried. Trail conditions may vary seasonally. Southwest of the settlement, there is also a steep grazing slope dotted with scattered agricultural buildings. These landscape impressions complement the marked destinations and elevation details with a sense of the area's rural character.

Village chapel and local history

The historic village centre is clustered around the chapel in Gasenried. It is dedicated to Saint Theodul, the patron saint of the Canton of Valais. In the late 1970s, a gallery was added to accommodate the many people attending Mass. The chapel festival takes place on 16 August; check the programme before your trip. This allows you to plan a possible visit to the village around the festival date, without confusing it with a hike.

Another chapel, Schalbetten, was built at the foot of the Ried Glacier. It is also one of the area's named religious buildings, while the village chapel defines the historic centre. The hiking trails and these chapels offer different priorities for trip planning: a longer high-altitude trail, a specific ascent to a mountain hut, or a glimpse into the village's religious history. Which information matters most for your stay depends on which of these aspects you want to focus on.

Discover more destinations

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For the main travel overview: Visp.