Waldhaus - SeldenWalk 8037
Canton - Bern / Berne - Kandertal
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 6.0 km / 3.8 miles
Ascent - 190 metres / 627 feet
Descent - nominal or unknown
Time - 1.50 hours
Grade - easy
Click thumbnails for larger images.
A peaceful valley walk following the River Kander upstream from the Berghotel Waldhaus to the Hotel Gasterntal at Selden. The surrounding mountains offer a continuous and dramatic backdrop throughout the walk.
Start the Berghotel Waldhaus. See Transport Map for the Kandertal Region. Please note the bus service is limited and reservations are recommended. Current information can be obtained from the Tourist Information Bureau in Kandersteg. If taking the bus you will be dropped off at the end of the road leading to the Waldhaus from the valley service road.
End the Hotel Gasterntal, Selden
From the Waldhaus follow the broad path/track up the valley signed to Selden and the Balmhornhütte. The path to the latter branches off right after one kilometre and you should continue up the track to reach a bridge over the River Kander. Cross the bridge and turn right on the other side. The path follows the river up to another bridge. Cross the river again and continue through forest.
Crossing the river for a final time, you reach the foot of a step in the valley floor. The path climbs in zigzags to enter a hanging valley. Quite soon the path joins the valley service road. Continue along this to the Hotel Gasternal from where the bus service back to Kandersteg departs.
Suggested Maps
Landeskarte der Schweiz - 1:50000 - Sheet SW 5004 - Berner Oberland
Landeskarte der Schweiz - 1:50000 - Sheet SW5009 - Gstaad - Adelboden
Kandersteg Wanderkarte - 1:25000
Recommended Books
Alpine Flowers
A pocket field guidebook for identifying 230 of the most commonly found alpine flowers of the Alps. Categorised by colour for quick identification, each alpine flower has a photograph and description of its key features. Flower names are given in English, French, German, Italian and Latin, with notes on curious facts and origins of names.
Across the Eastern Alps: E5
From Lake Constance in Germany, this guidebook describes walking the E5 trek that runs 600km through a remarkable kaleidoscope of landscapes and culture in Switzerland, Austria and Italy, to its destination at Verona. It traverses the Allgauer, Lechtaler and Ötztaler Alps. There is a good network of alpine refuges and guesthouses on the route.