Sunnbuel - Arvenwald - SunnbuelWalk 8040
Canton - Bern / Berne - Kandertal
Canton - Valais / Wallis - Leukerbad & Gemmipass
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 6.0 km / 3.8 miles
Ascent - 110 metres / 363 feet
Descent - 110 metres / 363 feet
Time - 2.00 hours
Grade - easy/moderate
Click thumbnails for larger images.
A circular walk that explores the valley above Sunnbüel. The route offers easy walking with some fine mountain views.
Start & End the upper station of the Luftseilbahn Kandersteg-Sunnbüel. See Transport Map for the Kandertal Region.
Exit the upper station of the Luftseilbahn Kandersteg-Sunnbüel and bear left to follow the main path signed to Schwarenbach. This descends slightly and crosses a broad valley dotted with small farms and other buildings. After Spittelmatte the path crosses the cantonal boundary and you enter Valais/Wallis.
Drawing level with the rocky, forested knoll of Arvenwald, there is a noticeable change to more barren scenery. Just as the track starts to climb up to Schwarenbach you reach a junction. Bear right here and turn west and then north following a path/track at the base of the Üschenegrat ridge, which is on your left. This leads back to the upper station of the cable car offering some fine views to the east.
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
Walking in the Valais
Comprehensive guidebook to the Valais region, describing 111 day walks and 10 multi-day tours. Home to the Matterhorn and Dent Blanche, the routes are in the Fieschertal and the Aletsch glacier region, the Lötschental, Saastal, Mattertal, Turtmanntal, Val d'Anniviers, Val d'Herens, Val de Bagnes, Val Ferret and Vallée du Trient.
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.