The Four Headwaters Trail

Tag 1 After a short transfer, the tour starts from Vermigelboden and leads up to the Maighels pass. The imposing, glaciated 3000-metre Piz Ravetsch rises at your back while you look out through the wide Val Maighels towards the Surselva. Then the path climbs gently and, hidden behind rocks, you suddenly discover the crystal-clear Lai da Tuma, the source of the River Rhine. Enjoy this quiet, special place before the last part of today's stage leads you to the Oberalp Pass, from where the Furka-Oberalp railway takes you back to Andermatt. (Walking time: 4.5 h, distance: 13 km, ascent/descent: 800/750 altitude meters).

Day 2 A bit more comfortable than travelers 200 years ago in the stagecoach, the post bus chauffeurs you up to the Gotthard Pass. Along Lake Lucendro, the path leads to the alp of the same name and a short time later to a small, glassy mountain lake, the source of the Reuss. Over the Lucendropass the Leventina with its southern charm greets you. Now follows the way down with an impressive view of the wide firn surface of the Basodino and the Ticino mountains into the idyllic Val Bedretto. (Walking time: 6 h, distance: 20 km, ascent/descent: 840/955 meters).

Day 3 Gently leads the trail towards the Alpe die Cruina to the headwaters of the Ticino. Through the wide, alpine mountain landscape you hike to the Nufenen Pass, which offers a breathtaking view of the imposing Gries glacier and the Blinnenhorn. In the background you can see the mighty peaks of the Bernese Alps. Then you descent along the Äegne stream into the direction of the Goms valley. (Walking time: 4.5h, distance: 12 km, ascent/descent: 765/825 meters).

Day 4 On foot or by post bus the way leads up to Gletsch. Here, where the glacier tongue of the Rhone glacier was located about 150 years ago, tourism flourished at that time. And there is still a hint of the Belle Epoque. It is only a few more turns in the post bus to the venerable Hotel Belvédère and the Rhone Glacier. From a vantage point just above the glacier, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the source of the Rhone and the surrounding mountains. Then the trail climbs slightly to the Furka Pass, where the e-bike is already waiting for you and invites you to a thrilling ride to Realp and through the Urseren Valley out to Andermatt. (Walking time: 3.5 h, distance 8 km, ascent/descent: 720/200 meters | e-bike time: 1 h, distance: 21 km, ascent/descent: 90/1080 meters).