Barrhorn — Local services in Turtmann-Unterems

Highest hiking path in Switzerland, where you don't need special snow/ice gear.

View is Amazing

But the hike is tough especially after 3000m you feel the thin air... or that your muscles aren't as enduring as usual and there are steep paths. Downhill you feel your muscles as well, because you never use them.

Mountain is 3610. It is bellow Zero

Check a national web site for accurate times Time approx. Gruben to Turtmann cottage 2-3h (Down 1.5 -2h) Turtmann cottage to Outer Barrhorn 3-4h (down 2 -2.5h)

Gear: Bring along good hiking shoes, you will hit some stones. Wind/Rain coat. If you sweat a lot bring 1 or 2 extra Shirts to change, also Socks scarf... it can be windy Sun glasses a cap or headband against the cold wind. A head flash light, if you want to start early in the morning. about 1,5 Liters of Water, from the Turtmann cottage to the top and back. Cut your foot nails before you go on the trip!

Optional: gloves Crazy people bring their Mountain Bike Drone Victory Beer/Liquor/Cigarre

Turtmann cottage: One night is 83 chf with dinner and breakfast. There are good toilets. They provide house shoes... only bring your hiking shoes... There are No showers. It's a cottage! 0 .5l Beer costs 6 CHF

Travel: Either by train and bus. Zürich - Oberems is roughly 100 CHF one way without discount. +6 chf for the bus

Car Park. There's a car park after the Village Gruben, where you can start directly the hike.

Fun Fact: Barrhorn is 3610m Jungfrau Joch is 3466m Only one ski lift 3899m in Switzerland is higher...

Great & Challenging mountain in the Turtmanvalley. Let me break it down:

Barrhorn is arguably the highest mountain in the alps that one can climb without equipment, 3610m in altitude.

We (m, 25; m, 23; f, 23) started at around 7:15 am from Sänntum parking and walked the drivable path until the reservoir, crossed it and then ascended to the Turtmanhütte.

From there you cross over to the small couloir. This part is (in my opinion) the only sketchy bit of the hike. After you have mastered this passage, you slowly ascend in the basin from which you can already see Barrhorn.

Reaching the end, you start to cross left through the gravel towards the peak. This part is definitely the most exhausting as you start to feel the altitude and the more difficult terrain.

Closely before the summit there is a very steep bit. Take your time and don't rush. You are almost there.

On top you have a beautiful view, seeing the Matterhorn and also the Mont Blanc if the weather conditions are nice!

Timings:

Parking - Turtmannhütte 1h40 Turtmanhütte - Summit 3h05 (4h45 total) Summit - Parking 3h15...

What an amzing hike! It's hard enough to satisfy the thrill seekers yet still just about possible without any experience under your belt. We decided to do the hike early, if you leave at 2h30 in the morning you can get to the summit around 6h00 to see the sunrise. The view from the top is definitely worth it! Although it's cold enough so plan gloves and a hat and warm clothes, especially a windbreaker! In the summer the summit can still be at 0°C. There is of course a Gîte on the way up where you can stay but you can also pitch a tent and...