©  (c) Larissa Huggler / Tourisme Adelboden-Lenk-Kandersteg
©  (c) Barbara Stoller / Tourisme Adelboden-Lenk-Kandersteg
©  (c) Barbara Stoller / Tourisme Adelboden-Lenk-Kandersteg
©  (c) Tourisme Adelboden-Lenk-Kandersteg
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Gasterntal

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Take your time and discover the true treasures of this wild high valley, which is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

  • Difficulty easy
  • Duration 3:0 h
  • Distance 8,9 km
  • 432 m
  • 5 m
Tags
  • Family-friendly
  • Refreshment stops available
  • Dog-friendly

Tourismus Adelboden-Lenk-Kandersteg
Update: 19.10.2025

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At Kandersteg train station, follow the signpost to Gasterntal. After the valley station of the Kandersteg-Sunnbüel cable car, the hiking trail follows the Kander Falls along the Chluse into the Gasterntal. The Kander flows freely and largely untamed through the Gasterntal. With its changing dynamics, it shapes an alpine floodplain landscape, which is protected in the Kanderfirn and Gasternholz areas. Untouched nature, together with a traditionally used cultural landscape, provides numerous habitats for a diverse flora and fauna. Very rare or protected species - such as the lady's slipper orchid - find ideal living conditions in the Gasterntal. Partly along the Kander, the hiking trail leads to Selden at 1537 m (Hotel Steinbock and Hotel Gasterntal-Selden - starting point for the mountain hiking path via Gfelalp to the Lötschen Pass into the Lötschental). The path continues to Heimritz (inn), the starting point of the mountain path to the Kanderfirn.

Return trip from Selden: Gasterntal bus (reservation absolutely necessary).

  • Approach

    The access road to the Gasterntal is located at the very end of Kandersteg about 400 m after the valley station of the Sunnbüel aerial cableway. The road leads over a rock gallery and through 2 tunnels into the mountain valley at around 1352 m above sea level and is only open in summer.

    A contribution fee of CHF 15.00 per day is charged for road maintenance, which can be paid in cash at the ticket machine or with PayByPhone at the start of the road or at the Kandersteg tourist center.

    Attention: Please note that there is a timetable for the first section over the rock gallery (Chluse) and cars cannot pass each other. From quarter to five past, vehicles may drive up and from quarter past to half past five, they may drive down.

  • Arrival at Kandersteg train station
    South of the Lötschberg, north of the Kander valley: this station between Brig (38 min) and Bern (61 min) has an hourly schedule.

    Gasterntal bus June to October bus service from Kandersteg train station to Gasterntal Selden.
    Reservation mandatory; by phone only: 033 671 11 72.
    Timetable Kander Reisen Frutigen

  • Parking list Kandersteg
    The destination is set, and so is the parking spot – on this map, drivers quickly and easily find the right parking option in the Oberland municipality. Well then: engine off, hiking boots on!

  • Kandersteg train station - Eggeschwand - Chluse - Gastereholz - Staldi - Selden - Heimritz

  • Also, open hiking trails may still be partly covered with snow. Hiking is done at your own risk: Tourism Adelboden-Lenk-Kandersteg assumes no liability for using local routes.

  • No heavy boots needed here: This easy hike is well marked in yellow or red-white. It can of course get steep at times – but numerous mountain restaurants await along the way.

  • A picture, a clip, a comment: Excursions in the Bernese Oberland also leave traces on our social media channels. Active outdoor enthusiasts share more alpine impressions, for example on Instagram and Facebook.

  • SAC technical scale

    SLF snow map

    MeteoSwiss

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  • Technique
  • Stamina
  • Difficulty
Maximum altitude 1631 M
Minimum altitude 1203 M