Through one of the oldest game reserves: Oberalp - Fellital

Tip
14.41 km long
Difficulty: medium
Condition: medium
Great panorama
Hike
  • 5:10 h
  • 14.41 km
  • 475 m
  • 1,773 m
  • 711 m
  • 2,478 m
  • 1,767 m
  • Start: Oberalppass
  • Destination: Wassnerwald near Gurtnellen
In one day through three seasons: Winter, spring, midsummer! You experience this only when you hike through the Urner Fellital, one of the oldest federal game reserves in Switzerland. The side valley of the Urner Reusstal leads up into the high Alps above the Oberalppass. Particularly worth seeing is the very special larch forest at Fellihorm or Taghorn. It is interspersed with rowans. In autumn, the largest larch forest on the northern Alpine side offers a great spectacle. Many of the man-high larches here are already several hundred years old. In the battle zone it is difficult for them to survive.

We start at the Oberalppass. In the morning it can still be cold here. The ascent to the Fellilücke takes about one hour and 15 minutes. Here we still encounter old snowfields far into the summer. New snow must not surprise us either. At the Fellilücke we take a short look back at the Oberalppass and enjoy the view far out into the Central Plateau, if the weather permits.

We then promptly set off for the descent through the Fellital. On the first high plateau Murmetsbüel the morning sun slowly comes. It warms us. Now we can also take the first refreshment break. It is sparse and quiet here and we enjoy the peace away from any civilization.

After overcoming one altitude level, we are already back in the alpine area. Only for a short time do the alpine farmers come up here with their animals. But slowly it becomes spring, the colors of the meadows change to a rich green. The landscape becomes lovelier and more inviting.

Especially interesting is the battle zone of the forest. Trees struggle for their survival. At the Taghorn these are mainly larches that with their gnarled shapes tell stories of long winters, rockfalls, and avalanches.

In the middle of the forest we reach the Treschhütte. A stop is worthwhile. From here you can do some excursions and discover many interesting things.

Through a typical water-rich mountain forest we reach the first agriculturally used mountains: the Upper Felliberg and the Lower Felliberg. Last but not least, we still cross the dark Wassnerwald, where in the times of the muleteers robbers and bandits lurked to rob travelers.

At the main road we reach the bus stop. Regular buses stop here, which take us to Göschenen or to Altdorf and Flüelen.

Good to know

Pavements

Street
Asphalt
Gravel
Trail
Path

Best to visit

suitable
Depends on weather

Directions

Oberalppass - Hintere Felli - Fellilücke - Breitplanggen - Murmetsbüel - Plätzli - Obernatt - Rinderboden - Rinderbüel - Hinter Waldi - Vorder Waldi - Treschhütte - Ronen - Hütten - Chlüsereggen - Ober Felliberg - Unter Felliberg - Wassnerwald - Gurtnellen

Tour information

  • Nature Highlight

Equipment

Very good footwear, daypack, binoculars, sun protection and rain protection. Warm clothing, if possible: windstopper.

Directions & Parking facilities

If you want to travel by car, we recommend parking the car in Göschenen and taking the Gotthard-Matterhorn railway to the Oberalppass.

After the hike, you can always easily get back to Göschenen by bus.

At the entrance to Göschenen you will find enough paid parking spaces on the left.
You can travel by train to Göschenen. There you change to the Gotthard-Matterhorn railway. Via Andermatt you reach the Oberalppass, the starting point of our hike.

Additional information

You will learn a lot if you take the Uri hiking map with you. You need the Gotthard and Maderanertal sheets.

Author

Markus Fehlmann

Organization

Verein Urner Wanderwege

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

Spend the night in the Treschhütte and climb out at dawn to the Taghorn or Fellihorn. There you hike right through the unique larch forest.

Safety guidelines

You need very good shoes because you can encounter snowfields late into the summer. It is also good if you have high alpine experience.

Nearby

Contact

Through one of the oldest game reserves: Oberalp - Fellital
6490 Andermatt