9 Mountain Passes to Explore in Valais

Checkout places to visit in Valais

Valais

The canton of Valais is considered as one of the driest regions of Switzerland. The famous scenic rail route across the Furka Pass originates from this canton. It also includes one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Swiss mountains called Matterhorn.

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Mountain Passes to Explore in Valais

Col de la Forclaz

Col de la Forclaz is a mountain pass in the Alps in the Canton of Valais in Switzerland. It connects Martigny at 471 m and Le Châtelard. The road from Martigny to the Col has an average gradient of 6% but in parts is closer to 8%. After the Col, and Le Châtelard, the road leads to Chamonix in France via Vallorcine and the Col des Montets. The pass was little known in the 19th century. It was not until the rise in tourism, particularly in Chamonix, that the region became a popular tourist area.

Gemmi Pass

Gemmi Pass is a high mountain pass across the Bernese Alps connecting Leukerbad in the canton of Valais with Kandersteg in the canton of Bern. The pass itself lies within the canton of Valais, at a height of 2,270 meters above sea level. The main trail reaches 2,322 meters. The pass is mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes story The Final Problem. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson cross the pass on their way to Meiringen, where Sherlock Holmes has his famous meeting with Professor Moriarty at the Reic

Great St Bernard Pass

Great Saint Bernard Pass, Italian Colle del Gran San Bernardo, French Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard, one of the highest of the Alpine frontier passes, at 8,100 feet. It lies on the Italian-Swiss border east of the Mont Blanc group in the southwestern Pennine Alps. The pass connects Martigny-Ville, Switzerland, in the Rhône River valley, with Aosta, Italy. The alpine crossing was a significant stretch of the pilgrim routes between north and south.

Grimsel Pass

The Grimsel Pass links the Hasli Valley in the Bernese Oberland with Goms in Valais. The pass road runs through a wild, sparsely grown mountainous region marked by granite rocks, reservoir lakes, and power plants. A paved road follows the pass, running 38 kilometers from Gletsch to Meiringen. The road is normally closed between October and May, due to the high snowfall on the pass.

Monte Moro Pass

The Monte Moro Pass is an Alpine pass located on the border between Switzerland and Italy. It connects Saas-Almagell in the Swiss canton of Valais to Macugnaga in the Italian region of Piedmont. The pass lies at the foot of Monte Moro. Historically the Monte Moro is an important border crossing between the valleys of Saas and Macugnaga. It is traversed by a trail and is one of the highest passes on the Monte Rosa Tour.

Moosalp

This route connects the Turtmann valley region with the Moosalp pass at 2,044 meters in altitude. It consists of a long and steady climb whose first few kilometers take place in a forest with four consecutive hairpin bends. This is followed by a straighter section of the route passing through pastures along the side of the valley. You pass through the villages of Eischoll, Unterbäch, and Bürchen before reaching the final, much wilder section of the pass. It was one of the famous locations here a

Sanetsch Pass

One of the finest pass in the area at 26km in length and with a difference in altitude of 1690m, the pass road starts in Sion and could be compared to the famous Stelvio, but with less traffic. In the summer season, the pass is accessible by PostBus and can also be traversed by cable car. The highest point of the road is at 2,252 meters. One of the picturesque location in the area.

Simplon Pass

The Simplon Pass has been a key passage for centuries between the Valais and Italy. The grade of the pass is generally steady throughout the ascension, so you can admire the unobstructed views over the Rhone Valley and into the Haut-Valais while you advance bit by bit into an exceptional Alpine environment. The Simplon Pass was used as early as the Stone Age. But up to the 17th century, it was used mainly by smugglers and mercenaries because the narrow Gondo Gorge was considered by Roman Era arc

Theodul Pass

Theodul Pass, elevation 3,295 meters, is a high mountain pass across the eastern Pennine Alps, connecting Zermatt in the Swiss canton of Valais and Breuil-Cervinia in the Italian region of Aosta Valley. Theodul Pass is the second-lowest pass and the easiest pass between the valleys of Zermatt and Valtournanche. One of the picturesque locations where you can have a ride and also the natural beauty of this area will flourish your mind.

Map of Mountain Passes to explore in Valais