Walenpfad (Route 573)

Ristis (Engelberg) – Chrüzhütte (Bannalp) · Obwalden / Nidwalden · Switzerland

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Point to pointRoute typederived from the track

11.52 kmDistance

4 hDuration

ModerateRecorded effort

785 mAccumulated ascent

Difficulty scale

Historic recorded designation; not verified as fitness or technique.

These groups reflect the recorded general designation, not a verified fitness or technical grade. Terrain, exposure, chains and ladders must be assessed separately; read the source notes. No SAC grade is inferred.

Official technique (source wording): medium mountain hiking trail
Official fitness (source wording): medium

SAC T-grade: not verified

Painted waymarks: not verified

Official route source

Safety and route notes

Existing editorial notes, not live trail status. Any check date below applies only to that static check; recheck official notices and local conditions before departure.

The narrow, exposed Walengräben passage requires sure-footedness even where secured.
Snow, ice and adverse weather may block the route.
Check local trail conditions and the Ristis and Bannalp cable-car timetables before departure.
No claim of current opening; no closure notice was displayed on the official route page when checked on 2026-10-24.

Official route source

Map and track

Track with 1,796 imported points

Altitude and elevation

Elevation profile

1598 mStart altitude

1598 mMinimum altitude

1952 mMaximum altitude

785 mAccumulated ascent

665 mAccumulated descent

354 mAltitude differenceestimated · maximum altitude minus start altitude

About the trail

Walenpfad, official SchweizMobil summer hiking Route 573, from Ristis above Engelberg to Chrüzhütte on Bannalp, through Brunni, Walenalp and Walegg. This is the complete walking variant, not the optional Ristis–Brunni chairlift shortcut. Official figures: 11 km, 4 hours, +780 m / −660 m; the licensed dense federal geometry measures 11.52 km and accumulated +785 m / −665 m. Medium mountain hiking trail and medium physical requirement. Summer mountain hike, normally June–October. The narrow, exposed Walengräben passage requires sure-footedness even where secured. Snow, ice and adverse weather may block the route. Check local trail conditions and the Ristis and Bannalp cable-car timetables before departure. No claim of current opening; no closure notice was displayed on the official route page when checked on 2026-10-24. Source: SchweizMobil, https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-573. Geometry: federal ASTRA Open Government Data, OGD BY. Attribution: Bundesamt für Strassen, Kanton, Stiftung SchweizMobil. Official classification: medium mountain hiking trail; medium fitness. Source: https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-573. Classification checked 25 October 2026.

Getting there and access

Location:: Ristis (Engelberg) – Chrüzhütte (Bannalp) · Obwalden / Nidwalden · Switzerland
Track start:: 46.83259, 8.40836
Parking:: No data

Start coordinates: 46.83259, 8.40836

Check public transport and mountain roads before leaving; some routes close in winter.

Open directions

Recommended equipment

Unavailable

Not recorded. Missing information does not mean there is no risk.

Weather and official alerts

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The weather forecast does not confirm that the activity is safe. Check local conditions and official alerts before setting out.

Official alerts

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