Walenpfad (Route 573)
Ristis (Engelberg) – Chrüzhütte (Bannalp) · Obwalden / Nidwalden · Switzerland
Difficulty scale
Muntside hiking scale: Easy, Moderate or Hard. It rates physical effort, not technical difficulty. It does not map onto via ferrata, climbing or ski scales.
Rating estimated from distance and accumulated ascent.
Technical difficulty (exposure, scrambling, terrain) is not assessed.
Map and track
Track with 1,796 imported points
Altitude and elevation
Elevation profile
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.
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 directionsRecommended equipment
Unavailable
Safety
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Weather and official alerts
Weather forecast
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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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Community photos
Real photos shared by people who hiked the route.
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