Western Switzerland is a climbing mecca that is second to none. From Freiburg to the Bernese Oberland to Valais there are numerous climbing areas that are worth a visit. In this article we present you the 10 most worthwhile climbing crags in this region.
Anyone who knows all of Freiburg’s climbing spots via the Bernese Oberland and the Vaud to the Wallis If you want to pay a visit, you not only need a lot of skin on your fingers, but above all a lot of time. Since this resource is known to be scarce, Sandro von Känel, author of the Filidor climbing guide, presents his top ten climbing crags in western Switzerland.
Top ten: These are the 10 most beautiful climbing crags in western Switzerland
- Gastlosen climbing garden
- Bärglischwand climbing garden
- Climbing garden Gemschifluh
- Climbing garden Lehn
- Climbing garden Gimmelwald
- Climbing garden Elsigen
- Climbing garden Dossen Zermatt
- Climbing garden panorama mix
- Climbing garden Rawyl
- Climbing garden Salvan – Van d'en Haut
Climbing garden Gastlosen
The 15 km long Gastlosen chain is one of the most beautiful climbing areas in Switzerland. The south side offers a wide range for the pleasure climber: compact water groove plates, sharp bones and a few tufts of grass promise pure pleasure.
The steep north faces are known for being at the higher end of the difficulty scale. Here nature has left less greenery, but the perfect limestone rock captivates with all the more holes and ledges.
From technically demanding wall climbing to heavily overhanging 50-meter endurance hammers, everything is on offer, a must for everyone who climbs between 6b and 9a+! Gastlosen Nord is the perfect summer climbing area. The walls remain in the shade until around 15 p.m.
Climbing garden Bärglischwand
This beautiful climbing garden on the Sigriswiler-Rothorngrat was developed between 2015 and 2020. The angled wall with edges, intersections and cracks offers aesthetic lines in the best Hohgantsandstein.
Although the ascent is no picnic for sport climbing conditions, it is definitely worth a visit.
The idyllic place and the view from the top of the routes into the Justistal and Lake Thun alone are worth the climb. The routes range from 6a to 8a+.
Climbing garden Gemschifluh
The ambience in this exposed eagle's nest high above Lake Thun is unique! Thanks to the altitude and western orientation - the wall is in the shade until around 14.30:XNUMX p.m. - you will often find pleasant climbing conditions here even in summer.
In autumn you can enjoy the best climbing conditions until the magical sunset! The Fluh offers more than 50 tricky and technically demanding routes from 5c to 8a.
Climbing garden Lehn
Along with Gimmelwald, Lehn is one of the top spots for strong boys and girls in the Bernese Oberland. With 128 routes, the area offers a variety of high-quality routes in the difficulty range 6b-9a.
The climbing with many stumps is mostly athletic and enduring. If you don't take off in the Lehn, you will find more than 70 well-secured routes from 4c to 7b+ in the "Neuhaus" below.
Climbing garden gimmelwald
Gimmelwald is undoubtedly one of the best sport climbing areas in Switzerland! The wall towers up like a giant wave of perfect limestone rock and gives us a wide range of high-end routes. The grandiose scenery and remote location make the climbing area also unique.
However, you should bring a solid maximum strength and enough stamina for the routes. Although it starts at 5c, the routes are only really worthwhile in the 7c to 9a+ range!
Climbing garden Elsigen
The 750-meter-long rock bar awaits you with wall climbing in the finest limestone. There is something for (almost) every taste among the 125 routes from 5c to 8c. The beautiful course with a view of the Frutig Valley, the child-friendly environment and the wide range of routes make Elsigen interesting for the whole family.
Climbing garden Dossen Zermatt
In addition to the Matterhorn and Gornergrat, Zermatt has gained another highlight: Dossen is the name of the new climbing spot par excellence in the Upper Valais! The scattered walls offer everything a climber's heart desires: perfect rock, routes from short and crisp to long and enduring and enough projects for half a climbing life.
The serpentine rock, finely ground by the glacier, is a bit unusual with many slopers, ledges and cracks, but the climbing is never trivial.
Depending on snow conditions, the climbing season starts in June and ends in October. In midsummer the conditions in the shade are ideal. By the time the «extrem WEST» climbing guide went to press, the climbing area had 118 routes from 5c to 9a! Rumor has it that the industrious people of Zermatt have already drilled other routes! You can find news continuously on filidor.ch.
Climbing garden Panoramix
"Panoramix" promises a tremendous panorama and ideal conditions in summer, thanks to the altitude and exposure. The big wall has 63 routes from 6a+ to 8a+, most of the routes are in the 7a to 7b range.
If you want to save train costs for a trip lasting several days, it is best to pack your sleeping bag with you. You can bivouac at the foot of the wall - romantic sunsets are guaranteed!
Climbing garden Rawyl
The largest and best-known Valais sport climbing area offers the "hard mover" countless routes up to 9a+ and enough food for half a climbing life! The climbing in front of a grandiose backdrop is mainly enduring with small-grip boulders.
For decades, top climbers from all over the world have been making pilgrimages to Rawyl. In 2016, the Czech climbing ace Adam Ondra also left his mark in Valais. Within three attempts he freed the project next to "Cabane au Canada". The result is "Hyper Finale" (9a +), Rawyl's most difficult route to date.
Climbing garden Salvan-Van d'en Haut
The numerous sectors around Salvan offer something for everyone and have one thing in common: perfect gneiss, aesthetic lines and a unique ambience! Climbing is often technically demanding and characterized by hard individual sections.
The nature campsite in idyllic Van d'en Haut is the perfect base camp for a longer stay.
The grandiose wall of the «Camping» sector is enthroned directly above the campsite! Why not take a trip to the beautiful Lower Valais? More than 120 routes from 5a to 9a await you!
Switzerland extreme west (volume 1)
With 72 climbing crags in the Bernese Oberland, Friborg and Valais, which are described in detail, the guide offers enough material for climbers with well-trained forearms. The difficulties range from 6a to 9b. If you prefer something a little more leisurely, go to «Schweiz plaisir WEST».
- 72 areas
- 4 colors, 324 pages
- Format: 12.0 18.5 cm x
- Languages: German, English
- Year of publication: 2023 (6th edition)
- Price: CHF 44.-
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Credits: Cover picture Sandro von Känel