Floating along the trails
300 kilometres of prepared hiking trails in summer, 72 kilometres of trails in winter: the Aletsch Arena is the perfect year-round destination for your trail-running adventure in Switzerland. Fill your water bottle, lace up your running shoes and explore the Valais mountain world around the Great Aletsch Glacier as you run.
The Aletsch Arena is the ideal place to get into good or better shape with trail running. A good number of trails at over 2000m above sea level take you through a varied terrain that is even car-free from Riederalp, Bettmeralp and Fiescheralp, providing for an unparalleled release of endorphins in winter, as well as in summer. What’s more, sporting activities at altitude are said to boost endurance thanks to the lower oxygen concentration in the air. In other words, the perfect place to train for the Aletsch Half-Marathon, for example.
In summer in the Aletsch Arena, the full breath of trail running challenges awaits you. You’ll find yourself negotiating stony paths and tree roots, but also crossing snowfields. Of course, you can go trail running in the Aletsch Arena in spring and autumn, too. Although, whenever you choose to run, these different circumstances demand your full concentration and balance.
Running routes
65 km and 3,150 altitude metres
The mightiest glacier in the Alps, centuries-old mountain villages and suspension bridges: following the unequivocal success of the Stoneman Glaciara for mountain bikers, there is now a Stoneman Glaciara Hike, an exciting mix of physical challenge and immersion in nature. The route can be completed as a trail run in one day or as a hiking adventure in one or three day stages. As a Stoneman finisher, you are immortalised on the Stoneman finisher list as a gold, silver or bronze finisher in typical Stoneman fashion.
Get ready
Before you set off on your trail-running adventure in the Aletsch Arena, be sure to prepare well. Study your chosen route to be aware of potential pitfalls, and only set off if the weather’s good. Also important: you’re not the only person using the hiking trails. Mutual respect should be shown at all times. So here’s a brief guide to trail-running etiquette:
Greet people you meet along the way.
Make way for faster runners or mountain bikers.
Overtake on the left and step to the right if there is oncoming traffic – space and safety permitting.
Stay on the marked trails – for your own safety, too.
Don’t answer the ‘call of nature’ right at the edge of the path.
Run with joy and a smile on your face.
Time counts
The Aletsch Half-Marathon and the Swiss Alps 100 Endurance Run, which starts at the Sport Resort in Fiesch are prestigious competitions and permanent fixtures in the annual calendar of enthusiastic runners and trail runners. Are you up for the challenge?
Level up
Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned runner, there’s always new things to learn and more experience to be gained by attending a trail-running course. In the Aletsch Arena, a number of different courses take place on Bettmeralp, led by hiking guide and trail-running enthusiast Klaus Minnig.
On foot or by cable car
There’s a huge choice of trail-running routes in the Aletsch Arena. You can get to the starting point of your trail or back either on foot or as a passenger of Aletsch Bahnen. The easiest way to buy the right ticket, before beads of sweat form on your brow, is in our webshop.
Travelling to the Aletsch Arena holiday paradise is easy and straightforward, whether by car or public transport. If your trail running route is on the car-free plateau, the cable car takes you up the mountain.
Book your stay in the Aletsch Arena now.
In the Aletsch Arena you are surrounded by breath-taking nature and are rewarded for your efforts with a magnificent panorama, fresh Valais mountain air and a view of the Great Aletsch Glacier.
The Aletsch Arena offers around 300 km of marked hiking trails, many of which are ideal for trail running. Particularly popular are the areas around Bettmeralp, Riederalp, Fiescheralp, Eggishorn and the Great Aletsch Glacier. Many trails are located at over 2,000 metres above sea level and offer spectacular views as well as car-free terrain.
From short panoramic loops to challenging full-day tours, you’ll find trails for every level. The most popular routes include the Bettmerhorn Trail, the Märjela Trail, the Aletsch Forest Trail and the Aletsch Half Marathon course. All routes are available with a map, elevation profile and GPX download.
Yes. Many trail running routes in the Aletsch Arena are located above 2,000 metres above sea level and offer ideal conditions for altitude training in the Swiss Alps. Due to the lower air pressure, less oxygen is available to the body, placing additional demands on endurance. To acclimatise, we recommend starting with shorter and less steep routes.
The main season runs from June to October. However, trail running is possible in the Aletsch Arena all year round. In winter, around 72 km of groomed winter trails are available for winter trail running.
All trail running routes are available on the Aletsch Arena tour portal with detailed information, elevation profiles, maps and GPX data. This allows you to plan your route perfectly and download it directly to your GPS device or sports watch.
Yes. The Aletsch Arena hosts several running and trail running events – from beginner-friendly races to internationally renowned ultratrails. Event highlights include:
You can find all current dates and further information in the Aletsch Arena event calendar.
