--- title: "Historical paths in the bedrock" url: "https://www.brienzersee.ch/en/experiences/tour/historical-paths-in-the-bedrock" description: "It is assumed that the Grimsel Pass between Oberhasli and Wallis was used as a connecting route long before our era. As a trade route, the Grimsel Pass together with the adjoining Griess Pass to Italy was busy from the Middle Ages until the 19th century. This historical mule track also largely forms the route of the described hike here. The granite landscape of the Aarmassif exerts a special fascination in the Grimsel region. Huge slabs build the flanks of mountains, often crowned by angular rock needles and shattered peaks. The starting point of the hike is the Grimsel Hospiz in the middle of this scenery. During the first few minutes of the hike, the footpath still has to wind through artificial structures. You walk under the Hospiz briefly back on the road until the path leads down via stairs along the dam. Below is a hairpin bend, where you must cross the road and shortly afterwards go underneath it. This is followed by a section of a service road and a bridge over the very young Aare below the dam wall of Lake Grimsel. From now on, only natural paths follow. The hiking trail belongs to the “Grims Kristallweg,” an adventure trail for the whole family. The path leads on the left, western side of the Aare around some ridge backs. Soon the Aare becomes the Räterichsbodensee, at whose rocky shores the path was partially adventurously carved into the rock. The path is safely laid out but being free from vertigo is certainly an advantage. Two romantic bridges further down cross the Aare back and forth. Shortly afterwards, the path follows along granite slabs that look like petrified waves of a sea, and soon after, Handegg is reached." language: "en" type: "SportsActivityLocation" image: "https://img.oastatic.com/img2/51500338/max/variant.jpg" breadcrumb: "Root > www.brienzersee.ch > Experiences > Tour" --- GPX Share Historical paths in the bedrock =============================== - 7.10 km long - Difficulty: easy - Condition: very easy - Hiking Trail - 2:15 h - 7.10 km - 14 m - 630 m - 1,401 m - 1,914 m - 513 m - - Start: Grimsel, Summerloch - Destination: Handegg, Gelmerbahn **The mule track between Hospiz and Handegg shows a particularly impressive part of the Grimsel area. As soon as the snow has melted, a trip into the granite world is worthwhile.** It is assumed that the Grimsel Pass between Oberhasli and Wallis was used as a connecting route long before our era. As a trade route, the Grimsel Pass together with the adjoining Griess Pass to Italy was busy from the Middle Ages until the 19th century. This historical mule track also largely forms the route of the described hike here. The granite landscape of the Aarmassif exerts a special fascination in the Grimsel region. Huge slabs build the flanks of mountains, often crowned by angular rock needles and shattered peaks. The starting point of the hike is the Grimsel Hospiz in the middle of this scenery. During the first few minutes of the hike, the footpath still has to wind through artificial structures. You walk under the Hospiz briefly back on the road until the path leads down via stairs along the dam. Below is a hairpin bend, where you must cross the road and shortly afterwards go underneath it. This is followed by a section of a service road and a bridge over the very young Aare below the dam wall of Lake Grimsel. From now on, only natural paths follow. The hiking trail belongs to the “Grims Kristallweg,” an adventure trail for the whole family. The path leads on the left, western side of the Aare around some ridge backs. Soon the Aare becomes the Räterichsbodensee, at whose rocky shores the path was partially adventurously carved into the rock. The path is safely laid out but being free from vertigo is certainly an advantage. Two romantic bridges further down cross the Aare back and forth. Shortly afterwards, the path follows along granite slabs that look like petrified waves of a sea, and soon after, Handegg is reached. Read more Berner Wanderwege Good to know ------------ Pavements Path (92%) Street (5%) Asphalt (2%) Gravel (1%) Best to visit suitable Depends on weather - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Directions Grimsel Hospiz – Summerloch – Bächlisegg – Chüenzentennlen – Handegg Read more Equipment We recommend the following equipment: sturdy hiking boots, medium-sized backpack with hip belt, sun protection, rainwear, hiking poles, first aid kit, picnic, enough fluids, mobile phone. Read more Directions & Parking facilities **Public transportation**Outbound journey: by train to Meiringen. Change to the post bus to Grimsel Hospiz. Return journey: from Handegg by post bus to Meiringen station. Read more Additional information Bern Hiking Trails Association, Bern, Tel.: 031 340 01 01, Email: info@beww.ch, Homepage: www.bernerwanderwege.ch Read more License (master data) Safety guidelines This route runs wholly or partly on marked paths of the mountain hiking trail category. Read more Map swisstopo hiking map 255T Sustenpass 1:50,000 Read more Nearby ------ View on map - Tours 10.33 km - Hiking Trail 10.13 km - Hiking Trail 5.53 km - Hiking Trail **outdooractive** Contact 3864 Guttannen Download GPX file - - - -