Hiking along the Irrigation Channels near Sierre

October 30, 2016 -- Canton Valais has less rain than other parts of Switzerland, and hundreds of years ago the farmers painstakingly dug channels, built up mountain flanks, and attached wooded flumes to vertical cliff walls at great risk in order to bring the water from the mountains to their meadows lower in the valleys. These channels go by the name of "Suonen" in German and "Bisses" in French.

The area around Sierre was the origin of these irrigation systems in the 14th and 15th centuries. The trails along this extensive network of channels were originally used for maintenance of the water system, but have since been converted to hiking trails, although most of the channels are still in use.

After our day in the Val d'Anniviers on Saturday and overnight in the B&B in Mayoux, we started our day with a short walk along the Bisse St.Jean, a 3-km irrigation channel between the two towns of Mayoux and St.Jean. From there we took the bus out of the valley to Sierre and walked along the Bisse Neuf and Bisse de Varen above the beautiful vineyards of the Rhone Valley. It was another wonderful fall day for this 13-km, 3.5-hour walk, although for me a bit too chilly as most of it was through wooded areas. End of our hike was in the village of Salgesch, known as the home of the Grand Cru wine label and 30 wineries.

We spent the night at a B&B in Mayoux, in the Val d'Anniviers

Before leaving the Val d'Anniviers, we had time for a 3-km walk along the St.Jean irrigation channel to the next town.

Walking in the Anniviers Valley to the next town of St.Jean

Along the St.Jean irrigation channel in the Val d'Anniviers

Along the St.Jean irrigation channel in the Val d'Anniviers. There was a freshly born calf lying on the trail. We reported it and it was reunited with its herd.

Leaving the Anniviers Valley, we look down on Sierre and the hill where we will do our day hike.

After coming back out of the Val d'Anniviers, we headed up from Sierre with the Funicular to the starting point of our hike, then walked first along Bisse Neuf, then Bisse de Varen, and descended through the vineyards of Salgesch, famous for its wine production. (Home of Grand Cru Label, with over 30 wineries)

Funicular from Sierre to Darnona

Across the Rhone Valley we can see where we hiked the day before, up high in the Val d'Anniviers

To the East, the Rhone Valley and the Vineyards of Salgesch

Our 13-km hike is mostly along the two irrigation channels "Bisse Neuf" and "Bisse de Varen"

Along the Bisse Neuf irrigation channel

All along the channels are sluices to control the water flow

View to Salgesch below, the goal of our day's hike.

First comes a steep descent through forests before reaching the vineyards of Salgesch.

This view into the Rhone Valley shows not only the beautiful vineyards with fall colours, but also a large expanse of virgin forest in the flat area below. This nature reserve is called the Pfyn Forest and is one of Europe's last large pine forests.