Easy Hike from Oberalp Pass to Andermatt

Wednesday October 15, 2025 -- With lots of high fog in the pre-alp regions (and sometimes even in other alpine valleys), it is getting hard for us to find a place where we can do a day-trip without traveling too far.

So we just went to the Oberalp Pass again, even though we had just been there less than 3 weeks earlier. At that time we started at the pass and headed east into the Surselva region of Canton Graubünden (photos HERE). This time we headed west toward Andermatt, this time in Canton Uri. (The pass lies at the border of these two Cantons).

For the first part we followed a high trail toward Nätschen, a trail we had walked back in June of 2023 (photos HERE) but at the time we diverted into a side valley called Unteralp, before heading to Andermatt. This time we descended directly to Andermatt, a relatively short hike for us at only 2½ hours, but we didn't really want anything big this day, just to get out from the fog into the sunshine.

We had great weather, the hike was not strenuous, and up at the higher elevations it was quite warm, especially compared to the icy wind blowing once we got to Andermatt. We started at about 1 p.m. at the pass (we started late on purpose (10 a.m. from home) to make sure the lake trail was not in the shadow of Mt.Pazolastock), and were already on our way home by 3:50 p.m.. In all, it takes us 2 hours and 40 minutes to get to the pass, and 1 hour 50 minutes to get home from Andermatt.

Every trip to Andermatt starts with a photo of the Devil's Bridge in the Schöllenen Gorge!

And every trip to the Oberalp Pass includes a photo of the town of Andermatt and the Urseren Valley!

At 12:50 we arrived at the Oberalp Pass. We started late on purpose to make sure there was no shadow of the mountain on the lake, as the sun is getting quite low. Plus the short hike (2½ hours) means we will still be done by 4 p.m. 

The signs at the pass show us that our intended walk to Andermatt takes less than 2½ hours! 

Just as we start on our walk, the little red train of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (having crossed our other train here at the pass) heads toward Andermatt. 

There is a gondola cable-car here which heads up the mountains on the north side of the lake to the Schneehünderstock peak. But we actually once hiked up there from here, via the Fellilücke, and walked to Nätschen on the high trail (July 2020 photos are HERE). 

Just to make sure we know that we are in Canton Uri!

This was a pretty easy hike for us from the Oberalp Pass to Andermatt, just 9 kilometers and less than 2½ hours, basically all downhill. 

Looking behind us at the buildings at the Oberalp Pass (Restaurant, train station, cable-car stations, Info Center, Lighthouse monument). 

The first part of our hike is on the north side of the lake, next to the train gallery. We were worried we'd have shadow from the mountain on the south side if we started earlier, but it probably would have been alright. 

The mountains in the Gotthard Massif as well as the Furka Pass at the west end of the Urseren Valley now come into view. 

It is always of interest to me to see where we have previously walked (on a high trail along that hillside) from a different vantage point. (June 2020)

It is an easy trail here with only a slight ascent, barely noticeable. This is the same trail we walked in June of 2023, with a totally different landscape (more green!) at the time. 

At 13:40, we catch sight of the next little train on its way up to the Oberalp Pass, i.e. an hour later than the one we rode on. 

Posing on a rock with the Urseren Valley in the background.

Just then another train passed by, this time heading down to Andermatt. It is now 2 p.m. 

Here there is a junction of trails: On our June 2023 hike we headed to the left toward the side valley called Unteralp; this time we are heading to the houses on the right and then directly down to Andermatt. 

At 2:20 p.m. we found a bench for a break but didn't stay long, as it was really actually too warm (maximum temperature for this day was supposed to be 13 degrees!)

The river that flows out of the lake at the Oberalp Pass is called the Oberalpreuss, and it passes through a stunning gorge here on its way to Andermatt. 

Now along the trail toward the Nätschen train station and cable-car station, but we are not detouring that way. (The trail heads downhill below there). 

This is the junction where you can head up to the Nätschen train station (the only stop between Andermatt and Oberalp Pass), or directly down to Andermatt, another 50 minutes from here. On the north side of the Urseren Valley there is a high trail below those peaks, which we walked once in September 2014.

Crossing the railway line directly on the tracks. It is assumed that you will not be standing on the tracks when the train comes!

Because it is a steep incline (the train winds back and forth several times), the train has to hitch into the cogwheel line. 

As we descend, we get the views into the side valley called Unteralp. 

Below us is the vehicle road, and the railway line, where the train enters/exits a tunnel. (Had we waited a bit longer here, we would have seen the next train exit here!)

There you go! The next train on its way from Nätschen to Andermatt. 

This looks like an old mule trail. The dry-stone walls are always fascinating. We can see the town of Andermatt down below (on the right). 

Trail via the upper houses of Andermatt. 

VIDEO:

The little red train makes its way through the town of Andermatt toward the station.

To the north, we can see the fog now rolling up from the Schöllenen Gorge. We have timed our hike perfectly, as we will soon be at the train station for the 15:50 train (it is now 3:20 p.m.)

Walking along the main road now for a bit, we discovered a little road-side fridge where they were selling local cheese.... (love the separate lean-to for the cash box!)

A look up along the Oberalpreuss River. We came down from the upper left. This gorge extends to the Unteralp Valley toward the right. 

Up ahead is the "Mariahilf Kapelle", a pilgrim chapel built in 1740. We had a look inside when we descended from the Unteralp Valley on the June 2023 hike. 

There is a massive construction site up here, before the bridge crosses the river into Andermatt. A large hotel/residences building right next to the river (most likely luxury residences). What interested us what the sound barrier that had been set up next to the existing "Gasthaus zum Sternen". 

This large mural has been set up between the existing hotel and the construction site, to block some of the noise and the stack of containers on the other side. I found this to be very attractive. 

Now we have reached the town level. 

View along the Oberalpreuss River toward the parish church, where we are heading next. 

On the main road in Andermatt. 

Heading down some side alleys. 

We have been in Andermatt countless times, and have never even been near the church! Signs inform us that the richly decorated parish church of St.Peter and St.Paul was built in 1602 and extended in 1694.  

The little chapel next to the main building is called "St.Michael's Chapel of the Dead", built in 1643 and renovated in 1977, and apparently has "inner values worth discovering"..... but it was locked!

The main building has a rich Baroque interior. 

Beautiful organ and ornate balcony here. 

The parish church of St.Peter and St.Paul in Andermatt is the most significant church in the valley. 

It is now 15:39 and we have only 11 minutes till our train departs. So we are hurrying down the main road with a quick look at some more pretty houses.  

This is the Evangelical Church in Andermatt. We didn't have time to look inside, but figured it was pretty plain anyway. (Which it is, based on Internet Photos). 

We got to the station with five minutes to spare for the 13:50 train to Göschenen. (From here it was less than two hours to get back home).

We just made it before the major fog rolled in from the Reuss Valley below. 

And every trip into this region also ends with another photo of the Devil's Bridge in the Schöllenen Gorge. 

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. 

These are the hikes we have done in the area around Andermatt and the Oberalp Pass. On this day it is the dark blue line starting at the pass and heading direcly down to Andermatt. Twice in winter we did hikes from Nätschen to Andermatt via the pass road, which is closed to traffic in winter and prepared as a walking and sledding trail. 

Location of the Oberalp Pass within Switzerland.