When the pioneering Lötschberg tunnel and railway line opened in 1913, the new route provided the first year-round link between Valais and the Swiss capital. Together with the Simplon tunnel, it offered a fast and comfortable way of travelling across and under the Alps.
The stretch of line south of the tunnel is the setting for one of the region’s best-loved hikes: the Lötschberger-Südrampe («Lötschberg south ramp»). To celebrate the line’s centenary, the trail was extended from Lalden station all the way to the historical town of Brig.
Our hike begins at Eggerberg, just west of Lalden, about 200 vertical metres above the valley floor. From here it traverses the sunny, south-facing slopes until dropping down to the Rhône by Brig. The railway is quieter following the opening of another pioneering line in 2007: the Lötschberg base tunnel, 400 vertical metres lower, which can accommodate trains travelling at up to 250 km/h.
The first stretch of the hike leads fairly close to the railway line until it passes the Brigerbad thermal pool complex down on the valley floor. With its 12 indoor and outdoor pools, its water slides and spa, this is one of the country’s largest thermal spa facilities.
The trail now traces a route some way above the railway line: first below the saffron-growing village of Mund, then along a «Suone» irrigation channel, the Driestneri, created to provide water for the line’s fire prevention installations.
Just before reaching Naters, the trail passes over a former top-secret underground fortress. Today this hosts two museums: one devoted to the site’s military history, and another to the Swiss Guard in the Vatican, for which Naters has supplied more soldiers than any other Swiss municipality.
The south ramp is mostly walked in the direction of Brig, but it is also very attractive in the opposite direction.
Highlights:
- Theme trail with info panels exploring more than a century of pioneering rail history
- Sunny position, open views across Rhône valley
- Two fascinating museums plus Brig: historical charm and Mediterranean atmosphere
