The Big Three Lakes Hike in the Aletsch Arena sounded like music to my ears when I was searching for a scenic, long and grueling hike. It was the usual long day out leaving Basel before 6am and arriving home after 7pm.
Hike Statistics:
Distance: 20.6km
Duration: 6.5 hours
Ascend & Descend: 750m
Highest Point: 2489m
Lowest Point: 1924m
Starting Point: Bettmeralp cable car mountain station
End Point: Bettmeralp
Turn-by-turn directions:
Bettmeralp cable car mountain station – Bettmersee – Blausee – Biel – Hohfluh – Roti Chumma – Märjelensee – Obers Tälli (tunnel) – Fiescheralp – Bettmeralp
Big Three Lakes Hike in the Aletsch Arena – My Experience:
Getting off at the top of the Bettmeralp cable car station, it was a short walk till you arrive at Bettmersee. It was a truly beautiful lake.
I did a little detour to the right and then went back to the lake.
Soon I started my grueling ascend. Yes, over the top of what you can see in the picture below.
Along the way I passed Blausee. But alas, it wasn’t very picturesque as the name seemingly suggests. The famous Blausee on the way to Kandersteg which is nearby Oeschinensee is a lot prettier.
Soon enough, upon crossing over to the other side of the ridge, I had my first views of the imposing Aletsch Glacier on this hike.
I passed the spot we were at the previous year on my first visit to the Aletsch Glacier. You can read more about that trip here.
There was more uphill at this point and I was amazed at the ability of the mountain bikers I kept passing.
Unexpectedly I came across a herd of sheep grazing on the sparse alpine meadows at this high altitude. It was fun to see a man and his son trying to get up close to them.
Following the trail to the “Roti Chumma”, views of the Great Aletsch Glacier continued to accompany me all the way. I remember very well seeing a 3-year-old boy on this hike. I could have never imagined my little boys doing it.
Continuing on, you will leave the Aletsch Glacier as you head towards Märjelensee. There were many people dipping their feet into this alpine lake with Strahlhorn behind it.
Passing the Gletscherstube, I came across an unnamed body of water which had beautiful views of the area.
Right after that, the route takes you through the barely illuminated Tälligrat-Tunnel (Upper Tälli) and on up to Fiescheralp.
Coming out of the tunnel, the little abandoned stone houses were a sight to behold.
The picture below is looking back at the stone houses and the direction of the tunnel I came out of.
I then started seeing those beautiful flowers I have come to associate with this region.
From here you can either let the cable car whisk you down to Fiesch, or continue on to Bettmeralp, the starting point of the Big Three Lakes Hike in the Aletsch Arena.
I had a headache on the majority part of this hike, so it was particularly tough on me. By the time I got home, I had done almost 25km that day.
Yet, I woke up early the next morning and soldiered on to do the Pizol 5 Lakes hike.
Click here to learn more about that hike.
For other hikes you can do in the Aletsch Arena, this link is helpful.
Click here to read about our first trip to the Aletsch Glacier.
For my other posts on Switzerland, click here.
