Aletsch Forest and the Pro Natura Centre at Villa Cassel

What it is

The Aletschwald is a mountain forest growing on the north slope, just above the tongue of the Great Aletsch Glacier, between Riederalp and the glacier. It has been a Pro Natura reserve since 1933: at the start of the 20th century felling, grazing and bilberry picking had left it in a very poor state, and the association then signed a 99-year lease to protect it. Since then dead wood has stayed where it falls and the forest regenerates by itself.

The ruling tree is the Swiss stone pine, the Arve, which withstands the summer drought and the winter storms and lives for several centuries; it is accompanied by larches and Norway spruces. In summer the alpine rose blooms and in autumn you can hear the red deer rut. Deer, chamois and nutcrackers are easy to see; with luck and patience, black grouse, golden eagles or the pygmy owl.

At the entrance to the forest, on the Riederfurka, stands Villa Cassel, the summer house built for the banker Sir Ernest Cassel. Today it is the Pro Natura Zentrum Aletsch, a nature centre with an exhibition, an alpine garden, a tea room and rooms.

How to get there

Riederalp has no cars. You arrive on the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn train as far as Mörel and go up by cable car to Riederalp; if you come by car, you leave it below. From Riederalp West you can already see the villa: it is about 30 minutes on foot and about 100 m of ascent on a well-signposted path. You can also arrive by walking down from the Bettmerhorn by the Riederfurka, and it is the end of the suspension bridge route from Belalp.

Three walks through the forest

Pro Natura suggests three routes that leave from and return to the Riederfurka:

• Riederfurka – Moränenweg – Hohfluh, 1 h 30, little effort. It follows the lateral moraine left by the glacier at the end of the last ice age, about 11,700 years ago, with the glacier and the Valais Alps ahead.
• Riederfurka – Bischofsitz – Silbersand – Riederfurka, about 2 h, medium effort. It is the heart of the forest: old, twisted stone pines, peat bogs and nutcrackers.
• Riederfurka – Teiffe Wald – Grünsee – Silbersand – Riederfurka, about 4 h 30, more demanding. It reaches the Grünsee, a lake that a little over 80 years ago was under the ice and that fills only with meltwater and rain.

There are ups and downs on mountain paths, with no difficult passages. Take water and something to eat: the facilities are at the villa and in Riederalp.

Reserve rules

Pro Natura asks that you stay on the paths, keep dogs on a lead, light no fires, pick no plants and bring no bicycles or other vehicles. Infringements can be penalised.

The Pro Natura centre at Villa Cassel

It opens in summer, every day from 10:30 to 17:30; the 2027 season runs from 12 June to 17 October. Inside there is an interactive exhibition on the retreat of the glacier, climate change and the energy transition, with a time wheel that shows the Aletsch in the past, today and in the future, and a tour of the villa's historic rooms. Outside, the alpine garden brings together more than 200 plant species; families can explore it with the "research box". The tea room serves home-made cakes, snacks and drinks.

Admission costs CHF 8 for adults, CHF 6 with the Aletsch guest card and CHF 4 for children aged 6 to 16; children with their family enter free. With the Swiss Museum Pass or a Pro Natura card, also free. Guided visits to the villa last from one hour to an hour and a half; on your own, allow something similar.

Guided visits

The centre organises guided visits of an hour or an hour and a half to the exhibition, the garden or the villa, and excursions to the forest, the glacier or to watch wildlife at dawn, mainly for groups and schools. The 2027 season programme, with departures open to everyone, is published by the end of January at the latest; bookings open then on its website.

With children and when to go

The walk along the moraine and the Bischofsitz one go well with children who walk. The villa adds the garden, the exhibition and an afternoon snack. Go from late June to early October, when the centre is open and the paths are free of snow; in autumn comes the rut. If a storm threatens, stay on the low paths and return to Riederalp in good time.