Hikers at Larch – Golden Autumn in Valais (T2-T3)

Late October is the season when the larch trees turn golden. So, let’s head to Valais to enjoy their yellow, orange and golden autumn colours.
Plus: We will explore one of the irrigation canals («Suonen»).
This is a favourite autumn excursion, with previous editions in 2019, 2022 and 2025. See links to pictures from those tours below.
(With SBB’s current «Day Pass for 2» offer, the cost is quite reasonable.)

If you are signed-in as "yes, going" then please join the WhatsApp group for this hike. It will help to coordinate on the day itself.
I have removed the link here where it is visible publicly, as we had a spammer join.
See event chat for the link to join!

OUTBOUND TRAVEL:

06:20h: Meet under the «Blue Angel»
06:32h: IC8 (direction Brig) to Visp
06:45h: Optional: Breakfast in the dining car
09:11h: Rail replacement bus from Visp (direction Täsch) to «Stalden-Saas, Bahnhof»
09:25h: Cable car from «Stalden-Saas (Talstation)» up to Gspon
09:46h: Arrival at Gspon & start of the hike

THE HIKE:

Duration: 4¾h (plus breaks)
Distance: 14.4km
Maximum altitude: 2'470m
Ascent/descent: 920m/420m
SAC classification: T2-T3 (red-white markings)
Map: https://schweizmobil.ch/en/tour/1490338456

ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

https://www.wandersite.ch/Tageswanderung/632Oberwallis.html

HIGHLIGHTS:

Status regarding the orange-yellow-golden foliage colours:
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/experiences/summer-autumn/autumn/foliage-map/
Wikipedia «Suone» (irrigation canal):
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suone
Photos 2019: https://www.meetup.com/zurich-hike-outdoor/photos/30461013/
Photos 2022: https://www.meetup.com/zurich-hike-outdoor/photos/32906907/
Photos 2025: https://www.meetup.com/zurich-hike-outdoor/photos/35634806/

LUNCH:

Picnic

RETURN TRAVEL:

16:30h: Cable car down from Kreuzboden to Saas-Grund (last one!)
16:58h: Postauto 511 «Saas-Grund, Bergbahnen» to Visp
17:54h: IC8 Visp to Zürich HB
20:14h: Arrival back at Zürich HB

COST w/HALBTAX - BEST OPTION:

At present, SBB have a special offer «Day Pass for 2»:
One person needs a Halbtax, the 2nd person not.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/campaign/day-pass-for-2.html
Downside: You MUST travel together both ways
If sharing a «Day Pass for 2», the total cost is CHF 61.60 per head (plus food/drinks)
Thereof:
1/2 of the «Day Pass for 2»: CHF 78.- x ½ = CHF 39.-
Cable car up to Gspon: CHF 7.60 for the upper section of the Gspon cable car (the lower section is covered by the day pass)
Cable car down from Kreuzboden: CHF 15.- w/HT

COST w/HALBTAX - INDIVIDUAL TRAVEL:

Total cost CHF 97.60 w/HT (plus food/drinks)
Thereof:
A day pass at CHF 78.- will pay off by a large margin
Cable car up to Gspon: CHF 7.60 for the upper section of the Gspon cable car (the lower section is covered by the day pass)
Cable car down from Kreuzboden: CHF 15.- w/HT

COST w/GA:

Total cost about CHF 22.60 w/GA (plus food/drinks)
Thereof:
Cable car up to Gspon: CHF 7.60 for the upper section of the Gspon cable car (the lower section is covered by the GA)
Cable car down from Kreuzboden: CHF 15.- w/GA

DISCLAIMER:
By joining this walk, you acknowledge and accept the terms set out below.

This is NOT a guided tour. It is a private get-together of individuals hiking together. Each participant remains responsible for their own judgement, decisions, actions and safety.

It is your responsibility to prepare appropriately before the event. You need to understand the nature of the activity, assess its difficulty, risks and hazards, and consider the expected weather and trail conditions.

You also need to assess the required experience, skills and fitness level and decide for yourself whether you meet these requirements.

You are responsible for your own preparation, equipment (boots, clothing, gear, etc.) and adequate insurance cover. Prepare and equip yourself as you would if you were undertaking the walk on your own.

During the event, you remain responsible for exercising your own judgement and making your own decisions. If at any point you consider the route, conditions or any other circumstances unsafe or unsuitable for you, it is your responsibility to act accordingly.

Participation is entirely at your own risk. The organiser does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the event description and merely provides an opportunity for participants to meet and hike together. Any liability of the organiser is excluded.

By joining, you accept that you may appear in photos. Please do not expect photos to be removed or withheld from posting unless there is a compelling reason, such as a particularly embarrassing or inappropriate image.