Hike to Sidelhorn – Summit tour par excellence

Sometimes just half an hour of hiking is enough to make you feel like you’re in another world. That’s exactly how we felt on the way to the Sidelhorn – a scenic hike in the heart of the Grimsel region that impresses with spectacular panoramic views and classic alpine summit bliss. A real highlight for everyone who wants to reach great heights.

Taking the Sidelhorn Cable Car to the Starting Point of the Summit Tour

It’s just after eight o’clock when, after a hearty breakfast, we lace up our hiking boots and step out into the fresh morning air. We spent the night at the Grimsel Hospiz. The historic alpine hotel is ideally located for those who like to start their hike early. Right next to the building are the valley stations of the Sidelhorn and Oberaar cable cars. Originally, both cable cars were built by Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG (KWO) as industrial aerial tramways. In the meantime, they’ve been converted for public use and now provide comfortable access to the fantastic mountain scenery around the Grimsel Pass. With the Sidelhorn cable car, we glide in just a few minutes over the emerald-green Grimsel Lake to the foot of the mountain of the same name.

Via the Oberaar Trail to the Sidelhorn

At the mountain station of the Sidelhorn cable car, the Oberaar Trail begins, marked with route number 370. We follow it for about one kilometer to the Husegg Hut. Anyone hoping for a gentle start will be disappointed: the path climbs steeply right from the beginning, winding its way past imposing granite boulders toward the ridge.

At the Husegg Hut, we take a short water break – we’ve already completed about half the elevation gain to the Sidelhorn summit. If the direct climb feels too strenuous, you can follow the Oberaar Trail instead. It traverses the mountain slope at a moderate incline, staying about 250 meters below the summit ridge and continuing toward Triebtenseeli.

We follow the signpost toward the Sidelhorn and continue uphill. The summit is already clearly visible from afar – but the hiking trail to get there is much less obvious. A first hint that the final third of the summit tour will be no walk in the park. As the trail becomes increasingly rocky, it’s worth looking back: with every meter of elevation gained, the view of Grimsel Lake becomes more impressive. Its cloudy, greenish-beige glacial water looks like liquid stone between the barren granite slopes.

Summit Bliss with Spectacular Panoramic Views

The final meters of the summit climb are steep and in some places require the use of your hands. But once at the top, it’s immediately clear: every single drop of sweat was worth it. The panoramic views of the Bernese and Valais three- and four-thousand-meter peaks are simply breathtaking!

And via Triebtenseeli to the Oberaar Reservoir

We follow the signpost along the ridge toward Triebtensee-Licken. As secretly “feared,” the next section to waymarker 2692 is anything but a leisurely stroll. The boulders here lie scattered, with some large gaps between them. The course of the trail can only be guessed at – step by step, we cautiously make our way forward. Honestly, I’m surprised that this section is even marked white-red-white. In my opinion, a white-blue-white classification would be more appropriate. I’m not alone in this impression, as confirmed by a group of three hikers we meet along the way: their ascent also took significantly longer than indicated on the signs.

After about thirty minutes, we reach the first junction that takes us from the ridge back toward the Oberaar Trail. From here, the path is clearly visible again, and we make steady progress. The final 2.5 kilometers follow the Oberaar Trail and are technically much easier. At the end of the tour, we are welcomed by the sunny terrace of the Berghaus Oberaar with a magnificent view of Lake Oberaar. The homemade barley soup and the Oberaar platter are well deserved after all the elevation gain. Afterwards, we take the Oberaar cable car back to the starting point.

Even though I had to push through a few tricky spots in the boulder fields, the summit tour was definitely worth it. The Sidelhorn more than lived up to its reputation as an excellent panoramic peak that day.

Key Facts: Sidelhorn Cable Car – Sidelhorn – Lake Oberaar

The hiking map below shows the route of the Sidelhorn hike. It’s a consistently white-red-white marked mountain trail (T2/T3). In the upper third of the ridge route over the Sidelhorn, boulder passages lead over rocky terrain. Here, the trail is sometimes indistinct – you need to find your way using the trail markings and occasionally use your hands for support. Surefootedness and good footwear are essential in this section. The summit ascent is not recommended in wet conditions or poor visibility.

Thanks to the Oberaar cable car, which operates in self-service mode just like the Sidelhorn cable car, you can plan the summit tour over the Sidelhorn as an attractive loop hike starting and ending at the Grimsel Hospiz.

Starting point	Mountain station Sidelhorn cable car (2,202 m a.s.l.)
Accessibility	Accessible by public transport
Length	6.5 kilometers
Elevation gain/loss	↗ 681 m ↘ 589 m
Duration	3:00 h
Destination	Mountain station Oberaar cable car (2,300 m a.s.l.)
Refreshments	Berghaus Oberaar

Practical Tips for Your Hike to the Sidelhorn

• The valley station of the Sidelhorn cable car is accessible by public transport (PostBus stop Grimsel, Hospiz). Alternatively, you can also reach the starting point of the hike from the Grimsel Pass (about a 15-minute walk).
• The Sidelhorn cable car operates daily from late May to mid-October between 08:00 and 21:30. A one-way ticket costs 8 CHF for adults (discount with guest card). The Oberaar cable car runs daily from late June to early October between 08:00 and 21:00. A one-way ticket costs 18 CHF for adults. You can find more information about operating times and ticket prices for the cable cars in the Grimsel region here.
• At the Grimsel Hospiz (partner link) and at the Berghaus Oberaar, you can not only enjoy refreshments but also stay overnight. The historic Hospiz offers 4-star comfort, while the Berghaus provides simple double rooms and dormitories.
• The best time for the hike to the Sidelhorn is from early July to early October. Check snow and weather conditions in advance – the summit is at an elevation of 2,764 m a.s.l. Also note when planning that the Oberaar cable car only operates until early October!
• If you’d like to combine your visit to the Grimsel region with another scenic mountain hike, I can recommend the hike to Lake Grätli described here.
• Winter tip: In the cold season, the Grimsel Hospiz transforms into a very special retreat. We reported about it almost exactly ten years ago in this article.