Oberwald is the highest village in the Goms holiday region and thus upper starting point of the upper Goms cross-country ski network. Start of the Furka base railway tunnel. Nearby Gletsch is the starting point for ascents over the Furka and Grimsel Passes.

The western portal of the Furka base railway tunnel is close to this Valais village of picturesque houses and streets. The opening of the base tunnel in 1982 saw winter rail access – with car transport - between the Cantons of Uri (Realp) and Valais become a reality. The pass road which is open in summer only remains the more attractive option, whether by mountain bike, motor bike, car or scheduled postbus.

The Goms Valley is wide and open. The favourable nature of its situation comes to light in winter, when the sun is low on the horizon and many valleys do not see a single ray of sunlight for a period of several months. This means that the Goms, although at a relatively low altitude of 1370 metres, has snow virtually guaranteed in winter. Oberwald has its own ski region, the «Hungerberg», with a chairlift and two ski lifts (up to 2080 metres). The Hungerberg lies on a sun-exposed south-west mountain slope and awards splendid views of the entire Goms and neighbouring mountain landscape.

Oberwald is well known as the starting point of the Goms cross-country ski run, a network of 100km runs between Oberwald and Niederwald. Snowshoe trekkers and ski-touring enthusiasts can choose from routes in varying degrees of difficulty around Oberwald, such as the Sidelhorn, Blashorn, Tällistock, Gross Muttenhorn etc. Sledging fans and winter hikers also find the facilities to enjoy their pastime.

The tiny village of Gletsch at an altitude of 1759 metres also belongs to the municipality of Oberwald. Gletsch lies at the foot of the Furka and Grimsel pass roads and has a nature theme path that leads in a mere half hour’s walk to the glacial forefield. The Furka Glacier has receded dramatically in recent years. Gletsch’s landmark and raison d’être is the «Grand Hotel Glacier du Rhône», built at the beginning of the 19th century and still exuding the essence of the heyday of Alpine pass travel, and the small station of the Furka steam railway.

Highlights

• Goms cross-country skiing – the entire upper Goms is criss-crossed by a 100km long network of prepared runs. The parallel-running railway line allows access to the trails at every station along the way.
• Hungerberg – Oberwald’s home mountain is a beautiful hiking region in summer and a family-friendly ski region in winter.
• Furkagletscher (Furka glacier) - a sentinel to climate change, this glacier still protruded well into the valley at Gletsch in the middle of the 19th century.
• Furka cogwheel steam railway – the steam engine pants and puffs up the historic line from Gletsch through the magnificent high-Alpine landscape to the village of Realp in Canton Uri.