Ulrichen is a locality in the Valais municipality of Obergoms. During your stay, you can choose from cross-country skiing, pass routes and hiking trails, cycling routes and cultural monuments. These different themes can help you plan your travel dates and daily activities around your interests.
Mule Track and Historic Pass Routes
The historic Gries Pass mule track begins in Ulrichen. Formerly a mule trail, it was used by merchants, pilgrims, smugglers and mercenaries. If you are interested in hikes with a historical background, this route also offers a connection to the former use of the pass routes.
Zum Loch is also part of the history of the pass routes: a Suste (a historic staging inn and goods depot) once stood there, on the then-important historic Grimsel–Gries pass road. This brings the former transport infrastructure into focus alongside the route itself. Another hiking option is the Alpine Passes Trail, with a stage from Ulrichen to Blitzingen. These two hiking routes differ in their history and named waypoints: the Gries Pass mule track begins in Ulrichen, while the Alpine Passes Trail stage runs from Ulrichen to Blitzingen.
Cycling Routes in Different Directions
Cycling routes can also be distinguished by their start and end points. The Nufenen cycle route begins in Ulrichen and ends at the Nufenen Pass; seasonal road conditions may affect whether it can be used. The Valais Panorama Bike route runs from Alp Gämschfax via Üerlichergale and descends on a forest road to Ulrichen. So Ulrichen is the starting point for the Nufenen route and the destination for Valais Panorama Bike. When planning, check whether the seasonal conditions are suitable for the Nufenen route at the time of your trip.
Cross-Country Skiing and Activities with a Set Time Frame
The Ulrichen Nordic Centre is located on a former army site. Cross-country ski races of almost every category are held there. The specific race programme may change; if a competition is important to your trip, check the scheduled dates. Gommer Sport rents out cross-country ski equipment in Ulrichen for skating and classic skiing, by the day, week or season. Check the rental service’s current operating status before you travel.
Another activity with a set time frame is the scavenger hunt in Ulrichen. It is offered as a two-and-a-half-hour activity for groups and families, combining an exploration tour with puzzles and quiz questions. You can factor its duration into your day’s plans; check the current format of the activity before making plans.
Church Art and Local Pasta
The parish church of St. Nicholas was built in the Neo-Gothic style. Its nave vault is painted with angels playing musical instruments. The chapel of St. Anne at Zum Loch brings together architectural history and an altar: the present chapel was built in 1683, and its altar is considered the earliest dated reredos in Goms. It also shows a strong Régence influence. These details give the two different buildings their own distinct cultural focus.
Food production is another aspect of local life. NOVENA makes fresh mountain pasta in Ulrichen, at an altitude of 1,350 metres above sea level. It is sold exclusively through retailers and the catering trade. This offers a concrete glimpse into local production and its sales channels.
Getting There and Seasonal Context
Regional trains operated by the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway take 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach Ulrichen from Brig. Check the timetable for your travel date, as the stated travel time is a guide. For a longer-term overview of the seasons: during the 1991–2020 climate normal period, the mean annual temperature was 4.2°C. January is the coldest month, with a mean temperature of −7.2°C, while July is the warmest, at 14.6°C. On average, there are around 189 frost days, 49 ice days and 19.4 summer days per year. These figures provide seasonal context; they are not a weather forecast for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Binn, Reckingen, Niederwald, Oberwald, Bellwald, Fiesch, Lax, Münster-Geschinen.
Back to the overview of the region: Goms.
