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Gross Bigerhorn
- Mountain hiking
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Mountain hiking
- From Bordierhütte
From Bordierhütte

From Bordierhütte (Normal route) Gross Bigerhorn 3625 m

Difficulty

T3+
Ascent

2:30 h, 740 m
Descent

4 h, 2050 m

One of the highest summit reachable by hikers

As this mountain is fairly high (3625 m), it is a long way up to the summit. Fit hikers may be able to reach Gross Bigerhorn in one day, but it is worthwhile dividing the tour into two legs to enjoy the landscape: forests and aqueducts around Grächen, a glacier forefield with larch trees, crossing glacier creeks on the way to Bordierhütte, the summit with its marvellous view to the Mischabel range and Weisshorn. Since 2024, the trail has been marked white-red-white, giving the Gross Bigerhorn the title of "highest hiking mountain" in Switzerland..

Before Riedgletscher: view to Gross Bigerhorn (centre of the picture) (08/2007) © Fredy Joss

Well maintained: the new white-red-white marked mountain hiking trail to the Gross Bigerhorn. (07/2024) © Bodierhütte SAC

The attractive new summit cross. (07/2024) © Bodierhütte SAC

Comfortable seating at over 3600 m! (07/2024) © Bodierhütte SAC

View to the west to the Nadelgrat ridge on the left and the Weisshorn. (07/2024) © Bordierhütte SAC

On Gross Bigerhorn: view to the Mischabel range nearby (08/2007) © Fredy Joss

View from Gross Bigerhorn to Balfrin (08/2007) © Fredy Joss

Route description

Bordierhütte – Gross Bigerhorn

From the cabin follow the cairns and the faint path east-south-eastward to a depression. A signpost shows the way to Gross Bigerhorn. Ascend to the saddle P. 3148 between Klein Bigerhorn and Gross Bigerhorn. From the saddle follow the shoulder and the west-south-west ridge of Gross Bigerhorn to the summit, in the end ascending rather in the west face than on the ridge. The faint path may be interrupted. Some passages are on loose rubble and rocky steps.

Descent

Back to Bordierhütte on the ascent route, then down to the valley on the cabin trail

Alternative: Detour Klein Bigerhorn

From P. 3148 in a quarter of an hour to Klein Bigerhorn, marked white-blue-white.

Alternative discent to the valley

Since the old hut trail over the glacier is no longer maintained and the Europaweg is officially closed, this is an adventurous variant for experienced alpine hikers: From the cabin descend the glacier to P. 2706, then follow the path via Ritz to the saddle south of Mittelberg. On the other side of the saddle descend on the former so called Europaweg to Gasenried or Grächen. Add 1h30 min. to the normal cabin access trail.

Additional information

Departure point

Bordierhütte SAC (2886 m)

End point

Gasenried, Post (1659 m)

Get there Google Maps

Gasenried, alte Post

Time: Bordierhütte SAC - Gross Bigerhorn 2½ h

Gross Bigerhorn - Bordierhütte SAC 1 h

Bordierhütte SAC - Grächen 2½ h

Difficulty / Material: There is a faint path almost up to the summit. Some passages on block terrain and scree are steep. Since 2024 marked white-red-white. For the variant: The crossing of the Riedgletscher was also marked white-blue-white in the past, but is no longer maintained. You may need an ice axe and crampons. It is best to enquire about the conditions at the Bordierhütte beforehand.

Waypoints

Gasenried, Post (1659 m)

Starting Point hut trail and variant.

Neighbor summit

Klein Bigerhorn (3182 m)

Alternative or additional summit.