The largely intact and seemingly rather sleepy Valais village of Ulrichen, with its sun-browned wooden houses, well-tended farms and lush pastures, lies at the branch-off from Goms to the Nufenenpass and the Ticino Val Bedretto.

Summer

In summer, hikers, mountaineers, bikers, motor bikers and tourists in cars meet at Ulrichen, many heading for the Nufenen or Greis passes. They travel on traces left by the Romans, Walsers and later traders and smugglers, most of whom came over the Grimselpass. And either here or in the former hostelry in the nearby hamlet of «Zum Loch», began the climb up through Ägenetal to Griespass and to Italian Val Formazza. It was a very busy scene, with up to 100 pack animals on the trail every day.Peace now reigns over Ulrichen’s former military airfield: part of the asphalt has been taken up and replaced with a biotope; the rest serves as a welcome piste for skaters and other sports fans. River rafting on the young Rhone provides a touch of adventure.

Winter

Thanks to the 1300m altitude, the Goms network of cross-country runs stretches over 100 km, one of the most beautiful and snow-sure cross-country Meccas in Switzerland. The Matterhorn Gotthard Railway makes it possible to reach the cross-country skiing network from many railway stations. Goms has 11 marked snowshoe trails and there are smaller ski areas and sledge runs in the various side valleys.