Exploring the source of the Rhône is an adventure in itself. Tracing the wild and powerful waters of a river that stretches for more than 800 kilometres, from its delta in the Mediterranean to the heart of the Alps. Discover its natural foundations at an altitude of 2,209 metres in the Valais.
The Rhône is not one of the 10 largest rivers in Europe in terms of kilometres; it is its power that sets it apart, making it one of the most powerful in terms of flow. Before it became the fearsome river that flows through Switzerland and France and into the Mediterranean, it was born in an exceptional landscape: the Rhône glacier, located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, at the eastern end of the canton of Valais. It was here, in this once glacial land surrounded by high peaks, that the river’s long natural and human history began.
The Rhône glacier, a giant of ice in the heart of the Alps
The Rhône glacier is almost 8 kilometres long, covering an area of around 16 square kilometres and 1,000 metres wide at its widest point. It clings to the slopes of the Gotthard massif, dominated by impressive peaks: the Dammastock (3,631 metres), the Galenstock (3,586 metres) and the Tieralplistock (3,382 metres). The glacier tongue stretches from the firn at high altitude to around 2,209 metres, where the ice melts to give rise to the first waters of the Rhône.
This glacier is unique in many ways. It can be reached directly by road from the Furka Pass, at an altitude of 2,429 metres, making it a popular tourist destination, particularly for hikes and treks in the high mountains. Another special feature is a gallery carved out of the ice that allows visitors to enter the glacier itself, a rare and spectacular experience.
In figures
- Length of glacier: 8 kilometres (km)
- Surface area : 16 km²
- Source altitude: 2,209 metres, at the level of the pro-glacial lake
- Altitude of the Furka Pass: 2,429 m
- Glacier retreat: 2.4 km in 150 years
Recent history and dynamics of the glacier
During the Little Ice Age 1 and the period known as the Dalton Minimum 2, at the beginning of the 19th century, the glacier descended as far as the hamlet of Gletsch, at an altitude of around 1,800 metres. Since the mid-19th century, the Rhône glacier has been steadily retreating, as a direct result of climate change. But this retreat is accelerating. Every year, the glacier front moves upwards, it has retreated by 2.4 kilometres over the last 150 years, and the thickness of the ice is decreasing by around 25 to 50 centimetres.
Faced with this worrying melting, protective measures have recently been put in place. Since 2020, white tarpaulins have been deployed over certain parts of the glacier during the summer to slow the excessive melting *. However, experts estimate that the glacier could partially disappear before the end of the 21st century if current trends continue.
Over the last few decades, this gradual retreat has profoundly reshaped the landscape, freeing up land that was once covered in ice and creating a natural reservoir that could be 600 metres long and 125 metres deep by 2030, according to the University of Zurich.
The source of the Rhône and its Alpine torrent
Today, it is at the foot of this newly-formed pro-glacial lake that the Rhône is born. The first watercourse is a mountain torrent, initially modest in flow but of wild beauty. It first flows south-west through the Gletsch valley, before making a wide bend at Martigny and turning north-west.
Gradually, in the Valais, the Rhône is joined by numerous small tributaries from the surrounding mountains. Its flow then increases, until it reaches Lake Geneva, where it becomes a river in its own right, crossing several regions and two countries from Geneva to the Mediterranean.
An area rich in biodiversity
The area around the source of the Rhône boasts remarkable Alpine biodiversity. The cold, oxygenated waters of the river, created by melting glaciers, are home to a number of protected species, including the Rhone apron, an endemic fish of the Rhone-Mediterranean basin that is now critically endangered. The cistude tortoise, the yellow-bellied toad, the Eurasian otter and the beaver complete this list of emblematic species, testifying to the ecological richness of the Rhône since its roots in the eponymous glacier.
However, these environments are under threat from climate change and the pressure of human activity. Pollution, invasive species and changes to water regimes are disrupting the natural balance.
Tourism and scientific issues
Easy access to the Rhône glacier makes it a popular destination for tourists looking for a different way to discover the Alps. The site offers both the raw beauty of the ice and a place for environmental education, thanks to the wealth of information available on the evolution of the glacier and the risks associated with global warming.
At the same time, the glacier is an important area for scientific study. Glaciologists are studying the effects of rising temperatures on glacier mass, changes in the hydrological regime of the Rhône and influences on ecosystems in a specific catchment area.
The future of the glacier: issues and prospects
Current projections point to a gradual melting of the Rhône glacier, with the increasing formation of a pro-glacial lake at its end. This transformation will have consequences not only for the volume and regularity of the flow of the Rhône at its source, but also for biodiversity and local human activities.
This development calls for vigilance and collective responsibility. Protecting the site, combined with raising public awareness, is essential to preserving this unique natural heritage and supporting the transition of ecosystems towards a new balance and an inevitable transformation of the landscape and its environment.
Despite these environmental challenges, the source of the Rhône remains an exceptional tourist destination. Find out how to organise your visit.
Discovering the source of the Rhône
Nestling in the heart of the Swiss Alps, the source of the Rhône is a must-see destination for nature lovers and lovers of great landscapes. Easily accessible by road, it offers a breathtaking spectacle of thousand-year-old ice, Alpine peaks and remarkable biodiversity. This unique site invites visitors to explore the birthplace of one of Europe’s most powerful rivers, in an unspoilt setting steeped in history, while discovering its high-altitude heritage, hiking and observing the glacier.
Access and ideal time to visit
The Rhône Glacier is one of the few Alpine glaciers accessible by car thanks to the spectacular Furka Pass road, which has been passable by car since 1866 3. It is open during the summer season, generally from June to October and depending on snow conditions; in winter the road is generally closed, with a link between the cantons of Valais and Uri by piggyback (transport of cars by train) 4. Situated at the eastern gateway to the Valais, the site is easily accessible by car, train or bus, or even by bike via the Rhone route for fans of intense cycling tours. From Geneva to the Glacier du Rhône lookout, the journey takes around 3? hours by car.
The glacier lookout and the historic hotel
One of the highlights of the visit is the famous Hôtel Belvédère, perched at an altitude of 2,271 metres and built on the edge of an impressive bend in the pass road. This legendary spot was once a stopover for travellers and mountaineering pioneers. The panorama from here is breathtaking: on one side, the tongue of the glacier, its lake and the first torrent of the Rhône, and on the other, the Alpine valleys and peaks of the Gotthard massif.
The ice cave experience
A must-see is the famous Rhone Ice Grotto. Accessible on foot from the road, this hundred-metre-long gallery, dug every year to keep up with the melting, plunges into the glacier tongue at an altitude of around 2,300 metres, giving access to the azure heart of the glacier. The entrance is upstream from the Col road and the former Belvédère hotel-restaurant, and is open to the public from June to October, depending on the safety of the glacier and the weather. The experience is both sensory and educational, appealing to young and old alike.
Nature walks and trails
The area around the source of the Rhône offers a wealth of hiking opportunities for all levels of Alpine tourism. A short educational trail, dotted with information panels, explains the evolution of the glacier, the formation of the moraines and the richness of the alpine flora. Higher up, a discreet path leads to an exceptional viewpoint over the valley and the glacier tongue. Experienced walkers can also explore the various itineraries around Gletsch or the Grimsel Pass.
Complementary activities and holiday options
The region offers a host of other activities, including a trip on the legendary Furka steam train, discovering the valley’s industrial history, observing the alpine fauna, cycle tourism and waterfalls and glacial lakes. Family-run restaurants and hotels, such as the Hôtel Furka in Oberwald , offer a range of accommodation suited to visitors seeking authenticity and conviviality.
Practical advice for visitors
- Choose the beginning or end of the day to avoid the crowds, especially in summer.
- Bring warm, waterproof clothing (cool temperatures, even in summer, especially in the cave).
- Respect the signs and the fragile nature of the site, follow the paths
- Check that the road and cave are open before setting off (depending on the year, safety work or digging may delay the opening date).
Visiting the glacier and the source of the Rhône is a rare experience in today’s environmental context. The panels, guides and audioguides available on site provide a better understanding of the issues surrounding glacial melt, the dynamics of the river and local biodiversity, making this site an ideal setting for environmental education and raising awareness of climate change.
Where to stay around the spring and glacier
Looking for a hotel or accommodation close to the glacier viewpoint and the source of the Rhône? Here’s an interactive map to help you find the right establishment for your next stay:
Source of the Rhône and Furka in maps
Here are a few maps to help you discover the area around the glacier, the source of the Rhône and the Furka pass.
Topographical map of the Source du Rhône
With the Federal Office of Topography swisstopo, view an interactive map of the source of the Rhône, between the glacier (Rhonegletscher), the Furka Pass (Furkapass) and the hamlet of Gletsch in the commune of Conches-le-Haut (Obergoms) :
Practical map around the Furka Pass
Road, glacier, peaks, train and practical information between Oberwald, the source of the Rhône and the Furka Pass:
Route to the source of the Rhône
Planning your trip? Here’s a direct link to Google Maps to plan your journey from your home to the belvedere car park:
Travel+
- Destination: Rhône Valley
- Rhône and Mediterranean flood warning system
- Map of river tourism on the Rhône
- Territories, towns, and villages crossed by the Rhône
- Map of the Rhône River and its tributaries
- By bike: ViaRhôna and Route du Rhône
- Where to stay along the Rhône River?
- IGN maps: Rhône Valley
- Photocrom of the glacier at Gletsch: Wikipedia , Library of Congress
- Mourning sails on the Rhône glacier, scholar
- Melting glaciers: is the Rhône in danger? Claude Grandpey
- The Little Ice Age Earth Odyssey ↩︎
- Dalton minimum, Wikipedia ↩︎
- The Furka Pass route, Swiss Historical Dictionary ↩︎
- Furka piggyback: train+car, timetables and tickets ↩︎