Unterwallis (Lower Valais) Rock Climbing

The Unterwallis / Bas-Valais region covers the western part of the Rhône valley, stretching roughly from Lake Geneva up to Sion. It’s one of Switzerland’s most diverse and climber-friendly areas, where warm valley crags meet high-alpine granite walls. The dry Föhn climate and excellent bolting make it a popular choice from early spring through late autumn.

Crags here range from single-pitch sport sectors tucked above vineyards to multi-pitch granite adventures high above the valley.

Region division between Unterwallis and Oberwallis:

The names Unterwallis (Lower Valais) and Oberwallis (Upper Valais) refer to the two halves of the Valais / Wallis canton, which follows the Rhône River from the Alps toward Lake Geneva.

• Unterwallis (Bas-Valais) lies in the French-speaking western part of the valley, around Martigny and Sion.

• Oberwallis (Haut-Valais) covers the German-speaking upper valley east of Sierre, including Brig, Visp, and Zermatt.

The division roughly coincides with the point where French gives way to German