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Berner Oberland area walks

I'll be in Wengen for about a week starting late tomorrow afternoon. The weather is not looking so great for my time there and the walk I really wanted to do (Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg) is closed. So I'm trying to figure out what easy walks I want to do when the weather is okay enough to do them. I'm not the greatest with heights, so by "easy" I mean no drop-offs and long, steep downhill sections. I can manage steep-ish uphill walks just fine, but if I have to go down the way I came up? NOPE! I walked from Rigi Kulm to Rigi Kaltbad today and there were a couple sections that were just too steep on the downhill for me to be comfortable. I made it though. I think? :-)

My first order of business is getting tomorrow settled. I'd like to do a walk (or two?) that begins and ends in Wengen. I won't be able to do the walk until about 5 PM or 6 PM, so it'd have to be something that doesn't take too long as I want to be done before it gets dark. I read about the Monchblick and Staubbachbankli walks. Would either of those be a good choice for me? Or is there some better easy walk?

For other days, I'm also interested in Grutschalp to Murren to Gimmelwald and First to Bachalpsee. Would anyone here who is familiar with those walks say they're "easy" by my definition?

I'm also planning to wander around the Lauterbrunnen area, which would include Trummelbach Falls.

Which easy walks would you prioritize? I'm going to remain hopeful that Mannlichen to KS opens up, but I'll try to make the best of my time if it doesn't.

Thank you!

Posted by
17418 posts

You will be fine with both those walks. Grutschalp to Mürren is a level walk on a nice road along the railroad tracks. Great views but you are no lose to the edge.

Mürren down to Gimmelwald is a bit steep if you take the dirt pedestrian path.

First to Bachalpsee is more of a hike, but no drop-offs or exposed areas at all. And no long or steep grades, just a bit of up and down.

Posted by
612 posts

A good alternative to Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg: Train from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg, easy gravel path walk to Wengernalp (no steep drop offs or big climbs/decents) and then you can train back to Wengen from Wengernalp.

There are multiple ways to do Grutschalp to Murren. The Mountain View trail is more of a true hike, but if you walk the flat path along the railroad tracks it's very easy. You could also take the funicular up to Allmendhubel in Murren and do the easy Bluemental Trail back down to Murren.

For your arrival tomorrow, I'd just wander through Wengen town and take some of the random paths through the town to explore. There is plenty to walk around in the north and south parts of the village to occupy you for a bit before dinner without a true hike.

Posted by
66 posts

A nice walk is Wengen to henneflue — nice viewpoint at the end, even in poor weather.

Posted by
11775 posts

read about the Monchblick and Staubbachbankli walks. Would either of those be a good choice for me

Yes, both are excellent! Take one your first afternoon/evening and take the other another evening or early morning. Also a nice after-dinner stroll if it is still light.

Posted by
881 posts

We did the Staubbachbankli walk three weeks ago and loved it. Also did Monchblick and Kleine Scheidegg to Wengernalp and they were a bit more difficult but still relatively easy.

And all much easier on the knees than Rigi Kulm to Rigi Kaltbad. We only walked to Staffel from Rigi Kulm and it was hard on our knees. So was Mürren to Gimmelwald.

Posted by
923 posts

We thoroughly enjoyed the walk from Murren to Gimmelwald, and did not find it hard on our knees. Pension Gimmelwald has a small pub and patio where we stopped for something to eat/drink afterward.

Posted by
2 posts

I did the Staubbachbankli walk this evening after dinner. Gorgeous! I'm going to get up early tomorrow and squeeze in Monchblick and wandering around Wengen before the thunderstorms start.

Thanks to all who replied!