Berner Oberland input requested

You’ll have to hold loosely to those hiking plans, as those trails may or may not be open in mid June. Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg often doesn’t open until late June. Schynige Platte starts running June 14 but that doesn’t guarantee the hike to First will be ready right away, TBD. You should be able to do the North Face hike from Murren.

In terms of your questions about Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn, they are different. And you can combine them with other activities in the area. For example, if the trail is open you can hike Mannlichen to KS and then go up to Jungfraujoch. Or you can do Jungfraujoch in the morning and then ride the Eiger Express down to Grindelwald and do something like First in the afternoon. For Schilthorn you can go up there in the morning and then do the North Face hike in the afternoon or walk from Murren to Gimmelwald.

Not sure what you mean about hiking up at Jungfraujoch though, unless you mean the walk to the Monchsjochutte.

For 4 full days I’d recommend Schynigge Platte for one day, Murren/Schilthorn/hike North Face or Gimmelwald for one day, Mannlichen/possibly Jungfraujoch for one day (or maybe walking/biking Lauterbrunnen Valley instead) and then maybe one day at one of the lakes (Thun or Brienz).

If you want to see a glacier you will have to go up the Jungfraujoch. And the hike to the Mönschjochhutte is certainly someting very special. But be aware that this is a hike that is one hour each way, and you will need to be dressed appropriately.

Schilthorn has great views. It is a very different experience. In June the new cable car should be operational, but the building will not yet be finished.

This June was a bad year for trails. But, the previous two Junes were great.

Männlichen - Kleine Scheidegg is one of my favorites. While it did open later this year due to snow and ice on the trail, in 2023, it opened June 10th and in 2022 it was open June 13th. So, hopefully you’ll get lucky with that one.

I went up to Schynige Platte for the first time this year and that is also on my list of favorites now. I was there on June 17th and not all the trails were open.

My favorite is Murren down to Gimmelwald. Easy, but spectacular views. That should be open.

A lot of trails were closed in Zermatt this June when I was there. I was there Jun 9 – June 12. The blacknose sheep were out though on the mountain behind the train station. So, keep your eye out for them. I really enjoyed the Gorner Gorge, which is an easy walk from the center of town.

I’m not a fan of Jungfraujoch (way too crowded even on the first train up) and much prefer Schilthorn.

Have a great trip!!! Just make sure you have some backup plans in case the weather does not cooperate.

Thanks everyone for your responses. We arrive in Luzern on 8 June, Wengen on 12 June, Zermatt on 18 June. I realize our plans will be weather dependent. I suppose the TI in Wengen will be an important resource?

Harry

The TI in Wengen is great, but of course not always open.

You can check the status of trails in the Jungfrau region here:

https://jungfrauregion.swiss/en/service/operating-status.html

For Zermatt:

https://www.gornergrat.ch/en/stories/hikes-on-gornergrat

And check the forum. Someone will usually post when some of the popular trails have opened.

Are you talking about the guided hike at the Jungfraujoch?

https://outdoor.ch/en/mountaineering-school/glacier-hikes/glacier-hike-at-the-jungfraujoch/

Note that you can do the First Cliff Walk at the end of your hike from Schynige Platte, before taking the lift down. That is assuming that trail is open for your visit.

I am still studying this trip for us in September. One thing I have found people say is that if you can do the Gornergrat and Glacier Paradise in Zermatt it is spectacular and not nearly as expensive as Jungfraujoch. I don’t know what others think, but since you compared them I thought I would advise my research on the subject! We don’t intend to spend the money for Jungfraujoch.