My thanks to all those who replied to my post last week -- especially Shoe who has compiled a detailed description of his favorite dozen hikes with great photos. I reviewed the hiking material in Rick Steves and a couple of other sources (myswissalps.com, walkingswitzerland.com, hikingwalking.com).
Below is my attempt to put together a list of good hikes in the Berner Oberland with a very rough estimate of hiking time. The estimated hiking time includes time for using a lift, if indicated. I've divided the hikes into seven categories from easiest to most difficult.
Please note that parts of some hikes are repeated to identify some shorter hikes that might be of interest to families with children or those who want shorter hikes. Also, I've only taken about 15 of the hikes myself (and relied on other sources for hike information). The difficult hikes are listed in categories 5, 6 and 7. These hikes are only for very experienced hikers. Be sure to check the times of lift operation so you don't finish too late and get stuck.
Please let me know if you see errors (the hiking times are incorrect, etc.) and what other day hikes should be included.
Day Hike Category [1= Easiest, 7 = Most Difficult]:
1. Easy-A (easiest hikes)
2. Easy-B
3. Intermediate-A
4. Intermediate-B
5. Intermediate-C
6. Difficult-A
7. Difficult-B (most difficult)
Easy-A
Lauterbrunnen – Staubbach Falls – Lauterbrunnen [45 minutes]
Murran – Winteregg (return by train) [35 minutes]
Grutschalp – Winteregg (return by train) [40 minutes]
Murren – Grutschalp (return by train) [1 hour, 20 minutes]
Mannlichen – Mannlichen Peak (scenic overlook) – Mannlichen [35 minutes]
Kandersteg – Mountain Station (lift) – Oeschinensee (lake) – Kandersteg [2 hours, includes lift time]
Easy-B
Mannlichen – Kleine Scheidegg [1 hour, 30 minutes]
Grutschalp – Murren – Grutschalp [2 hours, 30 minutes]
Lauterbrunnen – Stechelberg (river walk) [2 hours, 15 minutes]
Murren – Allmendhubel (lift) – Winteregg – Grutschalp [2 hours]
Gimmelwald - Murren [1 hour]
Intermediate-A
Murren – Allmendhubel (lift) – Blumenthal Flower Trail – Murren [2 hours, 30 minutes]
Schynige Platte (Panoramaweg) – Daub Peak – Schynige Platte [3 hours, ridge trail]
Murren – Sprutz Falls – Spielbodenalp – Murren [2 hours, 30 minutes]
Grindelwald – First (lift) – Bachalpsee – First – Grindelwald [2 hours, 20 minutes]
Wengenalp – Kleine Scheidegg (next to train tracks) [2 hours]
Gimmelwald – Stechelberg [2 hours]
Intermediate-B
Gimmelwald – Sefinen Valley – Kirchbalm – Gimmelwald [4 hours (flat)]
Murren – Allmendhubel (lift) – Sonnenberg – North Face Trail – Murren [3 hours]
Stechelberg – Tschingelhorn (mountain hotel) – Stechelberg [4 hours]
Grindelwald – Pfingstegg (lift) – Berghaus Baregg – Grindelwald [2 hours, 30 minutes]
Grosse Scheidegg – Bachalpsee – Grosse Scheidegg [3 hours, 30 minutes]
Schynige Platte – Berghaus Manndlenen – Schynige Platte [4 hours, 30 minutes]
Wengenalp – Biglenalp – Eigergletscher Station – Kleine Scheidegg [3 hours]
Intermediate-C
Schynige Platte – Faulhorn – First [6 hours]
Eiger North Face Trail: Kleine Scheidegg – Eigergletscher Station – Alpiglen [4 hours, 30 minutes]
Kandersteg – Mountain Station (lift) – Oeschinensee Ridge Loop – Lake – Kandersteg [6 hours]
Difficult-A
Gimmelwald – Tanzbodeli – Obersteinberg - Oberhornsee – Stechelberg [9 hours]
Birg Station – Wasenegg Ridge – Bryndli – Sprutz Falls – Gimmelwald [7 hours]
Kandersteg – Oeschinensee (lake) – Kandersteg (no lift) [7 hours]
Difficult-B
Murren – Schilthorn – Murren (no lift) [10 hours]
Grosse Scheidegg – Meiringen – Grosse Scheidegg [10 hours]
Kandersteg – Oeschinensee Ridge Loop – Lake – Kandersteg (no lift) [10 hours]