Best Berner Oberland Hike??

The classic strenuous hike in the area is up the Schilthorn--or downhill from the top if you prefer. But you need good weather for this---no rain or fog shrouding the mountain----and in 3 visits to the area we have never been lucky with that.

One time we stayed below the clouds and walked to Rotstockhütte in the Sefinenfurka instead, returning to Mürren via the waterfall and Gimmelwald. The hike was great ( although a bit muddy in places) and offered great views, especially from the ridge top. You can buy lunch at the hut if you like.

Another very scenic hike is the Eiger Northface trail which passes below the face of the Eiger. This is over by Grindelwald and accessed from the Jungfrau train----Alpiglen stop is the lower trailhead for an uphill hike, and Eigergletscher is the top trailhead for a downhill hike.

But my favorite is the hike from Schynige Platte to First, starting with the Panoramaweg,mwih views down to the Brienzersee, and continuing on past the Faulhorn (climb to the mountain hotel for refreshment if you have time) and the beautiful Bachalpsee to the First gondola station. Ride the gondola down to Grindelwald and walk through town to catch the train back to Grindelwald. I believe the walk is around 14 miles and is rated as taking around 6 hours. Make sure you arrive at first before the gondola closes.

http://jungfrauregion.ch/11/13/456/en/Holidays/SUMMER/Hiking/Bussalp__First__Grosse_Scheidegg__Grindelwald/Schynige_Platte_-_Faulhorn_-_First__5%3A30_h

http://www.berghotel-faulhorn.ch/index_eng.html

Bachalpsee: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Bachalpsee_summer.jpg

Another recommended hike (which we have not yet done) is the walk to Oberhornsee in the upper Lauterbrunnen valley. You can reach it by trails from either Gimmelwald or Stechelberg, and can make a nice one-way hike in either direction.

The hike up to the top of the Schilthorn was amazing. We started in Murren and went up and then down. This was about 5 miles with 5,000 foot elevation gain up and then another 5 miles down. I would recommend 3/4 hiking boots and hiking poles. The poles really helped to keep stress off the knees on the way down. We also did: Murren to Gimmelwald to Tanzbodell to Obersteinberg to Stechelberg and the gondola back up to Murren

Lots of waterfalls and cascades, steep hikes through alpine forest, through pasture land and out onto the peak above the clouds and back down to the Lauterbrunnen valley

If you can extend your stay another night, this would help if you get a rainy day.

We did these hikes on consecutive days, doing the more difficult Schilthorn hike on the first day. Both hikes are all day adventures unless you get an early start (which we did not). We started about 10 am both mornings and returned between 4 or 5 pm. Truly amazing hikes!