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Hiking Options from Lauterbrunnen - 1.5 days

Hello Everybody,
My husband & I are traveling to the Berner Oberland region next week and our base camp will be in Lauterbrunnen. We will be arriving around 4 PM and would like some shorter hikes to do around the Lauterbrunnen valley. Looking for easy/moderate hikes that last around 2 hours - any recommendations?

We only have 1 full day in the region and are having trouble deciding which direction we would like to head (Wengen or Murren). The way I see it is we have 2 options: #1 Take the train to Wengen and then take the cable car to Mannlichen and do the Royal hike and the hike to Kleine-Scheidegg OR #2 Head to Murren and hike around that region. My question is with the short amount of time we have in the area, which direction will give us the best views (pending weather) and give us the best experience of the Berner Oberland region?

If we go with the Murren option, are there any suggested routes to take to the top of the Schilthorn?
Thanks in Advance!

Posted by
308 posts

This is a tough question! In good weather I would have to pick Mannlichen to Kleine-Scheidegg for the great views of the three peaks. But you really can't go wrong with either option.

Posted by
8889 posts

Just a warning, the days are getting shorter. Next week the sun will be going down around 19:00, and Lauterbrunnen, being in a deep valley, will be in the shade before that.
If you arrive at 4pm (16:00), you will be lucky to get to your hotel, dump your stuff and get a train up the valley side before 17:00. That leaves it a bit tight for a 2 hour walk. I would not want to be on a mountain path after dark.

As the sun sets in the west, the east side of the valley (Wengen) will have light later, and the west side (Mürren) will be in shadow earlier.

Posted by
768 posts

Given good weather, you simply cannot go wrong with the Mannlichen to KS hike. If you could only take one hike in the area, that should be it. Sweeping vistas in all directions.

You asked about routes to take TO the top of the Schilthorn. No way that would be an "easy/moderate hike". It would be very strenuous. In any case, there are 2 trails up to there and you can see them if you click on "Murren" trails in my link. If you click on my name, on my profile page is a link to my dozen favorite hikes in the area, with maps and pics. Most are in fact about 2 hours.

Posted by
58 posts

Hello kekueterman,

I agree with the others! The Mannlichen to Kleine-Scheidegg hike is my favorite hike in the Berner Oberland because of the glorious views, so if the weather is favorable, I'd recommend that one.

If you're thinking about going up to the Schilthorn, from Lauterbrunnen you can take the post bus to the Stechelberg lift station in order to take gondolas all the way up to the Schilhorn. Alternately, you could take a gondola from Lauterbrunnen up to Grütschalp, then take the train from Grütschalp to Mürren. From the Mürren train station it's about a ten-fifteen minute walk to the Mürren gondola station, where you could then catch the gondolas all the way up to the Schilthorn. I would only head up to the Schilthorn if the weather is nice.

On the way down from the Schilthorn, when you come back to Mürren via gondola, you could do the hour-and-a-half-ish, fairly level walk to Grütschalp and then take the gondola back down to Lauterbrunnen. Or, you could walk from Mürren down to Gimmelwald (Rick's favorite spot in the Berner Oberland; the walk down takes about 30-45 minutes), take the gondola from Gimmelwald down to the Stechelberg lift station, and then walk along the valley floor back to Lauterbrunnen (an hour to an hour-and-a-half walk).

If the weather isn't nice, personally I would take the gondola from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp, then take the train to Mürren (or walk, if you're up for more walking), then walk from Mürren to Gimmelwald, take the gondola from Gimmelwald to the Stechelberg lift station, and then walk the valley floor back to Lauterbrunnen. The valley floor walk is a good rainy day option. If it's socked in higher in the mountains, it's usually still really beautiful on the valley floor. Also, you could stop at the Trümmelbach falls en route.

These options can sound a little overwhelming before you get there, but once you're in the valley, it will make sense. Hope that helps! Have a great trip!

Posted by
740 posts

For the afternoon arrival, I might just plan to take walk down the through the Lauterbrunnen valley. Very peaceful setting.