Hiking Recommendations in Murren

What's your hiking ability level? Elevation gain/loss, miles, terrain.

As a family we have done many hikes out west over the years. My husband and daughter are totally fine with elevation gain and loss and lots of miles. I can hike 10 miles+ or more a day max; I am not a fan of lots of elevation gain but will do it for the views. We have done lots of hiking in the mountains and so far have never had issues with hiking at elevation. We are all fine with elevation loss; no issues with knees or legs. So that's why I would like to do "easy to moderate hikes"; whereas my husband and daughter can do more challenging ones and often do on our trips.

Every item you lay out sounds well reasoned, doable and enjoyable for your group. Don’t know what season your going but as I’m sure you know, some trails are closed until the summer thaw. Enjoy!

I’ll make a few general comments on some of your notes and then give you my recommendations....

1. Murren to Allmendhubel is not a great hike for a short visit - it’s straight uphill and walking with views at your back. It’s very much worth the funicular ride and then hiking from Allmendhubel out towards the views.

2. No, the Blumental Trail is not the Northface hike, it's a shortcut back down to Murren without doing the best parts of the viewsI

3. If you decide to do Lauterbrunnen Valley, the best way to walk it is Lauterbrunnen > Stechelberg as you’ll be walking towards the views. If you walk it the way you mentioned, the best views are at your back. I agree that this is a good rain plan or if clouds are low and obstructing great views for the higher mountain hikes. I wouldn’t sacrifice a perfect weather day for hiking down in the valley.

4. The Mountain View Trail is from Grutshcalp to Murren, but there are 2 different routes - the low path along the railroad tracks that most people do and the higher Mountain View trail which is a hike, not a walk like the low path, but has much better views. You can also do the Mountain View Trail from Allmendhubel to Winteregg or Grutschalp. If you go Grutschalp > Murren it will be more uphill. If you do Allmendhubel > Winteregg or Allmendhubel > Grutschalp, it will be more downhill. Either way is good, just personal preference on if you want the cardio :)

5. It take a little over 1 hour to get from Murren to the top of Mannlichen and a little over 1 hour to get back to Murren from Kleine Scheidegg, so around 2.5 hours of train/cable cars + hiking time.

6. I’m not a huge fan of the Eiger Trail. You’re so close up to the mountain that your views actually aren’t as good as other options. It's a good trail for staying in Grindelwald or if you have atleast a week in the area.

Day 1 -
Do this combo on your best weather day (use MeteoSwiss app + webcams to plan)
Murren > cable car to Schilthorn > cable car to Birg - Thrill Walk > hike roundtrip Grauseeli > cable car Birg to Murren > funicular up to Allmendhubel > Northface hike counterclockwise ending in Murren (this hike is best done in the afternoon if the weather is good, as that's when the lighting is best for views)

Day 2 -
Via Feratta in the morning (hired guide required) from Murren to Gimmelwald (those who don’t do the VF can do the easy (and lovely!) walk down to Gimmelwald and meet up with the group) — explore the farms and have lunch at the Pension or Hostel then take the cable car back up to Murren & maybe do the Mountain View Trail high route

Day 3 -
I think your description of your family tells me that Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg is too easy and crowded for you guys. It’s a stroller friendly path and absolutely packed. I love the trail and views, but over the last couple years it’s become more frustrating for me to hike it because it feels like a constant traffic jam.

If you decide to do a day away from Murren, I think you might love doing the Panorama Hike Schynige Platte > Daube > Oberberghorn > Loucherhorn > Schynige Platte — you ride the open air cog train up to Schynige Platte and then hike the ridge with views of the mountains on one side of you and the lakes on the other side. It’s the Panoramaweg Loucherhorn trial on this link — https://swissfamilyfun.com/schynige-platte-panorama-trail/

Day 4 -
If you decide you really want to see Mannlichen, but are also interested in the Schynige Platte hike, then on your exit day you could leave Murren, store your luggage in Lauterbrunnen and go up to Wengen to do Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg OR you could save Schynige Platte for this day since it’s on the way out - store your luggage in Wilderswil, do the Schynige Platte plan above and then continue on to Luzern from Wilderswil. If you do this plan, you’ll have Day 3 around Murren and could add in the hike from Murren to Rotstockhutte or time in the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Wanderweg, Wow- this itin sounds amazing. I LOVE what you recommended. Thank you so much! We will be there in about 2 weeks!

There is only one Mountain View Trail, the lower, easier path is simply called Grütschalp - Winteregg - Mürren. This is helpful so people don't accidentally take the wrong path as one is far more difficult than the other and requires hikers that have proper footwear, good physical fitness and are aware of mountain hiking dangers.

You can find both routes and other hikes in the area detailed here:

https://muerren.swiss/en/destination/about-murren/hikes.html

Grütschalp - Winteregg - Mürren

• Distance: 4.4 km (2.7 miles)
• Elevation gain: 150 m (492 feet)
• Elevation loss: 0

Mountain View Trail (More Challenging)

• 5 km (3.1 miles)
• Elevation gain: 520 m (1,706 feet)
• Elevation loss: 110 m (361 feet)
• Note: Winteregg is not an easy detour from this trail—it would involve a steep descent, you can see that on the map at this link. It also shows lots of photos along the trail and the exact location they were taken from.

https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-351

Day 1: if you're at Birg anyway, hike down from there! Its amazing. Find a good trail map. The route you are looking for is: Birg > Grauseeli (alpine lake) > Wassenegg (thrilling ridge) > Bryndli (spire with 360 view) > Spielbodenalp (little cafe in a meadow) > Sprutz (waterfall you can walk behind) > Murren.

Allmendhubel and Gimmelwald were (for us) both underwhelming. The walk from Gimmelwald to Murren is entirely paved and doesn't seem like a hike at all (except there is some decent elevation).

Another good hike is Gimmelwald down to Stechelberg. There is a point where you get a classic view of the entire Lauterbrunnen valley. Then you can take the cable car back up to Murren.

The walk from Gimmelwald to Murren is entirely paved and doesn't seem like a hike at all

I agree with you! And if you have hiking boots on (because…you expect to be hiking) then every step is jarring as you go down the hill…on the paved road. If it was a hiking path there would at least be some give to it. But I see it recommended here again and again so I guess people like it.

I didn’t recommend the whole hike down from Birg to Mürren, just the Grauseeli portion, as there have been rock slides in the last year that have made that trail a bit sketchy between Grauseeli and Wasenegg. For first timers to the area with only a few days, my recommendations stand.

I absolutely disagree with Allmendhubel & Gimmelwald being underwhelming and I think the majority of people would too. I live in Mürren all summer, every year, and spend the majority of my time hiking, so I’m very familiar with all the trails & the options in the area.

I really appreciate all the recommendations and suggestions! We are super excited to get there and enjoy the area! Thank you so much for your help!

Hello fellow Ohioan! We are finishing up here in Lauterbrunnen today. We did the North Face Trail but extended it through Sprutz Waterfall down to Gimmelwald. There are some tougher stretches but a great hike. There are a lot of people on it but most continue back to Murren. We stopped for lunch and a lot of pictures and it took about 4 hours.

We did Mannlichen to Klein Schegg today on the Panorama and it was packed with people. It’s too easy and draws a crowd.

Hello Fellow Ohioan, Thank you so much for the latest hiking update! We will be there in a few days!!