Kandersteg

Lola has done some hiking there. I've visited but don't have enough experience to chime in.

It is a little bit of a project to reach Kandersteg to start. You need a train to Spiez from Interlaken Ost, then either one or two changes (often only one) to Kandersteg, and I used a chairlift for the next stage. There may have been a second chairlift too, but little grey cells rusty.

Kandersteg is one of our favorites in Switzerland. We will be returning this summer, after a ten-year absence.

As Nigel says, it will take you some time to get there from Lauterbrunnen. 1.5 hours with two changes on the way, at Interlaken Öst and Spiez.

Here's is a link to hikes from town:

http://www.kandersteg.ch/en/s/hiking-walking-trails

We like to stay up at the lake, Oeschinensee, and hike from there. Link:
https://www.oeschinensee.ch/en/summer/hiking/

You can hike up ( listed in the town hike link) or ride a lift. The creaky little chairlift Nigel remembers has been replaced with a modern gondola since our 2007 visit.

My concern is that May 12 may be early for hiking this year, due to heavy snows. Especially up at the lake, which may still be snowy or at least muddy. And I cannot get the main website www.Oeschinensee.ch to load and display the operating dates for the lift.

But if it is a nice day, you could take the easy walk to Blausee, or rent bikes at the train station and bike not the Gasterntal, the next valley over. We did this once and really enjoyed it, as the road it closed to all but the local Postbus and a few farmers' vehicles. The road hugs the cliff above a raging stream, before crossing on a Bridge and entering the valley itself. Mark Twain described this exact road in his book about travel in Switzerland ( I think it is A Tramp Abroad). " just wide enough for a cow and a Christian" is what I recall, and that about describes it. Probably wasn't paved in his day but it is now, and very safe with a nice rock wall between you and the river chasm.

Hi Lola (and Nigel),
Thank you for your suggestions on things to do. Biking is definitely an option.
I think I booked my trip too early for that part of Switzerland but I am hoping we have reasonable walking/hiking weather/trails.
We will have a Swiss Travel Pass and are happy just riding the train and hoping off in new places. Thanks!

We did it as a day trip from Lauterbrunnen. We took the lift up to the lake from Kandersteg and did a little hiking. It's very peaceful up there. I'm with Lola about the timing though. I think they have had a heavy snowfall year so far so will have to wait and see what April and May bring.

The website is quirky today, but I did get to the page showing the Gondolbahn dates and hours by a roundabout way.

https://www.oeschinensee.ch/info/

It is closing later this month and re-opens May 10,in time for your visit.

Thank you all for the information. We'll make it a day trip and just do whatever activities are possible.