Mannlichen to KS vs KS to Wengernalp?

The views out to Grindelwald is stunning. It really is a lovely trail and we do it every year although we start at Männlichen and walk toward KS where we usually have lunch with a view of the Eiger. There is a lovely little restaurant near the end of the trail just above KS.

Laurel, are you saying that the views of Grindelwald from the Mannlichen to KS trail are stunning, and that's what one misses when you walk from KS to Wengernalp?

We actually walked for a short distance on the trail from KS to Mannlichen up to the restaurant you mention - I believe it's called Grindelwaldblick. Couldn't walk up any further because the trail was closed. After Grindelwaldblick, we started our way down to Wengernalp.

We have walked the combined trails (Männlichen to KS and on down to Wengen) twice. I say the two sections ( M to KS and KS down to Wengernalp) are different enough it is worth doing both. The difference is not so much in quality of the views but in what you actually see---from the Männlichen trail the view is more towards Grindelwald and the peaks above, such as the Eiger North Face and various 4000m peaks mostly with names ending in "horn".

From Männlichen to KS the trail is often more crowded, and once it was blocked for a time by a stubborn cow who would not yield. But I recall this trail offering more wildflowers than the Wengernalp section when we did it in late June (by August they were mostly gone).

Lola clarified beautifully.

Mann to KS in the morning, lunch at KS, KS to Wengen in the afternoon makes for a terrific day.

Thanks, all! So the next time we go, it's going to be the way FastEddie suggests: Mannlichen to KS, lunch, then KS to Wengen. Just need the weather to cooperate. I've come to the conclusion that one probably should stay in the area for about 4-5 days to make sure you catch at least a partly sunny day.

When we were there for 4 nights in July 2017 it was sunny every day. We made the hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg and on down to Wengen. From M to KS you get more of the vista of the entire mountain area. From KS to Wengernalp you are hiking below the Jungfrau. From Wengernalp to Wengen you lose some of the mountain peak scenery and it gets a bit steeper as I recall. Great hike! If you're in the area 4-5 days take the cable car up from Lauterbrunnen on the Murren side and then hike from there over to Murren and then down the Gimmelwald. Another beautiful hike. It's also fun to hike the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Also, the M-->KS portion of the hike is on GoogleMaps street view, or trail view in this case.

We’ve done the Mannlichen>KS, had a picnic and then finished KS>Wengernalp. Combining them is the best IMO.