We will be staying in Lauterbrunnen May 7-10. The Schynige Platte panoramic trail is on my list of hikes to do. Will the trail be clear of snow? Also, i saw the cog train up to Schynige Platte from Wilderswil won’t be open for the season yet. Is there any way to grab a taxi or bus from Interlaken/Wilderswil area to get dropped off up there? Thank you in advance for your help.
Posted by
Bend, Oregon
2544 posts
The train is the only way up, unless you are very fit and want to hike. The train will not be running in May.
Posted by
Bend, OR
1035 posts
This is what I found
“The best time for a hiking holiday in the Bernese Oberland is June through to September. Travelling in May can be fine for the lower valleys when beautiful flowers spring up. Higher up there will still be snow, which hangs around typically above 2500 metres until at least mid-June.”
https://www.curiousgoosetravel.com/post/hiking-schynige-platt-switzerland#viewer-5r6es
We are looking forward to hiking this, too but we will be there in August.
And if the there’s a reason the train is not running yet, it probably means you don’t want to be up there. Sorry!
Posted by
Nashville, TN
612 posts
There is definitely no way up there in May. Even in the height of summer you can’t drive up there. It’s train only. You’re going to find most mountain trails closed in early May, including things like Männlichen, Allmendhubel from Murren, etc.
Your options at that time of year will be things like Schilthorn, Kleine Scheidegg + Jungfraujoch, First, Harder Kulm, Boat rides on Lake Thun or Brienz, Walking or ebiking the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Walking from Grutschalp or Winteregg to Murren and then down to Gimmelwald (all paved road paths). Hiking trails up in the mountains won’t be much of an option.