Lauterbrunnen / Wengen / Murren area hikes

Dan, Another easy hike would be to take the Allmend-Hubel Funicular up the hill from Mürren and then hike back. It's very easy (all downhill) and there are a couple of hotels / bars along the way so you could stop for a "cool one". There are an enormous number of hiking possibilities in that area. Happy travels!

Agree with Sasha. The only thing I would add is that the villages themselves are of secondary interest to the surrounding landscapes. Although the villages are pleasent enough, they exist to provide you with a place to eat and sleep in the mountains. The mountains are the primary attraction. If you skip Gimmelwald, all you're missing is a less densely packed version of Mürren with few dining options.

Ok thank you. I was think about renting a bike in lauterbrunnen and taking that down the valley the up to gimmelwald andd over to murren..does anyone know if its possible to take a bike up the mountain in the cable cars or gondolas? Thx.... Biking seems like you can see more of the valley in a shorter time vs hiking obviously. Dan

Murren to Gimmmelwald is a downhill stroll on a paved path, taking about 25 minutes, not really a "hike". If you start in Murren you could do that and then ride the cablecar down to Stechelberg and walk along the river path (again, not really a hike) until you are opposite Trummelbach Falls, then walk over to see that. For the Mannlichen walk, you don't want to walk from Kleine Schdegg to Mannlichen and then down that path to Wengen unless you are a mountain goat. (I think that path is actually named something like "goat path" but in German so I'm not sure. Anyway it is narrow and has lots of switchbacks. Instead, go the other way, up the cablecar from Wengen to mannlichen, then walk from mannlichen toward KS (the views are better going this way anyway). Then if you still feel like walking you could walk down to Wengen on the gentler path.

"does anyone know if its possible to take a bike up the mountain in the cable cars or gondolas?" I don't know for certain, but I can't imagine it would be a problem in the summer (that's when you're visiting, correct?). During the winter months, they use the Stechelberg-Mürren cable car line to transport luggage and other cargo directly to Mürren. Passengers ride the other line to Gimmelwald, then take a secondary cable car on through to Mürren. If the system works the same way in the summer, even if you are not allowed to carry a bicycle on the Stechelberg-Gimmelwald-Mürren line (more than likely, you can), you could send the bicycles straight to Mürren on the other cable car. Yes, a bike would allow you to get around the Lauterbrunnen valley quicker than hiking... but most of the scenery people travel from all over the world to see isn't on the valley floor, it's up in the mountains overlooking the valley.

Dan, "does anyone know if its possible to take a bike up the mountain in the cable cars or gondolas?" In my experience, the answer is YES. On one occasion, I rode up the hill to Gimmelwald with a pallet of building materials. The Cars are used for more than just passengers. One other option you could consider would be to take the same bike ride that Rick took on his TV show. Rent a bike at the sports shop in Mürren, ride down to Gimmelwald then Stechelberg and to Lauterbrunnen and then back to Mürren via the Cable Car and mountain railway from Grütschalp. I should mention that I've never done the ride, but AFAIK it's possible. Of course, if you want something more "adventurous" you could always try Paragliding from Mürren. Cheers!

Everyone gave such good responses here...not much to add, however, there are incredible maps available when you arrive in town in Interlaken. We could not believe how incredibly organized the Swiss are! Maps easy to read, signs at all trails are well marked! You wont need to be so set on which hike when you get there...the mountain ranges are very easy to get around and changed our mind alot. The trails intermix as well. Enjoy!! I would love to go back!

Well Chris from Jersey.. you certainly talk as if you are from Jersey by insulting my daringness to hike!! Ok i get it.. i can hike 10 miles a day no problem and am in solid athletic condition ... I run 6 minute miles! Reason for requesting shorter hikes is NOT because I'm a Nancy.. 2 reasons 1) w/ only 2 days in LV , we want to see the towns and a lot of different areas, as opposed to spend one entire day on a long hike 2) The 2 days in LV are the first 2 of a 7 day trip through Switzerland and on down to Florence/Rome where I'm sure I'll be walking pretty much.. EVERYWHERE. I don't live in New York City or London.. thus take a car about everywhere I go pretty sure I'll have walking overload on my feet and back by the time this things over. So I'm trying to conserve my spine a little bit.. as opposed to starting my trip off w/ a couple of ten+ mile hikes.. then be staring at 5 straight more days of walking everywhere

"we want to see the towns and a lot of different areas, as opposed to spend one entire day on a long hike" As I've mentioned previously, the towns aren't the attraction. They're merely places to sleep and eat (and drink... Swiss beer is nothing special, but I've taken a real liking to their wine... but I digress). People travel there to experience the MOUNTAINS AND THE SURROUNDING SCENERY. The choice of town that you visit should be based on the hike you want to take, not the other way around. And I think Chris is from the channel island of Jersey, not the US state of New Jersey.

Murren to Gimmelwald is a wonderful walk - all gently downhill - don't do it in reverse unless you are energetic! I think this is the most beautiful walk in the world. Then you can cable down from Gimmelwald to the valley floor and then catch a bus back to Lauterbrunnen. Kleine Scheideg to Mannlichen is lovely although I prefer doing it in reverse-Mannlichen to Kleine Scheideg and then you can continue on partway (downhill) toward Wengen but board the train at the stop (halfway point ballpark) between Kleine Scheideg and Wengen because I have heard that the last half is fairly steep. I do not recommend trying Mannlichen down to Wengen!!-for advanced hikers only very steep downhill- take the cable car down instead. Lauterbrunnen to Trummelbach Falls is a lovely (flat walk along the floor of the valley. If you get tired you can take a bus back. There is also another lovely walk, not too long. You catch the bus in Lauterbrunnen around 9 am up to Isenfluh; then walk down from Isenfluh through the wroods back down to Lauterbrunnen - all gently downhill, not crowded - less than an hour. I'm 70, so you should have no problem managing anything I have listed. Good luck, good walking.
Sylvia

I agree with Ken from Canada. Take the bike ride from Murren down to Gimmelwald and down to the valley floor and then up from Lauterbrunnen. We did the hikes you talk about (and a few others) last September and I would definately do the Manlichen to Kleine Scheidegg and the walk to Gimmelwald. Stop for a beverage at the small restuarant there - great views - my wife loved it. If you do the bike ride you don't have to spend the time hiking in the valley - as a previous poster mentioned - the views are up higher. I would not go to the falls again. Way too many tour groups and people and not that much to see. Also, like Ken, I would take the funicluar up to Allemhubel and just kike up there a little bit. We took both the mountain view trail and the Northface trail (from Allemhubel)and both had great scenery. They were probably closer to 4 miles in length, but were great hikes.