Hiking in Switzerland had long been on my wish list and needless to say, the experience did not disappoint.  During a visit in July, I focused my time in the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland, an area that boasts soaring high alpine peaks and lush low valleys, which fan out from the gateway city of Interlaken.  From our home base of Lauterbrunnen and travel pass in hand, this world was quite literally our oyster.  Each day’s hikes brought different awe-inspiring sights and jaw-dropping scenery, one more incredible than the next.  Seriously, it was one of the most incredible places I’ve ever seen, rain or shine.  Read on for a few of my favorites and be prepared to be swept away.

1. Mürren

Our first introduction to hiking in the Bernese Oberland was in and around the mountain village of Mürren.  We began with the easy walk from Grütschalp to Mürren along a lovely trail that generally follows the train line.  Once we reached the train station in Mürren we set out on the North Face Trail, a beautiful loop that begins as a mellow walk through the town with its cute hotels and houses and equally cute stacks of firewood, red and white Swiss flags and the occasional gnome guarding well-manicured gardens.  After leaving town we took the trail clockwise, which traveled gradually uphill through lush green fields with postcard-worthy valley and mountain views of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau draped in a post-rain haze.  Occasionally we would hear a symphony of cowbells ringing in the distance before eventually encountering the region’s iconic bovine grazing just off the path.  If this wasn’t Switzerland at its best, I don’t know what is.

Where I Hiked
Trail: Grütschalp to Mürren and the North Face Trail
Distance: The trail between Grütschalp and Mürren is 2.8 miles and the North Face Trail from Mürren is a 5.2 mile loop
Location: 46.596430, 7.891202 and 46.563888, 7.897128
How to get there: From Lauterbrunnen, take the cable car to Grütschalp and then walk or take the mountain rail to Mürren.  Alternatively, the North Face Trail can also begin at the top of the Allmendhubel funicular.

2. Gimmelwald

Cute-as-a-button Gimmelwald is an easy 30-minute downhill walk on a paved road from Mürren (or uphill if you’re going in reverse).  It’s also a good springboard for other hikes in the area.  The descent into the alpine town is especially charming as its adorable wooden houses come into view as mountain peaks tower in the background.  As you walk through the tiny village of only 100 or so residents, keep an eye out for hanging cowbells hanging from eaves in order of size, meaning that the cows are out to graze, as well as the self-service Honesty Shop selling local crafts, souvenirs and food. 

Where I Hiked
Trail: Mürren to Gimmelwald
Distance: 1.5 miles one-way
Location: 46.560071, 7.894854
How to get there: From Mürren, look for the signs pointing towards Gimmelwald via a paved path behind the cable car station.  Continue on the downhill on the path, which leads directly into town.

3. Lauterbrunnen Valley

After spending the morning high in the sky, we took the Schilthornbahn cable car from Gimmelwald down to the Lauterbrunnen Valley.  From here our calves would get a rest as we traveled the flat route along the valley floor from Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen.  More of a pleasant walk than a hike, the path runs parallel to the river with cute little wooden houses dotting the grassy landscape and mountain cliffs towering above on either side, waterfalls tumbling down the rock face from vast heights of this so-called “valley of many fountains” (there are 72 waterfalls to be exact).  One worthwhile stop is Trümmelbach Falls, a series of 10 glacial-fed waterfalls inside the mountain that are accessible via a lift and illuminated for dramatic effect.  As you continue towards Lauterbrunnen, another great side trip is Staubbach Falls, which at nearly 300-meters tall is one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Europe (just off the road is a .2-mile hike up to a viewing spot behind the waterfall).  For thrill seekers, it’s also a great area for BASE jumping (watch for the occasional parachuter leaping from the cliffs above you).

Where I Hiked
Trail: Lauterbrunnen Valley
Distance: 3 miles one-way
Location: 46.555762, 7.901029
How to get there: From the Stechelberg cable station, cross the stream at the bridge just north of parking lot and continue along the path until you reach the edge of Lauterbrunnen (this walk can also be done in the reverse direction beginning from Lauterbrunnen).

4. Harder Klum

One of the most challenging hikes in the region is the Hardergrat Trail, which in its entirety is a 15-mile point to point trek with significant elevation gain along the narrow mountain ridge between Harder Klum and Brienzer Rothorn.  Completing the entire trail takes skill and careful planning so do your research before setting out (in general, this trail should not be attempted during rainy or windy weather).  We chose another popular option, the shorter out and back route between Harder Klum and Augstmatthorn that still offers a good challenge with incredible scenery.  Our journey began with a funicular ride up to the top of Harder Klum (a fun experience that saves you about 2.5 miles each way), where you’ll find a restaurant and viewing platform before setting out on this adventurous trek. What began in a shaded forest climbing over rocks and tree roots that create natural steps (those same tree roots were a killer on the way down) eventually opened up to a beautiful meadow of wildflowers, buzzing bees and fluttering butterflies with the valley on one side, the turquoise-blue Lake Brienz on the other.  We soon got our first glimpse of Augstmatthorn with the ascent up the ridgeline beginning around the 4 mile mark.  From here the trail quickly became very steep and rocky, but the views were breathtaking, quite literally, and definitely worth the challenge.

When the trail started getting steeper than we were comfortable with without trekking poles we sat to take it all in before beginning our return journey – mountain peaks towering above us, the technicolor lake below and a kaleidoscope of even more wildflowers framing the stony gray where we rested.  I was initially a bit intimidated by the things I read online in advance but gave myself permission to turn back at any point.  The trail from Harder Klum is entirely uphill, which means when you turn back it will be entirely downhill and while sections do get rather narrow and rocky, the sections we traversed were more manageable than expected.

Where I Hiked
Trail: Hardergrat Trail to Augstmatthorn
Distance: 10.7 miles out and back
Location: 46.697577, 7.852459
How to get there: From Lauterbrunnen, take the train to Interlaken Ost and walk 5 minutes across the river to the Harderbahn funicular station.  Take the funicular to the top of Harder Klum, walk towards the restaurant and look for the start of the trail on the right.

5. Kleine Scheidegg

Just when we thought we had seen all the beauty the Bernese Oberland has to offer, we set out on the Panorama Trail to Kleine Scheidegg.  This mostly downhill route is relatively easy and beyond gorgeous with rolling green hills carpeted with seemingly endless patches of pink clover, purple bells, plus yellow and white blooms on either side of the gravel path and, as the name implies, panoramic views of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in the distance.  It was our last day in the region and as luck would have it, a storm rolled in almost as soon as we stepped off the Männlichen lift.  We were able to wait it out in the station before starting the trail, but even then low-hanging clouds continued to roll in and out around the mountains in a playful now-you-see-them-and-now-you-don’t sort of fashion.

Just as we were approaching Kleine Scheidegg, the rain was back so we ducked into the Restaurant Grindelwaldblick for coffee and slice of plum cake until the storm passed once again.  Our rainy day experience turned out to be a magical one that we did not want to end.  Luckily the end of the trail gives you an opportunity to connect with other nearby routes like the Eiger Trail, or even catch the train to the Jungfraujoch.  As a bonus, you can also pick up a paper crown before leaving the Männlichen cable car station and make the short but strenuous uphill trek along the Royal Walk for soaring 360-degree views from the crown-shaped viewing platform before starting the Panorama Trail.

Where I Hiked
Trail: Panorama Trail
Distance: 3 miles one-way
Location: 46.612271, 7.942858
How to get there: From Lauterbrunnen, take the mountain rail to Wengen and walk about 5 minutes to the cable car station.  From there, ride the cable car to Männlichen where the trail begins.

ON THE MAP