You don't have to be a serious hiker to enjoy the natural beauty of the Swiss Alps. In fact,
there are trails for all ability levels. So here are our top seven easy hikes in
the Jungfrau Region, each less than 2 hours long. Hey there. If we haven't met, we're
Jana and Brett and our trail shoes have clocked hundreds of miles hiking throughout this area.
Both our free YouTube library and our website shop are stuffed with resources to help you
maximize your trip to Switzerland. Each of these hikes is included in our 1-Week Guide
to the Jungfrau Region and pairs perfectly with seven can't miss destinations. That means you can
hit up one of these hikes and enjoy a top spot every day on your one-week trip to the region.
So if you're searching for incredible trails, family friendly walks, or just epic views,
this list—in no particular order—offers it all.
Just a 30 minute cable car ride above Grindelwald Village is Grindelwald First,
known for its high flying, high speed, and high suspension adventure activities. But if
you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, an ideal hike could be The One to the Alpine Lake.
Starting from just behind the cable car station, this trail challenges you with
15 to 20 minutes of fairly steep uphill hiking before leveling off for the next
30 minutes. But your reward is that beautiful blue lake of Bachalpsee, which reflects the
snow capped Schreckhorn on a cloudless day and is the perfect spot for a picnic by the cows.
In addition to the adventure activities at First hiking to Bachalpsee can easily
be combined with other activities in and around Grindelwald. The One to the Alpine
Lake is posted at 5.6 kilometers roundtrip and takes about an hour and 40 minutes.
This next place needs no introduction! Known as the top of Europe, Jungfraujoch attracts
thousands of visitors every day with its year round ice caves and guaranteed 365 days of snow.
But not as many people seem to know about the hike we've called The One To A Hut at 12,000 Feet.
Starting from the Snow Fun Park, which is number five on the Jungfraujoch Tour,
you head gradually uphill across a glacier to your destination,
the Monchsjochhutte. This but, which is the highest serviced hut in Switzerland,
also serves lunch, drinks, and cakes daily in the summer months from 10 am to 3 pm.
And there are few things as satisfying as a warm meal at
12,000 feet after hiking through the snow. Keep in mind that good shoes and fitness are required for
this route and you'll probably want to pack an extra pair of socks to change into after
the hike in case they get soggy. Plan plenty of time to enjoy the full experiences at Jungfrau,
including a visit to the ice caves and the highest chocolate shop in Europe.
The One To A Hut at 12,000 Feet is posted at 4.8
kilometers roundtrip and takes about an hour and 25 minutes.
Perched on a ridge separating Grindelwald from Lauterbrunnen Valley,
Männlichen offers up what just might be the best views in the entire region. You
can see nearly every place we’ll mentioned in this video from where you'll start this hike.
But the highlight is gazing at the Big three, the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau,
which you'll get to enjoy the whole time while hiking The One For Everyone.
Starting from just below the Grindelwald to Männlichen cable car,
a wide gravel trail leads very gradually downhill all the way to Kleine Scheidegg,
where a few restaurants and a train station await.
In fact, people of nearly all ages and ability levels can enjoy this easy trail,
which might just be the best choice if you can only hike one short trail in the region. A visit
to Männlichen pairs well with a day exploring Grindelwald or Wengen, since cable cars leave
there from both villages and you can return to either one using the train from Kleine Scheidegg.
The One For Everyone is posted at 4.4 kilometers one way and takes about an hour and 5 minutes.
A stunningly scenic 50 minute ride on a historic cog wheel train climbs from
Wilderswil to Schynige Platte, another mountain ridge. Here you
can enjoy an alpine flower garden and daily alphorn performances,
but those are best enjoyed, in our opinion, after hiking, The One With The Lake Views.
After exiting the train, you'll head uphill to and then behind the restaurant where you'll find
the start of the trail. There are 15 minutes of steep uphill hiking until you reach Daube,
where views of both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz sprawl out in front of you. Then,
after about ten more minutes of downhill hiking, you'll have the option to climb
up to the viewpoint at Oberberghorn for an even better peek at the lakes.
In addition to the activities up at Schynige Platte, hiking the Oberberghorn loop combines
well with some time exploring the charming village of Wilderswil,
including a local brewery, castle ruins and some of our favorite farm fridges. The One With The
Lake views is posted at 3.8 kilometers and takes about an hour and 20 minutes.
If we had just one day in the Swiss Alps, we'd head straight to Mürren and Gimmelwald! Way more
than just a couple of cute villages sitting below this Schilthorn, you'll find some of
the best hiking in the entire region here. And one of our favorites is definitely The One With
The Self-Service Huts. Ride the funicular from Mürren up to Allmendhubel and head
uphill beyond the sweet action playground to find the start of the Northface Trail.
Along this hike, you'll pass 4 mountain restaurants where you can stop for refreshments
during the summer months and likely get up close and personal with some cows too.
After leaving the last hut at Spielbodenalp, you can either continue the trail back to
Mürren or leave the Northface Trail and head downhill to Gimmelwald while discovering a
hidden waterfall along the way. The One With The Self-Service Huts is easily enjoyed during
a day exploring Mürren, Gimmelwald, and even the Schilthorn, with the official
Northface Trail posted at 5.9 kilometers and taking about an hour and 40 minutes.
The mountains aren't the only stars of the show here in the
Jungfrau Region. Running along the milky teal waters of Lake Brienz,
you'll find a trail we call The One That Goes Behind A Waterfall.
Starting from the lakeside village of Iseltwald,
this hike, which is officially part of the three waterfalls hike, hugs the lake for
a while before heading into the woods and up toward the incredible Giessbach Falls.
Once you arrive at the falls, you can view them from the bridge, but don't miss your
chance to hike behind them from just above. Giessbach is also home to a historic hotel,
which makes a great stop for lunch. And a hike here combines well with a boat
cruise on Lake Brienz or a visit to the village with the same name.
The One That Goes Behind A Waterfall can be hiked in either direction and
is posted at five kilometers, taking an hour and 40 minutes.
No trip to the Jungfrau Region would be complete without a visit to the Lauterbrunnen Valley, where
Tolkien found inspiration for Rivendell and where you can hike The One Through The Glacial Valley.
From the Lauterbrunnen train station, walk toward the back of the valley,
staying on the upper road. You'll probably see tons of people at first, but once you pass the
Staubach Waterfall, you'll experience more peace and quiet to enjoy this majestic place.
Take your time while wandering the stunning glacial valley. At many points along the way,
you can cut across the river and catch a bus to take you back to Lauterbrunnen.
But we like to walk to the Stechelberg Sandbach bus stop. Along the way there are a few farm
fridges where you can buy fresh Swiss cheese and other snacks, and you'll even find a milk
vending machine. Hiking here obviously pairs well with a visit to Lauterbrunnen, but also works for
exploring the mountain villages of Wengen on one side or Mürren and Gimmelwald on the other.
The One Through The Glacial Valley is posted at 3.8 kilometers from
Lauterbrunnen to the Sandbach bus stop and takes about 55 minutes.
Wondering how to fit these fantastic hikes into your trip to Switzerland? Well,
we've got you covered! Like we mentioned earlier, each of these hikes is detailed in
our Ultimate One Week Guide To The Jungfrau Region, including custom maps so you know
exactly how to get there and where to go. You can learn more about our Swiss Travel Guides
on our website or by watching this video next. Then we'll see you on the trails in Switzerland!