Hike in Short
| Metric | Day 1: Meiringen to Grindelwald | Day 2: Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 23km | 22.5km |
| Altimeters | 1,426m | 1,128m |
| Time (incl. breaks) | 8h15m | 7h15m |
| Type | One-way | One-way |
| Part of | Via Alpina (Route 1) Etappe 10 | Via Alpina (Route 1) Etappe 11 |
| Start Location | Meiringen | Grindelwald |
| End Location | Grindelwald | Lauterbrunnen |
| Physical difficulty | medium | medium |
| Technical difficulty | medium | difficult |
Hiking Map
Hike Report
DAY 1: Meiringen – Grindelwald
The tour from Meiringen through Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen is perfect for a two-day hike in the canton of Bern. Following the signs of Via Alpina 1 , you will pass by the regions most iconic places and mountains: Eiger, Jungfrau, Wengen, Grosse Scheidegg and Kleine Scheidegg. Overall the trail is easy to walk with several sections on paved road and the rest on gravel, forst paths and occasional grass fields. However, with ~22 km per day and 1100-1400 altimeters it can be on the challenging side condition-wise. As we did the tour in November 2020, there were ice-covered bits along the way and the sections where surrounding mountains blocked the sunlight were fairly chilly. On the plus side, it was extremely quiet with only a few other hikers and cars passing by.
When coming by car, there is a free parking space near the hospital in Meiringen, which is where our route in the map above started. Alternatively, Meiringen has a train station which can be used as starting point of the route. From both starting places, you basically just have to follow the signs of the Via Alpina 1 for the entire trip (see pictures above if you are unsure about what to look for). Initially, the route takes you on the Sherlock Holmes trail, which leads to a nearby forest. On a steep but easily walkable path through the forest, you will quickly reach Sherlock’s famous Reichenbachfall, which offers a first glance over the valley and surrounding mountains. During summer, the waterfall can be visited with a cable car.
Following the road for a while, you will be rewarded with first glimpses of the Wetterhorn and small waterfalls. From there, you will walk with an easy incline for another few kilometers on a path close to and sometimes over the main road. In summer, it might be quite busy with other hikers as well as cars but later in the season it was not a problem at all.
Via the forest you will be guided to more open spaces which offer an impressive view on the Wellhorn and Wetterhorn mountains and their glaciers. Crossing open roads you will walk the last 300 meters in elevation until reaching the Grosse Scheidegg. The plateau allows an incredible view over the Grindelwald valley with mountains and glaciers on either side. The now visible Eiger peak will indicate the direction of the remaining tour.
From the Grosse Scheidegg it is another 8 km before you reach the center of Grindelwald. On the way, have a look up to the glaciers on the left (Oberer Grindelwaldgletscher) and see whether you can spot the house on the edge of the mountain. As Grindelwald provides many options for accommodations from simple guest houses to nice hotels, you are sure to find something according to your likings.
DAY 2: Grindelwald – Lauterbrunnen
After a goodnight sleep you will continue following the Via Alpina 1, this time to the Kleine Scheidegg. From Grindelwald center its a small descent to the valley station of all gondolas, before the second day’s climb awaits. Be prepared that the first ~600 m up to Alpiglen are partially very steep. After the village, however, the trail will be flatter and you can already spot the lifts and hotels at the Kleine Scheidegg. For the whole first part of this hike, you will be accompanied by the Eiger towering up on your left. Be sure to also turn around in between to enjoy the view back over Grindelwald.
Being the highest point of this tour, the Kleine Scheidegg is an ideal sport for lunch. In case you did not bring enough food or you prefer to get something fresh, there will be several options for you here. From the plateau, you have perfect view on the three famous peaks: Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, as well as of Europe’s highest railway station the Jungfraujoch at an elevation of 3454 metres.
Right after the top, the descent starts over open gravel paths. Quickly you will be covering parts of the Lauberhorn run, which is one of the most famous Alpine Ski World Cups. Do you recognise the Wasserstation tunnel in the picture below? Further along way, you will be seeing the village Mürren at the opposite site of the impressive Lauterbrunnen valley, until you reach Wengen.
From Wengen, it is another hour on steep winding path through the forstest until you reach Lauterbrunnen. Through the peaks, you can spot some of Lauterbrunnen’s waterfalls. The path will bring you right to the train station, which marked the end of our two-day trip. If you have enough time, it is worthwhile the spend some time in the valley and enjoy the views. A closing note on the second day: The sections from Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg and Kleine Scheidegg to Lauterbrunnen are entirely covered by trains. In case you prefer a shorter walk, or less ascending or descending, especially on the steep sections, there are numerous options to cover part of the hike by train.
Video Journal
For more drone and hike videos, you can go Videos.