I'm with Thin on this one. We walked the path he refers to from Kleine Scheidegg down to Wengen, and we could barely move for DAYS afterwards. Just because it's downhill doesn't mean it's easy.

We more recently walked from Wengen down to Lauterbrunnen - that was a leg killer too.

PS - and we're avid hikers.

Hi Melnq8,
Definitely we will not be hiking all the way down till wengen we will be taking the train from Wengernalp after checking out the benches mentioned by thin.

There are some nice trails that lead off from Wengernalp sids, if you're looking for more of a challenge. We once walked from there to Wixi, Bigernalp, Mittlenap, Upper Preech, Lower Preech and over the upper Trummelbach Falls, then back to Lauterbrunnen.

It was a five hour trek and not something I'd suggest for the inexperienced or fainthearted (the bit over the falls was scary), but the sections through the meadows that Thin refers to are easy and have incredible views.

Have a wonderful trip, Wengen is a special place.

Thanks Melnq8, Since we will be traveling along with our 6yr junior, prefer for easy hikes..

When we left K-S to go back to Wengen, my walk started at either the station just before you stopped at Wengen, or, the one before that. Probably the last one. It wasn't too steep and took maybe 45 minutes total to get back to Wengen - and I stopped for photos frequently.

Another really interesting thing to do is to check out the Trummelbach falls while in Lauterbrunnen. This is a short bus ride from the middle of town. They are inside the mountain! When I was inside, I stood there and closed my eyes. You don't just see the water falling, you feel it (even standing back at a safe distance!). You hear it - that is an understatement. In fact I'd say "seeing it" is secondary to just standing there to feel the thundering. I'm probably not describing this very well. You will be completely in awe of how much power this waterfall has. Make sure you have cash on you as they do not take credit cards and I don't think there is an ATM anywhere nearby.

http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/dest...-of-stone.html

I'm with Thin on this one. We walked the path he refers to from Kleine Scheidegg down to Wengen, and we could barely move for DAYS afterwards. Just because it's downhill doesn't mean it's easy.>

but again that is not the main trail which I and others have taken and say is easy - very easy so it depends on which trail you take - it can be a sweet easy stroll from Kl. Scheidegg to Wengen - one of the easiest and most scintillating walks I've taken in the Berner Oberland.

Hello all,

Due to some reason we are postponing our vacation to December, Can anyone tell me how would be the weather in December 2nd week (guessing too much crowded around this time)

We were on the main trail Pal, same as Thin. It was a steep downhill descent. Can't we just agree to disagree?

sids -

We've often visited Switzerland in early December and have found places like Wengen, Murren and Zermatt practically deserted, which is why we like to go then. The closer you get to Christmas the more crowded it gets and prices go UP.. Accomodation in some areas, like Zermatt, require two week bookings over the holiday period and cancellation policies can be brutal, so the sooner you start your accomodation hunt the better.

FYI - Many walk trails are groomed in the winter months, so there's still plenty of good hiking to be had.

Hi Melnq8, Thanks for that tip on the December visit

Early December is a totally different story. It's winter season. There might be snow or not in the villages but there will definitely be snow higher up, like Kleine Scheidegg etc. Like Melnq8 said, places like Wengen and Mürren will be practically deserted. Hiking trails may be groomed or not - it's still early in the season. Even if some are groomed, the number/choice of trails is very limited compared to summer.

Definitely a poor time for hiking.

I guess that depends on ones perspective, Ingo. We love hiking in Switzerland in the winter, but it does have its challenges and may not be the best experience for a first time visitor.

I do love hiking in Switzerland in winter, too. But options are much more limited than in summer. And second week of December even fewer of these trails (higher up) will be groomed as it is very early in the season. Besides, daylight hours are shortest of the year and weather will most likely be unstable.

Of course I had in mind that we're advising a first time visitor, not veterans of Switzerland travel like us :-)

Fair enough.

Ouch, sorry. I'd consider going somewhere slightly warmer if you have to postpone. How about Portugal?

Summer hiking in Switzerland is divine. I haven't been, in the winter, but I'd think the much shorter days would be a challenge, too. Think of how much colder it will be on the Jungfraujoch, too.

not that much colder on Jungfraujoch I'd venture as the daily high in summer is about 32 F - so how cold can it be - cold is cold IMO.

32 versus 0 would be pretty big, to me. Especially with a 6 year old.

I have a photo taken in July of the temperatures - they post them. The overnight low was -99.9 celsius. I would think winter versus summer could be a dramatic difference. Not as dramatic as that, but definitely colder.

The easiest stroll from Kleine Scheidegg goes a flat few miles at most to the Mannlichen, one of the most celebrated viewpoints in the whole Berner Oberland - can see both Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald valleys and down over Interlaken, wedged between the two lakes it lies between - and then take the cable car effortlessly down to Wengen (or if hiking then that Mannlichen to Wengen hike is steep downhill).

Hi thanks Palenq, just wondering if this is possible in December

Depends on the weather sids. The bigger problem is getting from Mannlichen to Wengen or Grindelwald as the cableway is also seasonal. If it's closed, you'd have to backtrack to Kleine Scheidegg on foot. Here's a link to operating times.

http://www.jungfrau.ch/en/winter/tou...-times-winter/

You'll notice that Mannlichen-Wengen and Mannlichen to Grindelwald are blank, which makes me think its opening times are snow dependant. Problem is, if there's enough snow to operate the cableway for skiers & snowboarders, there's too much snow up there to walk. This is not a groomed walking trail as far as I know, but if it is, it's a good one.

http://www.jungfrau.ch/en/winter/tou...-times-winter/