elle7

We will be staying in Grindelwald in mid September for a couple of days. I know my husband will want to get out and walk/hike. We are in our 60s. Can you recommend the easiest, flattest hike for us?...and how we would get there. Thanks so much.

bob_brown

I am always amused at questions from people who go to young, steep mountains and then seek a flat hike!

Last year, still recovering from hip surgery, we walked from First (gondola station) to Grosse Scheidegg and took the bus back to Grindelwald.

The walk from the First station to the Bachsee is flat for a walk in the mountains, but I would not call it level.

A most rewarding one, but one that has a bit of climb, is from the Pfingstegg to Stieregg hike. This one involves taking the cable car from behind the church in Grindelwald to a station on the side of the valley. Then turn west and walk until you must turn south.

Follow along the side of the glacial gorge, past the place where that huge chunk of the Eiger broke off a few weeks ago, to the site of the old restaurant in a flat area about a mile or so from the point where the trail turns south.

As you go deeper into the gorge you will be high enough to get a good look at the inner mountain world of glaciers and jagged peaks. No better view is to be had for so little effort.

A little farther away, above Lauterbrunnen, the walk from the Grutschalp station (partly inoperative while construction is underway)back to Mürren. To get there right now, you can take the bus from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg and ride up on the cable lift to Mürren and then take the train to Grutschalp (about 2 miles) and walk back. I recommend going north to south on this trail so that the mountains are in front of you. The Jungfrau dominates the view to the southeast.

The short path along the crest of the Männlichen, that ridge between Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, is nice as well. If you are up to it, the path to Kleine Scheidegg is downhill and frequently used. You can ride the gondola up to the crest from Gindelwald Grund. It is the longest gondola I know of.

Another nice view can be had from Schynigge Platte. The ascent is from Wilderswil, 1 K from Interlaken Ost, via a mountain train. I recommend that you only go if the day is clear.

I think the Eiger North Wall trail may be a bit too steep. Going down, it is a little hard on the knees; coming up it is a little steep in places. I found it easier coming uphill.

skye2006

Go to the Hotel Crystal on the main street in Interlaken or the Harder Minerva hotel on Harder Minerva Strasse. Rene at the Harder minerva is a wealth of information and the women who owns the Crystal s a member of the alpine club and probably your best source. Tell them that Peter and Don from Montreal sent you there we're both teachers who have spent a few years with them. Hope it helps. The hikes are great!!

Melnq8

There's a cable car in Grindelwald that goes up to Pfingstegg. Once at the top you'll have some nice views over Grindelwald and there's a short level hike along the ridge.

There are also several easy, level walks that originate from Lauterbrunnen.

Once such walk extends from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg. It's paved and completely level - it's marked at one hour 15 minutes. Once in Stechelberg you can take the cable car up to Gimmelwald and Murren if you're so inclined, then return the same way, and either walk back or catch the bus from Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen.

From Lauterbrunnen you can also walk to Zweilutschinen along the Lutschine. This walk is level and paved and takes about 1 hour. From Zweilutschinen you can catch the train back to Grindelwald.

You might also consider taking the train from Grindelwald to Wilderswil and then walking to Interlaken - this takes about 45 minutes and is paved, but not particularly interesting IMO.

By far the most popular easy walk in the area is the one from from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, which is often mentioned here.

kwren

I just did the hike between Mannlichen and Kleine Scheidigg and it is level with an even path the entire way (maybe a small rock or two in the path, but with good shoes you won't notice them )- I guarantee you can do it! The path just follows the contours of the side of the mountains - it doesn't go up over them. You need to be sure to take the Panorama Weg - refer to the signs at Mannlichen. Nice views and the entire hike takes an hour and 10 minutes at a leisurely pace. There is even a "Toi Toi" (porta potty) and benches to enjoy the view halfway there! Not that I saw all the mountains due to clouds, but I was told that it is best to start at Mannlichen instead of ending there so you can face the mountains as you walk. Even with the clouds, the views were great. I promise you will like this hike!

A nice thing about Mannlichen is the cow pasture before you start the hike - it's wonderful to hear all those cowbells. There are also cows at the end so when you start to hear the bells again you are almost there.

treplow

I, too, have taken the hike described by kwren and its was very pleasant and easy.

treplow

PS, I did the hike last year, when I was 79. A trecking pole helped.

elle7

Thanks everybody.. we will try Mannlichen to Klein Scheidig

skatedancer

IMO, one of the great things about hiking in Switzerland is that you can take walks even at the top of a mountain, as opposed to having to make a difficult climb up to see the vistas. When we did the Mannlichen - kleine Scheidegg walk, we came upon a family pushing a man along in a wheelchair (although they did need help over some small rocks).
The walk along the Lauterbraunnen valley is also wonderful, and probably even easier, and you can even make it a little shorter by taking the bus to the Trummelbach Falls, then walking to Stechelberg, and thereby avoiding the walk through the town and most of the road traffic. Be advised that while a visit to the Trummelbach Falls is wonderful, it requires a tremendous amount of stair climbing.
Once in Stechelberg, you can take the gondola up to see the beautiful town of Murren (gondola to Gimmelwald, then direct connection to Murren).
However, if you do only one hike, then make it the Mannlichen - KS one, because it really gets you right up there to see the peaks.

kwren

We were going to walk from Trummelbach falls back to Lauterbrunnen, but there were no sidewalks and quite a bit of traffic. Is there a separate hiking path paralleling the road I should have known about?

Budman

<Last year, still recovering from hip surgery, we walked from First (gondola station) to Grosse Scheidegg and took the bus back to Grindelwald.>

We took this hike but got off the gondola at Schreckfeld, the stop before it turned up hill to First. It may be easier than walking down hill from First to Schreckfeld, then over to Grosse Scheidegg. Stop at Grosse Scheidegg and have lunch and a couple of beers before you catch the bus. Check out the bus schedules because they are not that frequent.

fun4all4

Yes, kwren, there is a separate walking path from Lauterbrunnen to Trummelbach and then on to Stechelberg. I am sorry you missed it.

elle7 - I would also recommend either the Mannlichen-Kleine Scheidegg hike or the very easy,flat walk from Lauterbrunnen. The first is high up in the mountains with vistas and the second is a lovely stroll through the valley along the river with views of mountains and waterfalls rising up on either side.

Have a great trip.

kwren

I'll just have to go back and find that trail!