Interlaken
 

Is it possible to sleep in Interlaken and then spend one whole day exploring the nearby towns? Can we go to and from Grindelwald or Gimmelwald in the same day and be back in Interlaken that night?

Any tips on the most "Heidi-like" scenery within striking distance of Interlaken would be?

We arrive in Interlaken mid afternoon on a Tuesday, have all day Wednesday to yodel and stuff, then must be on a train to Paris at 7AM on Thursday out of Interlaken. (Basically we are stopping for a 36 hour rest stop between Florence and PAris.)

Yes, that is very feasible, but I prefer
the reverse--stay in Grindelwald and get back to Interlaken to catch the train. Or, some would say to stay in Lauterbrunnen as a mid-point to access both sides on the valley.

The answer is yes. Lauterbrunnen, which is where several lines of transportation meet, is only a 20 minute train ride from Interlaken Ost. From Lauterbrunnen, you can take the bus to Stechelberg and then ride the cable car higher, first to Gimmelwald and then to Mürren and ultimately to the summit of the Schilthorn. Or you can take the mountain train to Wengen and then to Kleine Scheidegg, and all the way to the Jungfraujoch is you desire. And there is a cable car in Lauterbrunnen that lifts you to the train that goes to Mürren, about a two mile ride.

Grindelwald is reached via the same initial route as Lauterbrunnen, except the train splits and brances at a little stop called Zweilütschinen.
Grindelwald is about a 25 minute ride, as none of those towns are very far apart.

I am curious though, why Gimmelwald for a destination? There is really not much there. In my several visits I have done little more than pass through on a hike.

I don't know if the scenery is Heidi like. But the giants of the Berner Oberland are to the south as you head deeper into the valley.

vivi, if your train leaves at 7 A.M. on Thursday you really should stay in Interlaken Wednesday night. I don't think it would be possible to make your connection from either of the "G'walds," and would be difficult even from Lauterbrunnen.

Hi, and if you do stay in Interlaken, head for Murren or Wengen to look for Heidi. She is defenitely not in Grindelwald -- of if she is, you won't see her for the crowds. J.

or, perhaps Bob has given you the clue: If there is not much in Gimmelwald, then that's probably Heidi country. Try a picture search at Alvista.

Good morning, vm my only addition to
the above e mail responses to you would
be that if you decide on Interlaken
that you take a hotel close to the Interlaken Ost railway station as from
it the trains leave up the Brunig and
into Zweilutscheinen where the train
spllits for Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.
Three hotels close to Interlaken Ost are
the DULAC, EUROPE and CARLTON...\
See www.swisshotels.ch for additioinal
information. Richard of LaGrange Park,
IL>.

Just to add to the above..the hotel Bernerhof is directly opposite the train station I believe....a 3* property booked through Best Western

Thanks for the tips!

Yes, we are staying in Interlaken both nights (Happy Inn Lodge, very low budget, LOL) becuase of the 7AM train to Paris on Thursday AM.

Hopefully we can do a circuit thru the Alps on that Wednesday that includes some of the towns you mentioned. I have been to Grindelwald and would like to go someplace further if we have the time, maybe ride a cable car.

My suggestion for scenery in the area around Wengen-Lauterbrunnen-Mürren are two:
1. Ride the brown and tan BOB train as far as Lauterbrunnen. Change to the yellow and green Wegner Alpbahn to Wengen. Walk through the town to the Luftseilbahn (a car hanging from a cable) and ride to the crest of the Männlichen, which is that towering ridge east of Lauterbrunnen. As you ascend notice the extensive snow-avalanche control fences along the ridge. From the crest of the ridge, you can walk north to a wonderful view, and then walk south and descend the ridge to Kleine Scheidegg. If you have enough energy and knee brakes left, descend toward Wengen along the rail line. You pass pastures and cows.
The last train from Wengen back to Interlaken Ost leaves at 10:30 at night, with earlier trains about 9:30 in the evening. So you will be able to get in a very full day of touring.
2. My next suggestion is to ride to Lauterbrunnen and then take the bus or walk along the flat floor of the valley to Trummelbach Falls. There is an admission charge, but the falls are incredible. The meltwater from the glaciers on the Jungfrau and the Mönch have cut a very deep cleft in the side of the cliff. The falls are lighted and there are viewing areas that are well marked. From there you can continue on to the Luftseilbahn valley station near Stechelberg and ride up to Gimmelwald. As I said earlier, there is not much there, but there are some trails that go higher and deeper into the mountains. Or, from Gimmelwald you can ride up to Mürren and find any one of a large number of trails that to out from there. Given that you can leave Interlaken Ost as early as 6:35 and be in Mürren in time for breakfast, you can get in a very long day of rambling.

If you want a relatively level walk (for mountain terrain), take the path from Gimmelwald to the Kilchbalm.
The Kilchbalm is a former glacial cirque deep in the rock faces of the Berner Oberland. The trail ends in a bowl surrounded by towering cliffs, waterfalls, ice pockets, a creek, and, hopefully, grazing cows. As you walk out there you pass through a few rough pastures and farm areas.

Another place, well above tree line, is to take the gondola from Grindelwald to First. (the word means ridge in German). From First you can walk about as far as you want,ranging from 100 yards to the top of the emabankment above the lift station to miles and miles along the ridge.
It is a pastoral setting, and sometimes it is full of cows.

Bob

Thanks for the info on hiking and the great suggestions you continue to make to all.

You've mentioned the Kilchbalm several times and wonder if you have an estimate of length from Gimmelwald to there.

In your opinion, would it be a nicer hike to take the funicular from Lautenbrunner to Grusalp, walk to Murren to Gimmelwald to Kilchbalm and return the same way or upon return to Gimmelwald, take the cable down the mountain and walk back through the valley? Would either of these be a very long day?

We leave very soon, and I'm trying to get my mountains "all in a row!"

vivi..just dont make the mistake of staying in Gimmelwald..its a boring village..
Interlaken is great with easy access to all the towns nearby..

Try to vist the ???Water Falls on the afternoon that you check into Interlaken..they are open till 5pm and are a great way to useup 2-3 hours.

I like the Kilchbalm hike, but I would not do it first unless you want to go deep into the inner gorges of the Berner Oberland Range.

I am trying to remember how long the walk is from the Luftseilbahn station in Gimmelwald to the Kilchbalm. To the "entrance", where the valley suddenly flattens and broadens, I recall 4K, but that needs verification. We did it last summer, with two novice hikers, and they were ok. My wife's gimpy knees (no lateral menisci)were ok, too.

You can take the Drehtseilbahn from Lauterbrunnen up the hill to Grutschalp quite easily. (The word "drehen" means pull, seil is rope or cable, bahn is railway. The contraption itself looks to me like a roller coaster car drug up and let down the hillside on rails by a cable. It runs up about a 70% incline.) The station is slightly uphill and across the main street from the train station.

From Grutschalp the distance to Mürren is about two miles, and the trail is relatively flat for a mountain path.

The walk is very scenic. It might take you 2 hours to walk it because you will keep stopping to stare. The Jungfrau is slightly to the left of straight ahead as you walk, and believe me, if you walk the other way, Mürren to Grutschalp, you either walk backwards or end up with a sore neck.

From Mürren to Gimmelwald, the trail goes steeply downhill. Unless you have good knees, I suggest not doing it.
Take the Luftseilbahn down the hill instead.
The trail to the Kilchbalm is immediately in front of you when you exit the the station. There are signs pointing the way, but the trail is very distinct. Part of it is a farm road.
If cows are grazing along the trail, there will be slatted gates blocking the path. Open these by pulling out the slats, but be sure to put them back. Or, if you are agile, climb over the gate.

The trail is not very scenic for the first part of the hike, and parts of it can seem steep to a person not familiar with mountain trails, but the steep pitches are short. To really enjoy the Kilchbalm, I suggest taking along your lunch, and have a seat at the far end of it on one of the comfortable rocks provided by the management. While you contemplate the countless waterfalls, try to figure out what that thing looked like a few thousand years ago when it was full of ice.

I like it because you are deep in the heart of the alps. The view is different because it is not that wide sweeping panorama that you get from the First station area or from the Männlichen. I think it takes both, both the inner and outer views to understand the mountains.
In terms of priority I would do the sweeping views first. I think they are more spectacular for most people. I would do the Kilchbalm only afterwards, and only if you have a real desire to take a look at the inner mountain world.
I like the walk, but I must put it into perspective. If time is short, you might want to save it for another trip.

I have to bear in mind that I have been there before and I stay a week at a time, or more.

If I had to prioritize, I would say go to Grindelwald in the morning, and take the gondola ride up to First. If the day is clear, the view of the north wall of the Eiger and the other giants of the Berner range will knock your socks off. (take a spare pair just in case)
I have riden up there 4 times, and every time I get goosebumps.
The view from the Männlichen might get your spare pair of socks, too. Both are gorgeous.

Whoever used the term "kneebrakes", that's marvelous. J.