Which scenic mountain rail trips?
 

We are leaving in 2 days for 2 weeks in Switzerland, staying in a chalet between Luzern and Interlaken. Although we have Swiss rail passes, we don't have the time or the money to ride on all the private scenic mountain trips in this area. I know most tourists go on the Jungfraujoch trip, but I'm not sure if it's really #1 on the list. I'd love to hear from travelers who have been on other great trips into the mountains with their recommendations.

I think the Jungfrau is terrific, but yes it is quite expensive. The Schilthorn is quite a bit less, but still somewhat pricey. You may not get as much snow, but the views are supposed to be spectacular. You can get great views just by taking the gondola or funicular/train combo up to Murren and Gimmelwald. And some of the best views around will greet you on the 1 hr. hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg (and Kleine Scheidegg provides probably the most spectacular views anywhere - you are right below the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau). Just take the gondola up to Mannlichen from Grindelwald (I think you can also do it from Wengen). The thing about the Jungfrau that is hard to duplicate is that you are on a glacier when you get to the top. Also, it goes through the mountain. Don't know much about mountain trips in Luzern, but the lake cruises are quite beautiful and are covered on the Swiss Pass.

I think Dan is right on target in all that he says. He knows the territory well. The one trip that he does not mention that I totally endorse, if the day is clear, is the gondola ride from Grindelwald to First, with a hike at least to the Bachalpsee. Trains from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald run frequently; then it is a short walk up the main street to the gondola station. If you make it beyond Bachalpsee to the hotel on top of the Faulhorn, you will never forget it. The gondola trip within itself is a marvellous trip, but the hike adds spendid views all around, particularly of the Eiger, Schreckhorn, Moench, and Jungfrau and all the other giants of the Berner Oberland. <BR> <BR>In the Luzern area there elaborate cable cars that ascend Mt. Pilatus and Mt. Titlis. The boat trip on Lake Luzern is nice. (In German, Lake Luzern is called Vierwaldstaettersee - literally lake of the 4 wooded states (cantons).) <BR> <BR>Now would I rate the Jungfrau as #1 on my list? HMMM! NO. I would rate the Grindelwald - First - Bachalpsee - Faulhorn ride and hike as #1 for scenery all around. But I will have to admit that the Jungfrau trip was special. <BR> <BR>Another splendid walk is to take the train from Interlaken - Ost as far as Lauterbrunnen, then take the cable lift up to the Grutschalp station. Then walk the trail to Muerren. The walk is relatively short, flat, and filled with gorgeous views of the Berner Oberland: Jungfrau, Breithorn, and a host of others. There is a cafe along the route, benches to rest on, and places to eat in Murren. <BR>Then you can take the trainlet back to Grutschalp and descend to Lauterbrunnen on that elevator- cable car contraption that took you up. (The valley side is a mite steep for walking.) Be prepared to ride like a sardine. <BR> <BR>Or, you could descend on another cable car to Stechelberg, walk or ride the post bus to Trummelbach Falls, and then take the post bus back to Lauterbrunnen. <BR>Your rail pass should get you to Lauterbrunnen at no extra cost. But the cable car lift and the trainlet to Muerren are on private lines. (I call it a trainlet because we only saw two cars on the train. We were able to detect 3 units that shuttled back and forth.) <BR> <BR>For riding the various mountain systems, the Swiss Card, for me, was better economically than the Swiss Pass because the discounts are larger on the private rail lines and gondolas. For example, the Jungfrau trip from Lauterbrunnen was about $50 each. <BR> <BR>Also, you can buy those passes cheaper in Switzerland than you can from Rail Europe. But you probably already have them in hand. <BR>

Bob, I am afraid I do not have much knowledge of the First walk, but it is not my fault. I actually planned to do that on our final day in the Berner Oberland a couple of years ago, but it was so cloudy, and visibility was so limited that we decided to save it for next time. Instead we walked from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen. I think about it with longing whenever I see you talk about the First hike. Also, planned to walk from Gimmelwald to Grutschalp, but got caught in a wicked thunderstorm on the way. Ran at least 1-2 miles to railway station (closed) at Egg and flagged the train down as it approached to take us to the funicular. Boy, those storms in the mountains come up in a hurry. It was an adventure anyway. Brings up another point for you Anna. Try to get out early for hiking, since from what we experienced and heard, the weather is often less cooperative in the afternoons.

Fantastic tips! Thanks a lot! Hope none of these involve chairlifts. I can take being packed like sardines in a cable car, but draw the line at chairlifts. We do plan on lake trips too, and the Swiss pass is indeed already in hand. <BR>Has anyone gone on the trips up Pilatus or Titlus? How about the steam train at Brienz?

We stayed in Interlaken for a week last May and throughly enjoyed the Berner Oberland. We also had Swiss rail passes and managed to squeeze in the Jungfrau and Schilthorn trips. Yes,it was expensive. However, friends who have been to the area 2 times (and have yet to have good enough weather) told us to take the trips if it was clear. We don't regret it. Would we go again? Probably not, but I wouldn't have missed the trips. <BR> <BR>Several trails that Bob and Dan are discussing were closed due to snow, so we were limited in our hikes. Do take the funicular to Murren, it's a beautiful trip and it's included in your Swiss Pass. <BR> <BR>Also, use the pass to visit the many towns along the two lakes. These boat trips are included in the pass. "Train it" one way and "boat it" the other way. When we go back, and we will some day, we willl visit the Open Air Museum at Ballenburg and the town of Brienz. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your trip!

Anna, I never saw any chairlifts. The funicular up from Lauterbrunnen is very steep though, and so are some of the gondolas. The gondola ride from Grindelwald to Mannlichen is very long and peaceful (I think the longest system in Europe). It takes you over cow pastures/ski slopes, and all you can hear is ringing cow bells.

I forgot that this past year was one of very heavy snow in the Alps. Grindelwald was blocked for several days and guests were taken in and out by helicopter. <BR> <BR>I have hard no recent reports on how deep the snow is on the First - Faulhorn trail this year. Last year in September there were still snow patches. We turned back from the walk past the Faulhorn toward Schynige Platte because the snow was still deep on the trail, which was narrow and exposed. Even if the trail to the Bachalpsee is still closed, the ride up to First is great, when the weather is clear. <BR> <BR>I understand what you say Dan about those trails turning nasty in a hurry. We were hiking up above Saas Fee last year in early October when we decided to return to town on the lift because of the threatening weather. As we were descending, the wind came up so strongly that the safety rules forced the operator to halt the cable. We were caught half way in between top and bottom. Gradually the operator inched us down close to a cable tower so that the swinging of the cable car was not so severe. But we were dangling up there, whipping around in the breeze, for what seemed like an eternity before the operator gradually lowered us to the valley station. <BR> <BR>That cable ride out of Lauterbrunnen for Grutschalp is darn near vertical, or so it seems. The seats in the car are tiered so that the seats are stadium style, only I never was in a stadium that had such a steep pitch. While it is not true that the platform attendent uses a big ram to push people in, it sure felt like it. <BR> <BR>

Switzerland is SO scenic, it won't matter. Just go whereever looks appealing to you on your Swiss rail pass. You'll be delighted!

<BR>Anna, in answer to your question about Mt. Pilatus - we've been up there, thought it was beautiful and would recommend it. Also, from Zermatt you can take scenic cable car up to Gornergrut to see the Matterhorn. As Donna says, everything is so scenic, you can't miss with anywhint. Have a wonderful trip and tell us about it. <BR>By the way, if you've been reading or hearing on tv lately about Chicago and the colorful huge cow (fiberglass I think?) displays all over the city, we were in Zurich last year when the town was celebrating (I forget what now) and had over 600 or so brightly colored cows with different themes all over town, for a month or so. They were in front of stores, on hotel lawns, hanging from poles, all over the place. Each was an original made by artists and the displays really added a special touch to the overall wonderfull Swiss experience. Each was so unique, and I wondered at the time "why didn't we do something like that over here".

Our favorite trips in the area you'll be in are the Schilthorn (your pass covers you as far as Muerren), Schynigge Platte, (pass covers to Wilderswil) and Pilatus. You'll get discounts on the parts not covered. <BR> <BR>Spend some time _walking_ in the mountains too. Many trails, well marked and maintained, and most are not at all strenuous. <BR> <BR>Info on mountain excursions at http://twenj.com/swissoneday.htm#mountaintop and you'll find info on walks and excursions and more at http://twenj.com/swissshort.htm and http://twenj.com/swisswalk.htm <BR> <BR>Ed