Your favorite hikes in Switzerland
Jan 29th, 2004, 02:58 PM
#1
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Your favorite hikes in Switzerland
We'll be traveling to Switzerland in mid to late May (aware that there will be snow in the mountains) and would like to take in some half to full-day hikes. Any recommendations for favorite regions/starting points? If trails are named, info or websites would be much appreciated! Many thanks!
Jan 29th, 2004, 03:40 PM
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We really enjoyed Klein Sheidegg to Wengen. Also Grutchlap to Muerren which is an easy hour walk there and back. Fabulous views.
Here is a site to check out for great hikes as well as lots of other info on Switzerland.
http://www.twenj.net/swisswalk.htm
Here is a site to check out for great hikes as well as lots of other info on Switzerland.
http://www.twenj.net/swisswalk.htm
Jan 29th, 2004, 08:59 PM
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The downhill walk, Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen, is fun. Uphill, you need to be in shape.
The trail from Grutschalp to Mürren is something else again. Incredible.
The main range of the Berner Oberland is right in front of you the whole way.
As trails go in the mountains, it is flat. No steep climbs.
The best one in that region is the long traverse from Schynige Platte to a gondola station called First, which means ridge in German. I would not chance it in mid May, but by late May it could be open.
A better bet is to ride the gondola from Grindelwald to First and walk toward the top of the Faulhorn. The view from up there is the stuff of legends.
Incredible view.
If you cannot make it all the way to the top of the Faulhorn because of snow, go as far as you can. Every bit of it is scenic on a clear day.
Your best source of information on the subject are the hiking books by Kev Reynolds. The Bernese Alps and The Valais are two class walking guides.
Hopefully Amazon can get them for you.
I have them and would not part with them for any price.
The trail from Grutschalp to Mürren is something else again. Incredible.
The main range of the Berner Oberland is right in front of you the whole way.
As trails go in the mountains, it is flat. No steep climbs.
The best one in that region is the long traverse from Schynige Platte to a gondola station called First, which means ridge in German. I would not chance it in mid May, but by late May it could be open.
A better bet is to ride the gondola from Grindelwald to First and walk toward the top of the Faulhorn. The view from up there is the stuff of legends.
Incredible view.
If you cannot make it all the way to the top of the Faulhorn because of snow, go as far as you can. Every bit of it is scenic on a clear day.
Your best source of information on the subject are the hiking books by Kev Reynolds. The Bernese Alps and The Valais are two class walking guides.
Hopefully Amazon can get them for you.
I have them and would not part with them for any price.
Jan 29th, 2004, 10:20 PM
#5
One of my all time favorite Swiss hikes is the North Face Trail above Murren. From Murren you can take the Allmendhubel funicular and begin your hike at the top.
If you're feeling energetic, you can also hike directly up from Murren. The path begins near the Schilthorn cable station.
The North Face Trail is relatively gentle (especially if you take the funicular) and incredibly scenic. From Murren it takes about 2:30, using the funicular it takes about 1:30.
The walk from Murren to Grutschalp has already been mentioned. It's an easy walk, but can be made more challenging by taking the alpine path near Grutschalp to Allmendhubel and then picking up the North Face Trail from there.
Another interesting hike begins at Grutschalp, where you can hike the lower trail to Isenfluh, and then down to Zweilutschinen (2:30), where you can catch the train back to Murren.
If you're headed to Zermatt, you might want to take the hike to Z'Mutt, which begins by the Zermatt gravel quarry, then leads uphill to the right. It takes about an hour to reach Z'Mutt, where you can then continue towards the reservoir, or turn back toward Furi. Once in Furi you can walk back down to Zermatt or take the cable car.
BTW, we've done all of these hikes in late May. We have run into some snow and mud, but not enough to cause problems.
If you're feeling energetic, you can also hike directly up from Murren. The path begins near the Schilthorn cable station.
The North Face Trail is relatively gentle (especially if you take the funicular) and incredibly scenic. From Murren it takes about 2:30, using the funicular it takes about 1:30.
The walk from Murren to Grutschalp has already been mentioned. It's an easy walk, but can be made more challenging by taking the alpine path near Grutschalp to Allmendhubel and then picking up the North Face Trail from there.
Another interesting hike begins at Grutschalp, where you can hike the lower trail to Isenfluh, and then down to Zweilutschinen (2:30), where you can catch the train back to Murren.
If you're headed to Zermatt, you might want to take the hike to Z'Mutt, which begins by the Zermatt gravel quarry, then leads uphill to the right. It takes about an hour to reach Z'Mutt, where you can then continue towards the reservoir, or turn back toward Furi. Once in Furi you can walk back down to Zermatt or take the cable car.
BTW, we've done all of these hikes in late May. We have run into some snow and mud, but not enough to cause problems.
Jan 30th, 2004, 01:52 AM
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I did the uphill Klein Scheidegg walk (and down); it was a full day's hike and we felt like we had really earned our dinner that day.
In the Ticino, one of my favorite hikes is from the smallest of the three castles in Bellinzona down through the woods, along streams and little waterfalls, to town. You can take a bus (or taxi) up to the little castle. The view from there is terrific and you may have the place to yourself--it's the least visited of the three castles. In mid-May, the weather should be about perfect--warm in the sun, cooler in the shady woods--just right for a long walk.
In the Ticino, one of my favorite hikes is from the smallest of the three castles in Bellinzona down through the woods, along streams and little waterfalls, to town. You can take a bus (or taxi) up to the little castle. The view from there is terrific and you may have the place to yourself--it's the least visited of the three castles. In mid-May, the weather should be about perfect--warm in the sun, cooler in the shady woods--just right for a long walk.
Jan 30th, 2004, 06:31 AM
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This past October we did some hiking in the Alpes de Haute Provence and found trekking poles to be very helpful, going up as well as down. We first noticed hikers using them on the trails we trekked from our base in Wengen.
Mar 4th, 2004, 06:23 AM
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I would have to agree with Bob Brown that the hike from Schynige Platte to First is spectacular. We've hiked it twice and give it a 10 out of 10. Try to get to Schynige Platte as early as possible because it takes all day and you need to get to First before the last lift down. After this long hike, you probably don't want to hike down to Grindelwald from First.
I would also recommend many of the hikes out of Kandersteg. One of our favorites is from Oschenensee (spelling may be off) up to Hohturli. A long hike but beautiful. The hike from Osheninsee to Frundenhutte is also beautiful and you get to cross several footbridges over waterfalls. The hut at the top is the coziest we've seen.
There is another wonderful hike out of Meiringen but I will have to get the details later - we hiked it twice two years ago (one day was foggy) but it was a spectacular ridge walk. More later.
I would also recommend many of the hikes out of Kandersteg. One of our favorites is from Oschenensee (spelling may be off) up to Hohturli. A long hike but beautiful. The hike from Osheninsee to Frundenhutte is also beautiful and you get to cross several footbridges over waterfalls. The hut at the top is the coziest we've seen.
There is another wonderful hike out of Meiringen but I will have to get the details later - we hiked it twice two years ago (one day was foggy) but it was a spectacular ridge walk. More later.
Mar 8th, 2004, 02:24 PM
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Agree with Grutschalp to Murren trek. Not only scenic, but easy on the feet.
For a more slightly more challenging hike, try First station to the Bachalpsee (above Grindelwald). Here's a picture w/ my daughter, who struggled a little but was glad she made it...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...11424199bBkXrF
For a more slightly more challenging hike, try First station to the Bachalpsee (above Grindelwald). Here's a picture w/ my daughter, who struggled a little but was glad she made it...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...11424199bBkXrF
