This epic mountain trail has it all: famous peaks, tranquil alpine lake, dramatic ridge, rocky cliffs, grassy meadows. The only thing you could add is keeping it a secret from everyone else.

This 16.5km trail connects two mountain areas in the Jungfrau Region: Schynige Platte and Grindelwald First. You ride mountain transport on both sides of the trail so you spend your day high in the mountains, not a boring trudge from the valley to get there.

Trail: Challenging • 6h+ • 16.5 k • 630up, 840m down
View trail map.

Trail direction

This is a one way trail, which can be hiked in either direction. I chose to hike starting at Grindelwald First because it has less elevation gain in that direction and the climb is shorter. Lastly, I wanted to end closer to home, instead of having to drive through the Grindelwald valley when I was tired.

However, I think it might be slightly prettier starting at Schynige Platte along the ridge and ending the hike with the Bachalpsee lake in view for a long time as you descend.

How to get there

This trail located near Grindelwald in the Jungfrau Region of Switzerland. It's a one way trail and you can hike in either direction. But I'll assume here that you are starting the hike at Grindelwald First. 

By car:

I recommend parking your car at the end at the Wilderswil, Bahnhof and taking the train to your starting point at Grindelwald. So drive to Wilderswil and park in the metered parking next to the train station (Alte Staatsstrasse, 3812 Wilderswil). Catch the train to Grindelwald, Bahnhof, which runs every 30 mins on the xx:09 and xx:39. From Grindelwald, walk to the Grindelwald, First gondola station as shown below.

By train:

Take a train to Grindelwald, Bahnhof. Then walk to the Grindelwald, First gondola station, about a 10 min walk.

The trail ends at Schynige Platte, where you ride the mountain train down to the Wilderswil, Bahnhof. There you can catch a train to Grindelwald, Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen.  

Tickets

You'll need a one way gondola ticket between Grindelwald First-Grindelwald and one way mountain train ticket for Schynige Platte-Wilderswil. These can be purchased at the mountain or valley stations before boarding. You can also purchase them via the SBB Mobile App.