Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
that the Männlichen-Kleine Scheidegg trail is open before ascending. Don't waste time in
Wengen if it's sunny—you can linger back here after your hike.
Riding the gondola from Wengen to Männlichen, you'll go over the old lift station (in-
undated by a 1978 avalanche that buried a good part of Wengen—notice there's no develop-
ment in the “red zone” above the tennis courts). Farms are built with earthen ramps on the
uphill side in anticipation of the next slide. The forest of avalanche fences near the top was
built after that 1978 avalanche. As you ascend you can also survey Wengen—the bright red
roofs mark new vacation condos, mostly English-owned and used only a few weeks a year.
For a detour that'll give you an easy king- or queen-of-the-mountain feeling, turn left
from the top of the Wengen-Männlichen lift station, and hike uphill 10 minutes to the little
peak (Männlichen Gipfel, 7,500 feet).
Thengobacktotheliftstation(whichhasagreatkids'area)andenjoythewalk—facing
spectacular alpine panorama views—to Kleine Scheidegg for a picnic or restaurant lunch.
Tostartthehike,leavetheWengen-Männlichenliftstationtotheright.Walkpastthesecond
Männlichen lift station (this oneleads toGrindelwald, the touristy towninthe valley toyour
left). Ahead of you in the distance, left to right, are the north faces of the Eiger, Mönch, and
Jungfrau; in the foreground is the Tschuggen peak, and just behind it, the Lauberhorn. This
hike takes you around the left (east) side of this ridge. Simply follow the signs for Kleine
Scheidegg, and you'll be there in about an hour—a little more for gawkers, picnickers, and
photographers. You might have to tiptoe through streams of melted snow—or some small
snow banks, even well into the summer—but the path is well-marked, well-maintained, and
mostly level all the way to Kleine Scheidegg.
About 35 minutes into the hike, you'll reach a bunch of benches and a shelter with in-
credibleunobstructedviewsofallthreepeaks—theperfectpicnicspot.Fifteenminuteslater,
on the left, you'll see the first sign of civilization: Restaurant Grindelwaldblick (the best
lunch stop up here, open daily, closed Dec and May, described on here ) . Hike to the res-
taurant's fun mountain lookout to survey the Eiger and look down on the Kleine Scheidegg
action. After 10more minutes, you'll beat the Kleine Scheidegg train station, with plenty of
lesser lunch options (including Restaurant Bahnhof, described on here ) .
From Kleine Scheidegg, you can catch the train up to “the top of Europe” (see Jung-
fraujoch listing, earlier), take the train back down to Wengen, or hike downhill (gorgeous
30-minute hike to Wengernalp Station, a little farther to the Allmend stop; 60 more steep
minutes from there into Wengen). The alpine views might be accompanied by the valley-
filling mellow sound of alphorns and distant avalanches. If the weather turns bad or you run
out of steam, catch the train at any of the stations along the way. After Wengernalp, the trail
to Wengen is steep and, though not dangerous, requires a goodset ofknees. The boring final
descent from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen is knee-killer steep—catch the train instead.
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