Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Schynige Platte to First (more dificult)
The best day I've had hiking in the Berner Oberland was when I made this demanding six-
hour ridge walk, with Lake Brienz on one side and all that Jungfrau beauty on the other.
Start at the Wilderswil train station (just outside Interlaken), and catch the little train up to
Schynige Platte (6,560 feet; 2/hour, 55 minutes, 35 SF). The high point is Faulhorn (8,790
feet, with its famous mountaintop hotel). Hike to a small mini-gondola called “First” (7,110
feet), then ride down to Grindelwald and catch a train back to your starting point, Wilder-
swil.Or,ifyouhavearegionaltrainpass(ornocarbutendlessmoney),takethelong,scenic
returntrip:FromGrindelwald,taketheliftuptoMännlichen(2/hour,30minutes,36SF),do
the hike to Kleine Scheidegg and down to Wengen (described earlier), then head down into
Lauterbrunnen.
For a shorter (3-hour) ridge walk, consider the well-signposted Panoramaweg, a loop
from Schynige Platte to Daub Peak.
ThealpineflowerparkatSchynigePlatteStationoffersadelightfulstrollthroughseveral
hundred alpine flowers (free, June-Sept daily 8:30-18:00,
www.alpengarten.ch
)
, including a
chance to see edelweiss growing in the wild.
Lowa, a leading local manufacturer of top-end hiking boots, has a promotional booth at
Schynige Platte Station that provides free loaners to hikers who'd like to give their boots a
try. They're already broken in, but bring thick socks (or buy them there).
If hiking here, be mindful of the last lifts (which can be as early as 16:30). Hiking from
First (7,113 feet) to Schynige Platte (6,454 feet) gives you a later departure down and less
climbing. The TI produces a great Schynige Platte map/guide narrating the train ride up and
describing various hiking options from there (available at Wilderswil Station).
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is popular and accepted, as long as you stay on the clearly marked
of bikes, and is likely to be open when the Mürren one isn't. The two shops work together:
For an 8-SF surcharge, you can pick up your bike at one location and leave it at the other.
On trains and cable cars, bikes require a separate ticket.
The most popular bike rides include the following:
Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken:
This is a gentle downhill ride on a peaceful bike path
acrosstheriverfromtheroad(don'tbikeontheroaditself).YoucanreturntoLauterbrunnen
by train (13 SF total for bike and you). Or rent a bike at either Interlaken station, take the
train to Lauterbrunnen, and ride back.
