The famous Jungfrau region is split into two major valleys: Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, with the former being in the east and the latter being in the west. Travelers can easily access the two valleys by car, cable car, or train.
Grindelwald – the east valley of Jungfrau – is one of the most favored regions by tourists and locals alike, thanks to its easy accessibility and wide selection of beautiful trails for hiking in Grindelwald, offering picturesque views. There simply is no shortage of hikes to go and seek adventure on, in this area.
Some of these hikes are situated right in the heart of Grindelwald – such as the Baregg Hut hike – while others are located not quite in the center but around the east valley.
With that said, let’s explore the many different hiking trails in the Jungfrau region.
Hiking in the Jungfrau Region
The east and west valleys of Jungfrau are separated by a big mountain range between them. The Kleine Scheidegg is the mountain pass that connects the two parts.. You can easily travel on either side through public transport. But if you are short on time, Grindelwald serves as the perfect base to start with for exploring the entire Jungfrau region.
If your stay only spans a day or two, it is recommended to choose hikes that can be accessed directly from Grindelwald, maximizing your time in the beautiful mountains.
Best Hiking Trails around Grindelwald
Panoramaweg: Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
One Way • Easy • 1.5 h • 4.7 km • Ascent: 53 m • Descent: 213 m
The Panoramaweg is nestled between Mannlichen and Kleine Scheidegg. It’s a popular family hike as it’s easy enough for young hikers and is also quite manageable with an all-terrain stroller.
Männlichen is easily accessible from Grindelwald by cable car from the Terminal.
There is also a playground for kids to enjoy at Mannlichen, which adds to its favorability as a trail for families.
With unlimited views of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau, the Panoramaweg is also popular for its breathtaking views.
The hike starts at Mannlichen and heads south towards Tschuggen. Hikers stay at the initial altitude until Honegg. Going further along a rocky spur of the Lauberhorn, you reach the Grindelwaldblick mountain restaurant.
From there, the Kleine Scheidegg is not far. Additionally, food and drink are readily available on both the Männlichen and the Kleine Scheidegg. A railway station at Kleine Scheidegg connects the train from Grindelwald to the train heading for Jungfraujoch. The Jungfraujoch (11,371 ft.) – or “Top of Europe ” – is an immensely popular tourist destination with a number of attractions, restaurants and of course magnificent overlooks.
Once you’ve explored Kleine Scheidegg, you can either catch a train back to Grindelwald or descend down to Grindelwald through the Eiger Trail.
Eiger Trail
One Way • Moderate • 2 h • 6 km • Ascent: 100 m • Descent: 800 m
The Eiger Trail is one of the most popular areas to explore. The trail traverses underneath the famous north face of the Eiger, which is notorious as one of the most dangerous rock faces among mountaineers. Its vertical drop of more than 1600 meters, has always attracted the world’s best climbers.
However, unlike the rock face, the trail is safe for inexperienced hikers and tourists to explore along with children. The walk is not steep with only a few switchbacks and rocky sections to maneuver.
The trail is even easier to reach now, thanks to the convenient Eiger Express gondola traveling from Grindelwald. From Grindelwald terminal, you take a 15-minute ride from the gondola to Eigergletscher. This is where the trail begins. It ends at Alpiglen, where you can catch the cogwheel mountain train to descend to Grindelwald.
What lends to Eiger Trail’s popularity is how beautiful the journey and its destination are. Through the entirety of the trail, you are awarded with fantastic views of the Grindelwald valley and its surrounding peaks.
The entire trial is 6 km long with a typical walking time of 2 hours. However, this varies widely based on how experienced you are. It’s not too long but is enough to give you the feel of a proper hike by the end of it.
While captivating, this trail is not suitable for strollers due to its narrow rocky paths. It is, however, largely safe for children as it has no cliffs. It mostly descends downhill for about 800m.
To reach the Eiger Trail, you can take the Eiger Express from the Grindelwald Terminal to the Eigergletscher Station (15 mins ride). You can also access the trailhead by taking the cog railway from Grindelwald (or Lauterbrunnen) to Kleine Scheidegg. After that, you simply switch to the Jungfrau Railway and get off at the first stop, which is the Eiger Glacier Station.
First to Bachalpsee
Round Trip • Moderate • 2 h • 6 km • Ascent: 150 m • Descent: 150 m
The Bachalpsee is a lake near Grindelwald First. The hike to this alpine lake is the perfect choice for any type of visitor to the Jungfrau Region since it’s one of the easiest ones to surmount. The very popular lake of Bachalpsee packs a ton of stunning views.
Despite its short distance, the hike from First to Bachalpsee has no shortage of spellbinding views, surrounded by wildflowers and adorning a backdrop of the glacial mountains of the Jungfrau.
To reach Bachalpsee, you can easily ride the gondola up to First mountain. From there, the trail to the Bachalpsee is about an hour long (3km). The path to the lake is largely smooth with a wide gravel road leading to it.
After the start at First the trail leads slightly uphill during the first 20 minutes, that might leave you out of breath initially. But beyond that, it levels out and the rest of the hike to the deep blue lake is relatively easy.
What makes Bachalpsee so special is that, despite being located at an altitude of 2,265m, it is so easily accessible through this short trek from the First station. The trail to the lake is a gravel and mostly smooth path with no tricky footing. It’s not really stroller-friendly, but if you take an all-terrain stroller and don’t mind pushing it uphill and carrying over a few short sections, it’s still possible.
Lake Bachalpsee truly does have it all in terms of being a well-rounded and impressive destination in Switzerland.
After visiting the lake, you can head back to First and enjoy generous amusement options including the Grindelwald Cliff Walk, a long zip line (the First Flyer), and a nice playground with a fantastic view.
After an action packed day, the gondola takes you from the First back down into the valley to Grindelwald.
The trail to the Bachalpsee is a popular one with the tourists hiking in Grindelwald, since it’s not only an easy hike but is also quite short. To avoid the crowds, it’s best to get an early start.
First – Faulhorn – Schynige Platte
One Way • Moderate/Strenuous • 6 h • 16.5 km • Ascent: 560 m • Descent: 650 m
The hike starting from Grindelwald First and ending at Schynige Platte is a long and strenuous one. On your way to the end, you pass by the Bachalpsee, visit the Faulhorn peak, and travel the distance of the beautiful mountainscape.
This trail spans one way only between Grindelwald First and Schynige Platte. Along it, there are two mountain huts at Faulhorn and Manndelenen where you can get refreshments and use the WC.
Despite its difficulty, the hike is well worth it because it has it all: famous peaks, dramatic ridges, grassy meadows, rocky cliffs, and a tranquil alpine lake. It’s a great hike if you are looking for a full-day adventure, as it takes a while to finish.
The trail also boasts stunning panoramic views of the Bernese Alps from ever-varying angles.
Hikers embarking on this beautiful hike should be in good physical condition and well acclimated. Don’t attempt it during bad weather. Most of this hike is along high exposed slopes, definitely not the place you want to be during a storm.
Where to stay in Grindelwald
If you are running on limited time (3 days or less) but still want to get the most out of your visit to Grindelwald, it’s recommended to stay in or near the Grindelwald village instead of Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen. This will result in minimal travel time to reach the different destinations for hiking in Grindelwald, that you’d like to explore.
On the other hand, if you have more time, you can choose a central location, such as Interlaken, to lodge in. This would allow you to easily access a variety of destinations, in addition to Grindelwald.
To find the best deals on accommodation in Grindelwald, research booking platforms like Booking.com and similar. If you are on a budget, a youth hostel is a great choice for solo or family travelers.
For a much nicer stay, the Boutique Hotel Glacier is the one to beat with its stunning views of the impressive Eiger.
Summary & Final Thoughts
So, here are our favorite options for hiking in Grindelwald. From the easy stroll to the mirror-like Bachalpsee lake to the more difficult Schynige Platte, there is something for everyone in Grindelwald when it comes to going on an adventure of a lifetime!
