Top 5 Hikes For Beginners In The Jungfrau Region
Many of you who come to Switzerland are not professional hikers or maybe don’t have any hiking experience at all.
But there are so many hikes in the Jungfrau region that are accessible to almost everyone.
In this article, I am going to be going over the top five hikes for beginners in the Jungfrau region.
Let’s Hike!
Table of Contents
Lauterbrunnen Valley Hike
Lauterbrunnen Valley Hike is a pedestrian path that goes all along the valley of Lauterbrunnen.
It’s a perfect hike for true beginners. Walking at a reasonable pace, the hike will take you approximately an hour and 15 minutes. The distance is about 6 ½ km (4 miles).
The hike will start in the village of Lauterbrunnen and end at the Stechelberg gondola station.
As you begin the hike, you’ll quickly pass by the impressive Staubbach Falls, one of 72 waterfalls in the valley.
The paths throughout the duration of this hike are wide, paved, and have no elevation gains.
If you’re traveling with a stroller, you’ll have absolutely no problem on this hike.
This hike is suitable for all ages and levels of physical fitness if you’re able to walk for the duration of the hike.
Continuing along the path, you’ll pass by several smaller waterfalls that cascade down the cliffs.
Also, you’ll pass by the entrance of the Trummelbach Falls, a series of powerful glacier waterfalls that you can visit via a short detour.
You’ll end your hike at the Stechelberg gondola station. From there, you can take a scenic gondola ride up to Murren or hop on the post-bus 141 back to Lauterbrunnen.
Bachalpsee Hike
Bachalpsee Hike starts on the top of Grindelwald at the First (Grindelwald First gondola station).
This hike is one of the most spectacular hikes in the region. While you will need to put in a bit more effort, you will be rewarded with a stunning view.
To begin, you’ll need to take the gondola from Grindelwald to Grindelwald First.
Once you arrive at the First, the trailhead to Bachalpsee is well-marked and easy to find, just a few hundred meters away from the gondola station.
The hike is about 6 km (4 miles) round trip and takes approximately an hour and 30 minutes each way.
Keep your eye on the clock as the last gondola from First typically departs around 5 pm.
So, I recommend beginning this hike earlier in the day.
The hike begins with a fairly steep uphill ascent and some uneven terrain for the first 15 minutes but ultimately levels off to a relatively minimal slope.
While suitable for families of all ages, this hike is not stroller accessible and might be a bit more challenging for some people based on levels of physical fitness as this is a higher altitude hike at 7250 feet or 2200 meters.
At the end of the hike, you will reach the stunning Bachalpsee. It is a beautiful Alpine lake that almost looks like an infinity pool in nature.
I recommend packing a picnic with you to enjoy by the lake. It’s worth spending some time here, taking in all the views, and enjoying the reward after the effort to reach this destination.
Egg-Itramen To Grindelwald Hike
Egg-Itramen is a small settlement on the other side of the Grindelwald valley. To reach Egg-Itramen, take a bus from Grindelwald. The bus ride is about 25 minutes.
It is one of the most popular villages in the region, yet it is still a hidden gem and offers respite away from the crowds.
The hike takes place in the opposite village of the Grindelwald valley.
The hike takes about an hour and 15 minutes to come back all the way to Grindelwald and it is about 4 km (2.48 miles) distance.
You can stop earlier by hopping on a bus and shorten the hike this way.
This is a very beginner-friendly hike and is definitely stroller accessible with its wide-paved pathways and minimal elevation change.
You will go mostly downhill and slightly up at the end of the hike to Grindelwald.
This hike is on the opposite side of the valley from the hustle and bustle of Grindelwald village, offering a peaceful escape from the crowds.
You may often feel like you have the road to yourself. Also, you will experience the authentic charm of the Swiss village.
As you walk back down, you’ll enjoy stunning views of Grindelwald village and the entire valley.
The trail takes you past picturesque farms and charming chalets.
Moreover, you’ll encounter cows, goats, and other livestock along the way, adding to the idyllic countryside experience.
Murren To Gimmelwald Hike
This hike is between Murren and Gimmelwald above the cliff with amazing views of the mountains.
For this hike, you can head to Murren either via the Lauterbrunnen and Grutschalp gondola or the Schilthorn and Stechelberg gondola.
The hike lasts about 30 to 40 minutes downhill from Murren to Gimmelwald and is approximately 3 km (1.86 miles).
Walk in Murren and take the stairs about 500 meters away from Schilthorn gondola station.
From there, walk down and simply follow the only path down as well as signs to Gimmelwald.
Along the walk down, you will enjoy amazing views of the mountains across the Lauterbrunnen Valley as well as beautiful green meadows.
Once you arrive closer to Gimmelwald, you will see farms with lots of different animals from cows to sheep and more.
In the village of Gimmelwald, you can find multiple self-service fridges where you can pay and make your changes yourself to buy cheese, meat, and more.
However, you could also do this hike after the Lauterbrunnen Valley Hike in one day.
Also, you can do this hike uphill from Gimmelwald to Murren and it will take more time and energy.
Mannlichen “Royal Walk” Hike
For this hike, you can leave either from Grindelwald or from Wengen and Lauterbrunnen.
You can take the gondola to the Mannlichen from Grindelwald terminal or go from Wengen in a gondola that you can even ride outside.
When you reach the top of the Mannlichen gondola station, start the Royal Walk up to the Crown and Mannlichen Peak.
It takes about a 20-minute hike to go to the top of the crown from the Mannlichen gondola station and the distance is about 700 meters (0.43 miles).
This easy walk is the shortest of all the hikes on this list. You can experience the Royal Walk in the winter as well. For example, before skiing or sledding down the mountain.
You will walk on unpaved terrain, and it has a few steps at the end to reach the crown.
From up there, you will get amazing views of all the villages of the region.
You will also see mountains such as the Jungfrau, the Monch, and the Eiger in front of you.
The Royal Walk and Mannlichen Peak can be an amazing short detour when linking Wengen and Grindelwald with the two gondolas.
It would be a shame to ignore this short walk and stunning views.
If you would like to get a special experience on the Mannlichen, you could consider reserving their barbecue experience in the summer.
Which opens in the evening and lets you enjoy this beautiful place with sunset and great food.
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