Hiking in the Bernese Oberland

Discover the fascinating Grimselwelt

Hiking in the Bernese Oberland means switching off and experiencing. The Grimselwelt is a diverse region for anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors in the mountains. Breathtaking landscapes, crystal-clear mountain lakes and unique flora and fauna await you here. Whether for an experienced mountain hike or a leisurely stroll – you are guaranteed to find the perfect hike for you in the Grimselwelt in the Bernese Oberland. In this article, we present some of the most beautiful hiking routes and give you valuable tips for your next excursion.

Hike to the Lauteraar hut

Grimselsee is a beautiful mountain lake that is fed by the surrounding peaks. The hike along the Grimselsee to the Lauteraarhütte is a moderately difficult tour that is definitely worthwhile. The lake offers a breathtaking backdrop and invites you to linger. The route leads from the Hotel Grimsel Hospiz along the lake and through the glacier forefield of the Lauteraar glacier before reaching the hut after a short ascent. The hike offers fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and the turquoise lake. The hike along the Grimselsee is an insider tip in the Bernese Oberland and should be on your to-do list.

Hike to the Lauteraar hut

4h 10 | 10.5 km
956 m | 345 m

Lauteraar hut

 MODERATE

A varied hike from Grimselsee to the Lauteraarhütte in the high alpine region.
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Historic Alpine Hotel Grimsel Hospiz

Hotel Grimsel Hospiz

The historic four-star alpine hotel towers majestically over the Grimselsee.

Summer Winter

Hike to the Suspention bridge Triftbrücke and Cabin Windegghütte

The Suspention bridge Triftbrücke is one of the longest suspension bridges in the Alps and a real highlight for hikers in the Grimselwelt. The hike to the bridge is moderately difficult and leads through a breathtaking landscape of steep rock faces and colorful alpine meadows. The route starts at the Triftbahn and takes you along a well-maintained path to the bridge, which spans a 170-metre-deep gorge. The view from the bridge of the glacial lake and the surrounding mountains is spectacular. From the bridge, you can hike on to the Cabin Windegghütte. The hut offers various delicacies to keep you going before you tackle the descent back to the Triftbahn.

Triftbahn

Triftbahn

Via the Suspention bridge Triftbrücke gorge to the starting point for the hike to the Suspention bridge Triftbrücke.

Hike to the Suspention bridge Triftbrücke

  2h 40 | 5.7 km
499 m | 499 m

Suspention bridge Triftbrücke

 MODERATE

Hike from the Triftbahn mountain station to the spectacular Suspention bridge Triftbrücke and back again.

Hike to the Cabin Gelmerhütte

The Cabin Gelmerhütte is one of the most famous huts in the Grimselwelt and offers breathtaking views of the Gelmersee. The hike to the Cabin Gelmerhütte is moderately difficult, but the views and the experience are well worth it. The route leads through an impressive landscape of waterfalls and steep rock faces. The Gelmerbahn, one of the steepest funicular railways in the world, takes you from Handegg to Gelmersee, from where the hike can be started. The hike to the Cabin Gelmerhütte is one of the most spectacular in the Grimselwelt and an absolute must for every hiker.

Gelmerbahn

Gelmerbahn

Take the steepest open Funicular Railway in Europe to Gelmersee.

Hike to the Cabin Gelmerhütte

1h 45 | 3.1 km
601 m | 601 m

Cabin Gelmerhütte

 MODERATE

Hike from the Gelmerbahn funicular railway mountain station to the Cabin Gelmerhütte.

Circular hike
Gelmersee

2h | 4.7 km
170 m | 170 m

Circular hike
Gelmersee

 MODERATE

Hike around the picturesque Gelmersee. From the Gelmerbahn mountain station.

Hike to the Oberaar

The Sidelhornbahn takes you from the Grimsel Hospiz up to the Grimsel Pass. Once at the top, the hike starts with an ascent to the Cabin Hüsegghütte, which can be reached in around half an hour. From there, a much flatter path leads to Lake Trübtensee, which offers a wonderful backdrop for a break or picnic. The route continues through the varied natural landscape to Bäregg, which offers a breathtaking view over the entire Oberaar region. After a short descent, you reach the cozy Berghaus Oberaar and the imposing dam wall. On the return journey on the Oberaarbahn, you discover the world of the Oberaar and Unteraar from a bird’s eye view before gliding high above the Grimselsee back to the Hotel Grimsel Hospiz. The hike can be extended via the Sidelhorn.

Family hike Grimsel Hospiz-Oberaar

2h 15 | 5.7 km
440 m | 345 m

Oberaar Trail

 MODERATE

Wonderful family hike from the Hotel Grimsel Hospiz to the Oberaar.
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Hike to the Oberaar Glacier

2h | 7 km
173 m | 173 m

Oberaar Glacier

 EASY

From Berghaus Oberaar, the hike leads over the Oberaar dam to the foot of the Oberaargletscher
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Ridge walk
Sidelhorn-Oberaar

3h 10 | 6.5 km
681 m | 584 m

Ridge walk
Sidelhorn-Oberaar

 HEAVY

Circular hike from the Sidelhornbahn mountain station via the Sidelhorn ridge to Oberaar.
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Restaurant and Berghaus Oberaar

Berghaus Oberaar

With fantastic views of the Oberaarsee and glacier.
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Tälli - an experience for young and old

The Tällibahn leads from the Sustenpass road up to the Cabin Tällihütte. Up there you are suddenly very close to the Gadmen Flühen – also known as the “Gadmer Dolomites”. Here you will find a wide variety of hiking options for young and old with the best views. From a short walk near the hut to one of the longest via ferratas in Switzerland, there is an activity to suit everyone. The Cabin Tällihütte is the starting point for all these adventures and offers a special kind of family experience with overnight accommodation.

Hike Engstlen-Tälli

3h 10 | 7.9 km
499 m | 616 m

Engstlen-Tälli

 MODERATE

The hike promises the ridge crossing over the Sätteli between Tällistock and Sättelistöckleni.

Hike Tälli-Gadmen

2h | 6.0 km
141 m | 691 m

Tälli-Gadmen

 MODERATE

High-altitude hike from the Tällibahn mountain station below the Gadmerfluh down to the mountain village of Gadmen and back to the Tällibahn.

Via ferrata Tälli

5h | 8.2 km | 1090 m | 1090 m

Via ferrata Tälli

 DIFFICULT

At around 600 m long, it is one of the longest and most spectacular via ferratas in Switzerland.

Tällibahn

Tällibahn

At the foot of the Gadmen Dolomites.

Information about the hikes

The routes of most hikes in the Bernese Oberland can be found on SwitzerlandMobility.

Further experiences in the Grimselwelt

Sbrinz Route Grimsel Pass

2h 45 | 7.2 km
701 m | 149 m

Sbrinz Route Grimsel Pass

 MITTEL

The Guttannen-Grimselpasshöhe route provides an excellent insight into this fascinating region.

Oberaarbahn

Oberaarbahn

A breathtaking "low flight" over the Grimselwelt.

Hiking routes Reichenbach-Fall

from 1h | 2.4 km
143 m | 391 m

Reichenbach case

 EASY

There are various hiking routes around the Sherlock Holmes crash site.

Hotel and Nature Resort Handeck

Hotel Handeck

The three-star superior Hotel Handeck is an oasis of well-being and an ideal family resort.

Hike Grosse Scheidegg

4h 30 | 12.0 km
1187 m | 71 m

Grosse Scheidegg

 MODERATE

The route continues along the old pass road past Rosenlaui to Grosse Scheidegg.

Vacation and Alpinhütte Bäregg

Alpinhütte Bäregg

Schools, climbing camps and groups feel particularly at home here in the high alpine mountain world.

Hike to the Bächlitalhütte

2h 5 | 4.3 km
689 m | 689 m

Bächlitalhütte

 MODERATE

The trail leads steeply up over the Räterichsboden dam wall to the Bächlisboden plain and then to the Cabin Bächlitalhütte.

Reichenbachfall-Bahn

Reichenbachfall-Bahn

On the trail of Sherlock Holmes.

Sämi's mule track

2h 30 | 4.3 km
165 m | 165 m

Sämi's mule track

 EASY

Follow in the footsteps of Sämi the muleteer on this themed trail.

Aare Gorge excursion

45 min. | 2.5 km
 118 m |  87 m

Aare Gorge

 EASY

A path leads over footbridges and through tunnels through the gorge.