1 Via Alpina
1 Via Alpina

Hiking

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Via Alpina

Stage 11, Grindelwald–Lauterbrunnen

Route report
79 photos

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Via Alpina

The climb to Kleine Scheidegg over undulating meadows is gentle, the rock and ice scenery of the Eiger North Wall close and awe-inspiring. Sunny high-level trail to Wengen, then deep into the Lauterbrunnen Valley with its vertical walls and spectacular waterfalls.
Grindelwald is surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery, such as the Eiger and Wetterhorn mountains. From the village, the path leads down to Grindelwald Grund and then up to Brandegg, some of it very steep, always heading toward the North Wall of the Eiger. The first successful ascent of the Eiger occurred in 1858, but it took another 80 years to conquer the North Wall. With magnificent views of Grindelwald, Grosse Scheidegg and the Faulhorn the trail continues uphill via Alpiglen, the 3967 m Eiger North Wall always towering above you, all the way to Kleine Scheidegg.

Kleine Scheidegg is located in the midst of an awesome backdrop of the Eiger Glacier with Mönch, Jungfraujoch and Jungfrau to the right. Kleine Scheidegg can be reached by train either from Grindelwald or from Lauterbrunnen. The pass is the starting point for the Jungfraujoch (the top of Europe) at 3466 m. The cogwheel train passes through Eiger and Mönch to Europe’s highest railway station, the tunnel station at 3454 m - a good reason for all the tourists from Switzerland and abroad to mingle here.

The Via Alpina, however, continues down to Wengernalp where it joins the Lauberhorn trail. The Hundschopf, the famous jump of the Lauberhorn ski race, is visible from below. Shortly thereafter, at the beginning of Haneggschuss, the fastest passage of the race, the two trails separate again. A little while later you’ll walk past many beautifully attended gardens and chalets to Wengen. From the train station it takes just over an hour to get to Lauterbrunnen. The trail winds itself from the sunny terrace through countless zigzags and along a well-built gravel road (also known as Hohstäg) steeply down to Lauterbrunnen, the destination of a gorgeous, memorable and long day.
The climb to Kleine Scheidegg over undulating meadows is gentle, the rock and ice scenery of the Eiger North Wall close and awe-inspiring. Sunny high-level trail to Wengen, then deep into the Lauterbrunnen Valley with its vertical walls and spectacular waterfalls.
Grindelwald is surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery, such as the Eiger and Wetterhorn mountains. From the village, the path leads down to Grindelwald Grund and then up to Brandegg, some of it very steep, always heading toward the North Wall of the Eiger. The first successful ascent of the Eiger occurred in 1858, but it took another 80 years to conquer the North Wall. With magnificent views of Grindelwald, Grosse Scheidegg and the Faulhorn the trail continues uphill via Alpiglen, the 3967 m Eiger North Wall always towering above you, all the way to Kleine Scheidegg.

Kleine Scheidegg is located in the midst of an awesome backdrop of the Eiger Glacier with Mönch, Jungfraujoch and Jungfrau to the right. Kleine Scheidegg can be reached by train either from Grindelwald or from Lauterbrunnen. The pass is the starting point for the Jungfraujoch (the top of Europe) at 3466 m. The cogwheel train passes through Eiger and Mönch to Europe’s highest railway station, the tunnel station at 3454 m - a good reason for all the tourists from Switzerland and abroad to mingle here.

The Via Alpina, however, continues down to Wengernalp where it joins the Lauberhorn trail. The Hundschopf, the famous jump of the Lauberhorn ski race, is visible from below. Shortly thereafter, at the beginning of Haneggschuss, the fastest passage of the race, the two trails separate again. A little while later you’ll walk past many beautifully attended gardens and chalets to Wengen. From the train station it takes just over an hour to get to Lauterbrunnen. The trail winds itself from the sunny terrace through countless zigzags and along a well-built gravel road (also known as Hohstäg) steeply down to Lauterbrunnen, the destination of a gorgeous, memorable and long day.
20 km
1200 m | 1400 m
6 h 45 min
easy (hiking trail) | difficult

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Grindelwald
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

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Saving metres in altitude Kleine Scheidegg
There is a train between Grindelwald and Kleine Scheidegg verkehrt hat saves about 1000 metres in altitude.
Saving metres in altitude
There is a train between Kleine Scheidegg and Lauterbrunnen that saves about 1200 metres in altitude.

Hints

Guides
There is a guide available for this route.
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Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Lauterbrunnen
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

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Via Alpina hiking pass
With the Via Alpina hiking passbook, you collect 38 stamps with memories to cherish. The stamp stations are located at each stage start and finish. More information about the hiking passbook.
Overview map of all stamp stations

Contact

Gestione della segnaletica
Signposting is managed by the cantonal hiking trail organisation on behalf of the communities.
Schweizer Wanderwege
Monbijoustrasse 61
3000 Bern 23

Services

Accommodation

Bikehotel Lauberhorn
Bikehotel Lauberhorn
Grindelwald
Hotel Kirchbühl
Hotel Kirchbühl
Grindelwald
Parkhotel Schoenegg
Parkhotel Schoenegg
Grindelwald
Naturfreundehaus Grindelwald
Naturfreundehaus Grindelwald
Grindelwald
Jugendherberge Grindelwald
Jugendherberge Grindelwald
Grindelwald
Jungfrau Lodge
Jungfrau Lodge
Grindelwald
Bauernhof Hagibodmen
Bauernhof Hagibodmen
Grindelwald
Valley Hostel
Valley Hostel
Lauterbrunnen
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Bookable offers

1 Via Alpina: Bear Trek Berner Oberland
1 Via Alpina: Bear Trek Berner Oberland
Grindelwald Wander
Grindelwald Wander
Bärentrek - Hintere Gasse Meiringen-Adelboden oder Lenk
Bärentrek - Hintere Gasse Meiringen-Adelboden oder Lenk
1 Via Alpina: Vaduz - Montreux
1 Via Alpina: Vaduz - Montreux
1 Via Alpina: Bear Trek Charme
1 Via Alpina: Bear Trek Charme
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Places

Grindelwald
Grindelwald
Wengen
Wengen
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen
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Places of interest

Glacier Gorge Grindelwald
Glacier Gorge Grindelwald
Hohstäg (Lauterbrunnen–Wengen)
Hohstäg (Lauterbrunnen–Wengen)
Grütsch-Trail
Grütsch-Trail
Staubbachfall Lauterbrunnen
Staubbachfall Lauterbrunnen
Trümmelbachfälle
Trümmelbachfälle
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Signalization

Signalization
For hiking, follow the logo indicated on the yellow signposts. Take a printout of our web map on your hike for safety's sake.
Signalization