Grindelwald dayhike: Grosse Scheidegg

The bus ride from Grindelwald to Grosse Scheidegg pass takes 36 minutes. The pass is fairly busy with a bus stop, a small hotel and a restaurant. 

Start to the north along what’s known as the Höhenweg 2400 path.  The view is unbeatable, with the Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn and Eiger towering to your left. Traverse on this gently rolling path as it rises to the gondola station at First (a word for “ridge” in the local dialect). Here you’ll find restrooms, water, a restaurant, and the gondola to Grindelwald (CHF 32) if you want a short day.  Bonus adventures are the thrilling skywalk (free!) and the First flyer zip line (from CHF 50), for a good adrenaline rush.

To Bachalpsee, a broad and very popular trail heads upwards from First west toward the lake, in a little under an hour. At over 7400 ft, this lovely little lake enjoys one of the classic views in the Alps. The entire Bernese Oberland chain is laid out before you in a truly magnificent view! It can be crowded, but on a fine day it is a view worth sharing.

There is a restroom on the west side of the lake, hidden below the more obvious hut at lakeside.

Moderate day:  Return to First the way you came, taking the gondola down.

To Bort, leaving the lake, cross over near the restrooms to a narrow trail leading away from the lake. After two minutes, you’ll come to a fork, where you want to stay left and start heading downhill. This is a beautiful little walk, leading through flowery fields, with a babbling stream running right down the center. In about an hour, the trail turns left at a small cluster of barns, and then right down a small gravel road. This road will bring you to a restaurant and bus stop at Waldspitz.

You have the option to take the bus from Waldspitz to Grindelwald, though service is very sporadic and you may have to wait at the restaurant for a bit.

To continue downhill to Bort take the trail directly across from the restaurant. It brings you steeply down through the woods for about 45 minutes to the Bort station of the First lift, where again you have the option to catch a lift to Grindelwald. This is what we suggest you do. This gondola runs continuously until 18:00.

You can also rent “Trotti bikes”, large scooters with brakes for an adventurous zip down to town. They go fast!

Longer day: If you’re feeling good and want to go all the way, there are trails leading directly down from the Bort station. But we’ll warn you it is steep and much of it is paved! You’ll pass fields filled with old, blackened barns, and then get into vacation homes before finally rolling into town. It’s a long downhill walk from Bachalpsee to Grindelwald.

More info at www.alpinehikers.com