Trek Notes - Switzerland

The Bear Trail


 THE BEAR TRAIL

Don’t worry – you will not be meeting any grizzlies on this route. But it can be assumed that bears wandered across these paths long before tourists ever discovered the breathtaking scenery along this trail. The Bear Trail is no picnic – but on most days local cable cars may be used as an option to cut down the daily hiking time. Your efforts will be rewarded with an incomparable Alpine adventure. The Bear Trail crosses some of the most spectacular passes anywhere in the Alps, giving one view after another of gigantic glaciers and cliff faces, then leading down into magnificent valleys and past picturesque homesteads and villages with world-famous names.

Grade C: 5–7 hours daily hiking time.

Day 1: Meiringen–Grosse Scheidegg–Grindelwald

Meeting point at the train station in Meiringen (for times see predeparture information). Here our representative will greet you and take care of your luggage. Then it is up to Rosenlaui by post bus, where the Bear Trail begins. The route over the Grosse Scheidegg down to the famous resort of Grindelwald offers great views of the snow-covered peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and takes about 4 hrs. Overnight in Grindelwald.

Day 2: Grindelwald–Kleine Scheidegg–Lauterbrunnen

From Grindelwald hike up to Kleine Scheidegg or take the optional mountain railway. From Kleine Scheidegg you may wish to visit Jungfraujoch by train (optional). Then continue downwards to Wengen and Lauterbrunnen – or take a shortcut along the spectacular Trümmelbach waterfalls. Hiking time approx. 6 1/2 hrs. Overnight in Lauterbrunnen.

Day 3: Lauterbrunnen–Sefinenfurgge–Kiental

Take the mountain railway from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren. Todays hike leads from Mürren over the Sefinenfurgge (2’750 metres above sea level) to Griesalp. No cable cars available along today’s trail, so the time required to hike is about 6 1/2 hours – but the high alpine scenery rewards your efforts! From Griesalp bus transfer to Kiental. Overnight in Kiental.

Day 4: Kiental–Hohtürli–Kandersteg

Bus tranfser to Griesalp. The route leads from the Griesalp upwards onto the Hohtürli, the hightest point along the Bear Trail (2’950 metres altitude) and then continues down to the beautiful lake Oeschinensee and to the village/resort of Kandersteg (as an optional extra you can take the chair-lift from Oeschinensee to Kandersteg). The hike takes about 6 hours as far as Oeschinensee and one more hour to Kandersteg. Overnight in Kandersteg.

Day 5: Kandersteg–Bonderchrinde–Adelboden

Take the chair-lift up to the Allmenalp and walk from there to Bonderchrinde and Adelboden. Today you may have a good chance to observe chamois and ibex. The hike takes about 5 1/2 hours. Overnight in Adelboden.

Day 6: Adelboden–Hahnenmoos–Lenk

An easy last day on the Bear Trail: From Adelboden to Lenk you can take a cable car to Hahnenmoos, but even if go by foot, it only takes about 5 1/2 hours. As an alternative, travel by post bus and cable car up to Engstligenalp and hike from there to Ammetengrat and Lenk. This takes about 4 1/2 hours, starting from Engstligenalp.

3 day program

Day 1Meiringen–Grindelwald  
Day 2Grindelwald–Lauterbrunnen  
Day 3Lauterbrunnen–Kiental

 

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