Kleine Scheidegg: Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau up close

9.64 km long
Difficulty: medium
Condition: medium
Hiking Trail
  • 4:00 h
  • 9.64 km
  • 1,120 m
  • 90 m
  • 944 m
  • 2,061 m
  • 1,117 m
  • Start: Grindelwald
  • Destination: Kleine Scheidegg
Kleine Scheidegg is one of the most frequented mountain pass routes in the Bernese Oberland. The nearby world-famous trio of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, the wild rock faces, and the hanging glaciers provide a magnificent insight into the high mountains. Some sections on hard surfaces in the settlement area. Train stations at regular intervals.

What the waterfalls are for the Lauterbrunnen Valley, the two glaciers are for Grindelwald. Until 1860, the Lower Grindelwald Glacier reached into the gardens of the first houses. However, from 1875 a worrying accelerating glacier retreat began, which has reached a record-breaking extent with a length loss of 60 m per year at the Upper Grindelwald Glacier.
Descend from Grindelwald station near the railway line to the Grund station. On the climb beyond the bridge over the Schwarze Lütschine, small streets, driving paths, and footpaths alternate in different rhythms. The Brandegg station (3 min from the hiking trail) is bypassed in the forest. Shortly thereafter, the path changes through the underpass to the other side of the railway line. On the further ascent, the forest boundary gradually recedes and the view of the large chalet settlement Grindelwald, the Grosse Scheidegg, and the Wetterhorn becomes more and more comprehensive.
The incline between Alpiglen (starting point of the 'Eiger Trail') and Arvengarten is somewhat gentler. The north face of the Eiger rises mightily. Although 150 to 200 mountaineers climb this face each year, the fatal accidents since the first ascent in 1938 with a total of 50 victims have remained relatively limited. More and more, the rugged flanks of Mönch and Jungfrau and the prominent, perfectly shaped Silberhorn come into view. Dark larches form the picturesque foreground. Where these also recede, the pass height of Kleine Scheidegg is within reach (starting point of the Jungfrau Railway opened in 1912). The tourist hustle and bustle is linked to this transport hub.

Berner Wanderwege
Berner Wanderwege

Good to know

Pavements

Street
Trail

Best to visit

suitable
Depends on weather

Directions

Grindelwald - Brandegg - Alpiglen - Kleine Scheidegg

Equipment

We recommend the following equipment: light trekking shoes, light backpack, sun protection, rain jacket, pocket pharmacy, light picnic, sufficient fluids, mobile phone.

Directions & Parking facilities

Outbound: By train via Interlaken East to Grindelwald.

Return: From Kleine Scheidegg by train to Grindelwald and onward to Interlaken East or via Wengen and Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken East

Additional information

Bernese Hiking Trails Association, Bern, Tel.: 031 340 01 01, Email: info@beww.ch, Homepage: www.bernerwanderwege.ch

Literature

Hiking suggestion from the hiking book Pass Routes in the Bernese Oberland, hiking book series of the Bernese hiking trails

License (master data)

Safety guidelines

This route runs exclusively on signposted paths of the hiking trail category

Map

Swisstopo hiking map 1:50,000 254T Interlaken

Nearby

Address

Kleine Scheidegg: Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau up close
3818 Grindelwald