Primeval landscape: First – Hagelseewli – Lütschentälti – Axalp

In good weather, the hiking trail from First to Bachalpsee is sometimes quite busy. This changes at the trail junction above the lake. While most excursionists descend here, those heading to Axalp keep their direction and soon tackle the short but steep ascent to the Tierwang Saddle. There, at the highest point of the tour, the perspective changes. While on the ascent you had the impressive mountain chain of Schreckhorn, Finsteraarhorn, and Eiger before your eyes, the view now opens to the Giessbach valley, which originates on the slopes of Schwarzhorn and Wildgärst. After circumnavigating the Ritzengrätli, you see in a wide hollow at the foot of the Grossenegg the Hagelseewli. Unlike Bachalpsee, there is no hustle and bustle here, but peace and solitude.

The descent initially proceeds very steeply. Soon, the view opens to the range of Brienzer Rothorn and Augstmatthorn and to the intensely turquoise Brienzersee at their base. The primeval landscape of Alp Tschingelfeld is shaped by the erosive power of water. While the Bödelihigh up is fairly flat, there are numerous steep slopes further up, interspersed with rocky sections.

From Oberberg, you continue descending, now less steeply, into Lütschentälti and then on a practically flat path to Chüemad. The last part of the descent partly follows alpine roads, in between crossing alpine meadows to the PostBus terminus Axalp.

Note(s) 

For centuries, generations of people have wrested an alpine agricultural livelihood from this wild corner of the earth and transformed the wilderness into a beautiful cultural landscape. The area presents itself as a versatile ensemble of extensive alpine meadows, species-rich wetlands, and protected dry habitats. Due to its diversity and attractiveness, the alp was awarded the Cultural Landscape Prize of the Oberland Ost region in 2019.

Every year in the Oberland Ost region, the «Cultural Landscape Prize» awards particularly beautiful and valuable cultural landscapes. Through support and image care from tourism, the award is meant to provide farmers a small incentive to continue sustainable farming and thus contributes to the preservation of our beautiful nature.

Would you like to discover more hikes?

Learn more about the various hiking opportunities in the Bernese Oberland.