ViaBerna. Stage 13: Saxeten - Isenfluh

13.36 km long
Difficulty: difficult
Condition: very difficult
Great panorama
Hiking Trail
  • 5:30 h
  • 13.36 km
  • 945 m
  • 969 m
  • 1,086 m
  • 2,046 m
  • 960 m
  • Start: Saxeten
  • Destination: Isenfluh
Today's hiking day offers unforgettable highlights of this 20-day route. And literally so, because from the heights of Bällehöchst the view over the Bernese Oberland's lake and mountain landscapes is simply breathtaking.

The small mountain village of Isenfluh, the destination of this stage, is located with a view above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Those coming from above are already impressed by the might of the famous trio Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. And even more so by the rugged forest and rocky landscape between the magnificent viewpoint Bällehöchst, the Chüematte plateau with the attractively placed Lobhornhütte SAC and the "energy-charged" Soustal. Especially Chüebodmi, Fritzenbrüggli and the Sulsseeli are considered such places. The Saustal with its downward rushing stream and the large boulders invites you to rest and play in nature – ideal for families. Along the way you also pass the Suls-Lobhornhütte, which is located northeast of the Lobhörner on a high plateau of the Sulsalp and belongs to the SAC section Lauterbrunnen. Those who want to shorten the long day a bit can float down to Isenfluh with the rather old cable car from Sulwald, which saves about 500 meters of altitude (033 855 22 49, isenfluh.ch).

Tourenplaner SCHWEIZ
Tourenplaner SCHWEIZ

Good to know

Pavements

Asphalt
Trail
Path

Best to visit

suitable
Depends on weather

Directions

Saxeten (1101 m) – along the stream to Alp Seilera (2113 m) – Schlipfwengen (1520 m) – Usserbällen (1839 m) – P. 1999 – possibly detour to Bällehöchst (2095 m) – Chüematte – Lobhornhütte (1955 m) – P. 1901 – Sulwald (1529 m, cable car mountain station) – Büelhus – Geissrügg – Ortwald – Isenfluh (1081 m).

Equipment

For day hikes normal hiking equipment, for multi-day tours including spare clothing and provisions. Hiking poles are recommended.

Directions & Parking facilities

By car to Interlaken or Wilderswil.
Best to park the car in Interlaken or Wilderswil.

Arrival: By train to Wilderswil, then by bus to Saxeten. 

Return: From Isenfluh by bus to Lauterbrunnen, there connection to train.

Additional information

www.viaberna.ch

Lauterbrunnen Tourism, Tel. +41 (0) 33 856 85 68, www.lauterbrunen.swiss

Cable Car Isenfluh–Sulwald, Tel. +41 (0) 33 855 22 49, www.isenfluh.ch

Restaurants and accommodations, for example:
Suls-Lobhornhütte SAC, Tel. +41 (0) 79 656 53 29, www.lobhornhuette.ch
Sulwald-Stübli at the mountain station of the Isenfluh-Sulwald cable car, Tel. +41 (0) 33 855 12 51, www.sulwald.ch
Hotel Waldrand, Isenfluh, Tel. +41 (0) 33 855 12 27, www.hotel-waldrand.ch

Literature

Jochen Ihle / Toni Kaiser: The 55 most beautiful hikes in the Bernese Oberland. ISBN 978-3-03865-073-7, Rothus Medien, Solothurn, www.wandershop-schweiz.ch

Jochen Ihle / Toni Kaiser: The 101 most beautiful hikes in Switzerland. ISBN 978-3-03865-041-6, Rothus Medien, Solothurn, www.wandershop-schweiz.ch

Wandermagazin SCHWEIZ, Special issue 1/2022: ViaBerna. Rothus Medien, Solothurn, www.wandermagazin-schweiz.ch

License (master data)

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

The detour from the saddle P. 1999 to the fantastic viewpoint summit Bällehöchst and back is highly rewarding and requires about ¾ hour.

Safety guidelines

Demanding hike on marked mountain hiking trails. Difficulty: T2.

Map

LK 1:50,000, 254T Interlaken.

Nearby

Address

ViaBerna. Stage 13: Saxeten - Isenfluh
Saxeten