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Hiking in Switzerland

by Judy Bereza, Guest Blogger

Forget all your assumptions about hiking in Switzerland.  You don’t need to be a fitness freak; in fact, if you can walk, you can be comfortably transported to the top of jaw dropping peaks, with perfect emerald valleys laid out below.  And, if you happen to get hungry, you don’t have to root around in your backpack for trail mix.  You can just stroll over to a nearby mountain restaurant, with bathrooms, where every table has a view, and a full menu offers fresh local salads or traditional Swiss specialties like Raclette.  Think cheese.

 

Three walking friends and I made our way to Grindelwald to experience seven days of this blissful alpine hiking. An authentic and charming Swiss town, Grindelwald is forty minutes by train from Interlacken, and serves as a gateway to some of the most beautiful and varied hikes in all of Switzerland.

We stayed at the Hotel Gletschergarten, a small twenty six room hotel, owned and managed by the same family for one hundred years.  Like most of Grindelwald’s hotels,  there is on site dining for guests. But the superb food, and it was exceptional, was not the best part.

 

Every day we received insights and advice, including weather  radar and transportation tickets, to help plan our hikes.  Then, dressed for the weatherthat day, we walked out the door and within minutes were being whisked by bus, train,cog railway, cable car or gondola to our chosen destination.

 

Every hiking option is well mapped, and signage is everywhere.  The trails are extensive  and varied.  Some are challenging; others are easier.  A few are even designated as “Romantikweg”.

 

Looking for snow or glaciers?  From the Jungfrau Joch, reached by cog railway after a thirty minute ride inside the Eiger, (yes, you are tunneling through the mountain,) you can view the highest point accessible by rail in Europe.  From there, a walk through a white world for an hour rewards you with a warm and welcoming Swiss restaurant.

Interested in waterfalls?  They’re everywhere, including the famous Trummelbach Falls, which cascades with thunderous force inside the mountain.  There are viewing overlooks reached by stairs or elevator.  Remember what I said about accessibility?

Love seeing wildflowers, dense and prolific?  There are walks that will fill up all the  digital space in your camera.  In fact, every walk will prove that those idyllic postcard scenes of pastoral valleys back dropped by breathtaking mountains are just a hint of the reality.

 

Go to Switzerland and see for yourself.

 

Judy Bereza is a retired interior designer/kitchen expert, constant walker and “Nana” to three adorable grand children.  She and her friends have walked across England and Wales.

 

Post Author
Susan J. Smith
Susan's career includes writing for newspapers, lots of community work and a wonderful family life. Now she is enjoying traveling, photography and writing for DesignDestinations and Grand Rapids Magazine. She welcomes you on her journey and appreciates your comments.

Comments

11 Comments
  1. posted by
    Susan
    Jul 17, 2011 Reply

    Thanks, Judy.  I appreciate your sharing your experience with us.  I’m ready to sign up to do a trip like this.  Great description of the variety of hikes and all the creature comforts.   sjs 

    • posted by
      Georgia
      Jul 18, 2011 Reply

      Think cheese Susan . . . and lots of it 🙂

  2. posted by
    carroll velie
    Jul 18, 2011 Reply

    Great pictorial,Judy..you make it sound so easy and inviting…would love to join your merry band of wanderers one of these walks..Carroll

  3. posted by
    Georgia
    Jul 18, 2011 Reply

    Absolutely one of the most gorgeous area’s in Europe!  We had the pleasure of visiting “in-laws” in Oberhofen (between Thun and Interlaken) last October.  While we did not hike we traveled the surrounding mountain area by rail and car. Stunning views.  Definately on our “must return” list.  Grindelwald is a perfect Swiss mountain village. The chalets dotting the mountainside, the flowers, the village cows, the bells . . . charming in every way.  Thanks for sharing.  Maybe a return visit in the summer for hiking . . .  

  4. posted by
    Margaux Drake
    Jul 23, 2011 Reply

    Lovely! I’ll take one, but hold the cheese:) 

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