Hiking the Jungfrau

What Makes the Jungfrau Region Ideal for Hikers?

The Jungfrau region is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful places on earth and a superb destination for hiking in the Swiss Alps. It's a glistening mountain landscape with colliding glaciers, lush alpine meadows, moist forest trails, and hundreds of dazzling waterfalls. Located in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland and most easily accessed from the city of Interlaken, the Jungfrau region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized worldwide for its stunning natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Jungfrau Region Overview

Most travelers to the area visit the village of Grindelwald and gaze at the North Face of the Eiger. Over half a million passengers per year take the Jungfrau mountain railway to the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe, where they can overlook the Aletschgletscher, the longest glacier in the Alps, and even walk through tunnels inside the glacier. You'll also want to visit Staubbach Falls, the highest waterfall in Switzerland. And just across the Lauterbrunnen Valley, within walking distance of Staubbach Falls is Trummelbach Falls, one of the world's most spectacular underground waterfalls, where torrents of water have created a series of caves made easily accessible by a funicular cut into the mountain, and a series of stairs and tunnels to discover the 10-tiered majesty of the falls. The village of Lauterbrunnen is set in one of the world's most spectacular glacial valleys, and is ringed by over 70 waterfalls.

Off the Beaten Path

But with all these natural wonders and well-known visitor attractions, don't overlook the exquisite scenery in lesser-known areas like Obersteinberg, the Grindelwaldgletscher and the Bachalpsee. Without a doubt, the best scenery in the Jungfrau is found on foot, and most of these hikes are on well-marked and easily accessible trails. On many of these hikes you can quickly access high elevations and panoramic vistas by gondola, funicular, or mountain railway-systems of mountain transport perfected by the Swiss.

Jungfrau Accommodations

In addition to accommodations in the villages of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, you can also find wonderful inns and hotels in car-free villages like Wengen, Murren, and Gimmelwald. And beyond these villages on high alpine trails you can stay in traditional mountain hotels or mountain refuges where you'll have great meals in comfortable but simple accommodations and be right in the heart of the scenic splendor.

Best Hikes in the Jungfrau

Some of the best hikes in the area are day hikes of less than 5 miles such as the Eiger Trail, a spectacular but safe mountain trail at the foot of the Eiger's imposing North Face. Across the valley, the popular walk from First to Bachalpsee delivers a jaw-dropping panorama of alpine peaks and glaciers. Another easy and relatively level walk is a wooded stroll from Murren to Grutschalp high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Jungfrau Tours

Alpenwild's Exploring the Jungfrau hiking tour and the Best of the Swiss Alps tour are both excellent ways to experience the mountain scenery and the undeniable charm of the Swiss Alps with a focus on the Jungfrau Region. If you love active adventure, you won't want to miss our Jungfrau multisport private guided trip where we tap into the full range of outdoor adventure available in the Jungfrau region, including hiking, mountain biking, and whitewater rafting. These tours can be tailored to hikers and adenture travelers of all skill, activity, and age levels and can be offered throughout the summer months.

For the Adventurer in You

If you're looking for something a bit more extreme, the Jungfrau is a great place to start. The many rivers, mountains, and canyons make for the perfect natural playground. Outdoor Interlaken offers many adventures from whitewater rafting and canyoning to skydiving. It even includes some calmer sports like kayaking and mountain scooter touring. The international team of expert guides is dedicated to fun and savety, but don't worry. You won't feel too safe. If you're planning on coming in the cooler season, Outdoor Interlaken also has a variety of winter tour packages to keep the fun rolling all year long.

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