Lauterbrunnen Trails
The valley floor, the plateau above, and the classic Eiger trail walk, covering the full range of what the Jungfrau region offers on foot.
Valley Waterfall Walk (Lauterbrunnen)
The valley floor walk runs from Lauterbrunnen village to Stechelberg at the southern end, passing the Staubbachfall (a free-hanging waterfall that drops 297m from the cliff edge above the village), the Trümmelbach Falls (a series of glacier-fed waterfalls tunnelled through the cliff face, accessible by lift and walkway), and smaller waterfalls that drop continuously from both cliff walls. The flat valley path is completely accessible and passes through traditional Swiss farm buildings with wooden barns and flower boxes. Spring snowmelt (May to June) produces maximum waterfall volume. The Trümmelbach Falls require an entrance fee and are the most dramatic single attraction in the valley.
Mürren to Gimmelwald via Schilthorn
Mürren is a car-free village clinging to the cliff edge 800m above the Lauterbrunnen valley, reached only by cable car from Stechelberg or by cog railway from Lauterbrunnen via Grütschalp. The Schilthorn (2,970m, accessible by cable car from Mürren) is the peak above Mürren with a rotating restaurant and 360-degree views of the Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, and across to Mont Blanc. Walking from Mürren up to the Schilthorn and then descending via the ridge to Birg and down to Gimmelwald covers the essential landscape of the west side of the Lauterbrunnen valley. The path from Birg to Gimmelwald traverses the cliff edge of the Jungfrau massif with continuous downward views into the valley 1,000m below.
Eiger Trail (Eigergletscher to Alpiglen)
The Eiger Trail runs horizontally across the base of the Eiger north face from Eigergletscher station (reached by Jungfrau railway from Kleine Scheidegg) to Alpiglen below. The north face drops 1,800m above the trail; the path traverses directly under it, past glacial debris, meltwater streams, and the base of the rock pillar that claimed 64 lives before the north face was first climbed in 1938. The scale of the Eiger north face is impossible to understand from a distance; at the base of the trail the full vertical of the face becomes immediate and real. The descent to Alpiglen covers 700m in 7.5km of steep switchbacks. From Alpiglen, trains return to Grindelwald or Kleine Scheidegg.
Guided Experiences in Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a U-shaped glacial valley with 72 waterfalls falling from the 300m cliffs. The surrounding peaks — Schilthorn, Männlichen, Jungfrau — are accessed by Europe's highest density of mountain railways. BASE jumping from the valley walls makes this one of the world's premier wingsuit venues.
Schilthorn and Piz Gloria day trip
Gondola and cable car ascent to Schilthorn summit (2,970m) and the rotating Piz Gloria restaurant — the James Bond villain's lair in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." 360-degree panorama of the Bernese Alps.
Book Schilthorn trip →Canyoning in the Lauterbrunnen gorge
Half-day guided canyoning in the Sefinental canyon above Lauterbrunnen — rappels, jumps, and natural water slides through the limestone gorge. Wetsuit and helmet provided. The most accessible canyon in the Bernese Oberland.
Book canyoning →Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg ridge walk
Guided ridge walk from Männlichen (2,343m) to Kleine Scheidegg — 5km of flat ridge above the valley with Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau directly in front. Gondola up, train back. Classified as "most beautiful flat walk" in Switzerland.
Book ridge walk →Links go to GetYourGuide for real-time availability. Check guide certifications and cancellation policy before booking.
The Lauterbrunnen valley is one of the defining landscapes of Alpine Switzerland. It was the valley that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien's design of Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings; the deep trench-like form, the waterfalls dropping through the mist, the cliffs rising vertically on both sides, and the pristine farmland on the valley floor were elements Tolkien absorbed during his student travels. Whether or not this particular story speaks to you, the valley's visual logic is striking: it is a place that looks designed rather than geological.
Three separate worlds
The Lauterbrunnen region organises into three distinct levels that function almost as separate destinations. The valley floor (796m) has the waterfalls, the flat farm path, and the train station; it is accessible and gentle. The west cliff plateau (Mürren, Gimmelwald, Schilthorn) is reached by cable car from Stechelberg and gives views across the valley to the Jungfrau massif. The east plateau (Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg, Grindelwald) is reached by cog railway from Lauterbrunnen and gives the classic Eiger view. Both plateaus are car-free and connected by the mountain railway network. The Jungfraujoch (3,454m, marketed as the Top of Europe) is reached by an additional tunnel railway from Kleine Scheidegg into the mountain; it is an impressive engineering feat but expensive and crowded; the views from Kleine Scheidegg itself are better for walkers.
The villages
Lauterbrunnen in the valley is a working Swiss village with a train station, supermarket, and good-value accommodation. Wengen on the east plateau is a car-free resort village above the valley with excellent views of the Jungfrau and the best trail access to Kleine Scheidegg. Mürren on the west plateau is smaller and more atmospheric, particularly off-season. Gimmelwald below Mürren is a tiny hamlet with no facilities beyond a small hostel that has been a budget traveller institution for decades. The Lonely Planet guidebook once called it one of the best places to stay in Europe; this brought enough visitors to somewhat alter the dynamic, but it retains a sense of genuine remoteness unusual for the Bernese Oberland.
When to go
May and June offer the highest waterfall volume (snowmelt) and wildflowers on the plateau meadows. July and August are the busiest months but also the most reliably clear. September is quieter with golden light and the start of larch colour. The valley floor waterfall walk is possible all year; the plateau trails and Eiger Trail are typically snow-free from June to October. The Jungfraujoch railway runs year-round. Avoid school holidays (particularly Swiss school summer holiday weeks in July to August) if crowds are a concern.
Common Questions
The village itself and the valley floor get busy in July and August, particularly with day visitors from Interlaken. The trails, however, absorb the crowds quickly; by 9am most visitors are on the railway heading to Jungfraujoch and the valley walk is relatively peaceful. The plateau villages of Mürren and Gimmelwald are notably less crowded than Wengen or Grindelwald. Staying in the valley (camping in Lauterbrunnen is popular) and starting walks by 7 to 8am allows you to be on the trails before the day visitors arrive. Late September and early October are the least crowded hiking weeks with acceptable weather.
The Jungfraujoch is a saddle at 3,454m between the Mönch and the Jungfrau, reached by a 19th-century tunnel railway from Kleine Scheidegg that runs through the inside of the Eiger. The journey is an extraordinary piece of engineering history. The top station has an ice palace, glacier viewpoints, and a restaurant. The round-trip ticket from Interlaken costs CHF 220+ (with Swiss Travel Pass discount around CHF 145). The views from the top are mostly of the Aletsch glacier; clouds frequently sit at this altitude and block the panorama. It is worth doing once if budget is not a constraint; the Kleine Scheidegg plateau below (much cheaper to reach) gives equally good views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau faces without the Jungfraujoch price tag.
