Hiking trail First - Schynige Platte

Region : Bernese Oberland Duration : 6h00 Distance : 15 km, 9.3 miles Category : severe User rating : 9

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Introduction

In case you want to take a more difficult but splendid walk, then you can walk the route from First (pronounce as ‘Fierst’) to Schynige Platte (or vice versa). It is advisable to start early in the day, since this is a pretty long hike and you may want to take some time to enjoy the view. You should arrive at the end point no later than between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm, as the last train or gondola to the valley usually leaves around this time. Make sure that your hiking gear is good and durable, for you have to cross various rock paths and maybe snow fields. Solid hiking shoes and a hiking stick are essential.

Transportation to First

You will first travel to Grindelwald by car or by train. A 15 minute walk is required to get from the train station to the gondola that takes you up to First. Will you be traveling to and from hiking areas frequently? A Swiss Pass or one of the other passes grants easy access to the entire Swiss Travel System (trains, buses, boats and mountain transportation).

Route description

Follow the signs to Schynige Platte. The first section of the route leads you to the Bachsee. That is were a considerable ascent starts, which brings you just under the top of the Faulhorn. This is the place to spend the night if you want to break this hike in two days. What remains from here is a long but mostly gradual descent to Schynige Platte. After the steepest part, you will reach an authentic mountain hut in the middle of a desolated area with primarily rocks and stones: the Männdlenenhütte (Weberhütte). The occupants can serve you a small meal. You can spend the night here as well. Shortly after the Männdlenenhütte you will enter the green world of Schynige Platte. The last section of the route leads through meadows and is relatively easy. Before arriving at Schynige Platte, you need to choose whether to take the panorama-route or a lower situated path which will take about an hour extra.

Transportation from Schynige Platte

A cog train takes you from Schynige Platte to Wilderswil. From there, you will travel by train or by car to Interlaken, Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen.

Do you have any questions or remarks?

Do you have questions about this trail or would you like suggestions for other trails in the Bernese Oberland? Please feel free to visit our forum or read what other people said about the route First - Schynige Platte. If you have tips about this trail, please write a short review. We appreciate it!