386 posts
No, “wild camping” (as tenting is called in Switzerland) is not allowed. Only within designated campgrounds. Day hikes would be your best bet. Just enter “Hiking near Grindelwald” in the search box in upper right. That will give you a lot of information.
7567 posts
Hi David Bart –
Welcome to My Swiss Alps.
Exactly when are you traveling? In the USA, July ( as noted in your title) has recently passed us by. Dates help us to provide relevant season-variable information.
Too bad that you do not have more time in the area. ;-(
A specific answer to to your request would be to hike from Schynige Platte to Faulhorn, stay there at the mountain hotel, then continue. I assume that you are used to hiking at 200o meters and above?
http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king/first-schynigeplatte
There are a lot of resources on this site. Spend some time with the links on the home page to get a better idea about travel in Switzerland.
You may like these two sites, both based on the best topo map, from the Swiss Federal Land Office::
map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=swisstopo&lang=e n&bgLayer=ch.swisstopo .pixelkarte-farbe&catalogNodes=139 2,1538,1396,1430,1436& layers=ch.swisstopo.sw isstlm3d-wanderwege&E=2637805.7 2&N=1168462.58&zoom=6
Color codes explained:
http://www.schweizmobil.ch/en /hiking-in-switzerland/more-wl/hiking-trail-network-and-signalization.html
and,
http://www.schweizmobil.ch/en /wanderland/hiking-in-switzerland.html
This link will give you more information about the general area:
http://www.myswissalps.com/be rneseoberland
which includes:
http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion
A general option for mountain hiking in is to stay in places with dormitories (Matrazanlager, sometimes Anlager) as well as the well-known SAC huts. They are common in most regions with extensive hiking trails, as well as the high Alps.
Slowpoke
72625 posts
Thank you so much for your replies!
The date is incorrect, I meant to say late August, so I will be hiking around the 24-28 Aug.
With your help I’ve decided on making this route but would be open to suggestions to improve it.
Thinking of leaving the majority of luggage at interlaken before starting the walk so I only need to take the essentials.
spend day one leaving from interlaken to Schynige Platte early then heading to Faulhorn, spend the night there. From what I’ve read that is approximately 6 hours.
Day two would be leaving from Faulhorn (most likely mountain hotel) and hike to Grindelwald taking the Eiger trail and stopping by bachalpsee lake from a swim. Then spend the night in Grindelwald. From what I’ve read this is around 8-9 hours.
The following day I would return to interlaken to collect my clothing and continue my vacation.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance, Davis
7567 posts
<<“I am a mid 20’s fit and experienced hike”>>
Then, if you take the cograil from Wilderswil up to Schynige Platte, the first day is a good hike.
You’d have some to spend some time exploring the top at Schynige Platte. The views are among the best in the region, including the overlook for the lakes as well as the Jungfrau Massif.
I don’t know if swimming is permitted in the Bachalpsee. However, my lack of knowledge was improved by finding a post on the internet from 2017 about a swim there. The water will be cold.
The second day starts well, but the approximately 1100 meters descent on foot from First to Grindelwald can also be taken by cableway. If your knees are as fit as you are, they’ll not be bothered by the overall 1600 or so meter descent to Grindelwald from Faulhorn. But, going by cableway would permit you to ascend to Männlichen by cableway ( ersatz bus this summer), make the splendid and easy walk directly toward the North Face of the Eiger, and take the cograil train train or walk all or part way back down to Grindelwald.
Just a thought.
Those who know the history of mountaineering find special pleasure in walking toward die Nordwand (North Face) , nicknamed in German “die Mordwand” ( the murder face or death face), as it towers over you.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Eiger
Slowpoke
825 posts
Davidbart,
If you intend to spend the night at Faulhorn, I recommend that you book in advance, the place might be fully booked already for the dates you have in mind.
< I don’t know if swimming is permitted in the Bachalpsee > Swimming generates waves, and waves would make photographers unhappy…