[Removed user]

26 February 2018 at 21:56:57 #814517

Hi Lucas & rock oyster,

We will be in Switzerland from May 04 to May 18 (Lucerne May 5- 8, Zermatt May 12-13 and Interlaken May 14-17 stay in Wengen). We hope to catch cable cars etc to several high mountaintops – Mount Titlis, Mount Pilatus, Schilthorn, Maennlichen, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise and Gornergrat. Do you know what date each of the mountains would stop being accessible? Also, would you recommend us with some easy hiking trails around Wengen, Murren and Lauterbrunnen for early May? We also want to do a lake cruise at Interlaken to Thunersee or Brienzersee with Brienzersee ferry or Thunersee ferry. Are they operating on May 14 -17?

Please help.

Thank you.

Terri

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[rockoyster]

27 February 2018 at 2:35:53 #877274

Hello Terri,

I’m not into hiking but for cable cars see http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/gondolarail-access-to-mountains-in-aprilmay-2018.

If you want to check if any particular route (including cable cars) is operational on a particular day you can always use the Swiss Train Timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable).

You can download the ferry timetable from goo.gl/aY3qbg. Make sure you check for the right time of the year.

[Removed user]

27 February 2018 at 7:47:30 #877275

Hi Terri,

Please find some hiking suggestions here: http://www.myswissalps.com/gr indelwald/activities. I’d expect trails below 2000 m to be accessible, but you’ll have to wait and see until you’re there.

Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg is most likely closed. That one usually opens in June. The local tourist office will know exactly which trails are open when you’re there. Another option could be around Lucerne. Mt. Rigi is a little lower and hiking there might be a good option as well.

Mt. Titlis, Mt. Pilatus and Schilthorn are open. The Gornergrat railway will be operating, but the cableway to Klein Matterhorn/Glacier Paradise will be closed for maintenance between Trockener Steg and Klein Matterhorn from 30 April to 11 May 2018.

[kim11]

27 February 2018 at 16:23:34 #877276

Spring does not come early to the Bernese Oberland. Many of the higher elevation hikes are often closed by snow and/or mud until mid-June. During heavy or late snow years some of these trails don’t open until July 1. The earliest the higher elevation hikes open are when the transports to reach the trailheads are scheduled to begin operating. However, sometimes the trails don’t open for days or weeks later, it is entirely weather- and snowpack-dependent.

However, there are a number of lower elevation hikes that are usually open during April, May, and early June. These are all easy walks; the more challenging hikes are those higher up.

A beautiful valley walk begins in Lauterbrunnen and ends in Stechelberg (or earlier, depending on your inclination). It is about 4 miles long on a wide flat path. You can go as far as Trümmelbach Falls (about half way and highly recommended for a visit) then bus the rest of the way, go as far as the Stechelberg Schilthornbahn station, about 3.5 miles total, or go all the way to Stechelberg where there is a lovely inn that serves delicious lunches. You can take the bus back from any of these stops to Lauterbrunnen.

The only walk at elevation that’s pretty sure to be open is the Grütschalp to Mürren route. Take the cable train from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp then enjoy the 3.5 mile, mostly flat stroll to Mürren. Stunning views of the Eiger massif from here. You can also walk from Mürren down the paved easy trail to Gimmelwald then catch the gondola down to Stechelberg.

The Allmenhubel lift (from Mürren up to Allmendhubel) generally opens the end of the first week of June, walks in that area may be open that early or maybe not, entirely depending on snow levels. schilthorn.ch/en/Angeb ot/Timetable__Tariffs/ Timetable

The gondola from Wengen to Männlichen (where one begins the easy walk down to Kleine Scheidegg) is usually scheduled to begin operating in mid-May, but often the trail is obscured by snow or mud until mid June. If it is closed it is still well worth taking the gondola trip and walking around the top.

There is also a lovely easy walk along the river (starting in Lauterbrunnen) called the “Natur und Bahn” trail. You pick it up right behind (east) of the train station and follow it as far as you want. It runs to Wilderswil via Zweilütschinen, each of those segments is around 3 miles. You can catch the train back to Lauterbrunnen at either spot.

There are a number of loop trails around Wengen that are usually open before mid-June as well. The tourist information center in town can direct you to these.