The Murren to Gimmelwald Hiking Trail

One thing I love about the Bernese Oberland region, is no matter where you are there will be beautiful hikes to take part of. From a simple walk to alpine climbing and everything in between, the region offers all of that and more. The quaint mountainside town of Murren is no exception.

One of these scenic trails is the one that takes you from Murren to Gimmelwald. An easy downhill stroll, overlooking the one of a kind Lauterbrunnen Valley, this trail to Gimmelwald is one that anyone can take part of.

This guide will go over my experience on the trail and help you along the way with plenty of logistical info to get you started.

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1) Murren to Gimmelwald Overview

No matter what your hiking experience or fitness level is, the Murren to Gimmelwald hike will be for you. It is simple and straightforward, and offers some spectacular mountain and valley views throughout. Here are some quick facts about the trail to get you started:

• Starting Point: Town of Murren
• Ending Point: Town of Gimmelwald
• Length: 2KM
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Trail Type: Mostly Pavement
• Difficulty: Easy

2) How to Get to Murren

To take part of the trail, the first thing you will need to do is get to the car free, mountainside town of Murren. Once you are in town, it will be quite easy to follow the yellow hiking signs pointing you in the direction of Gimmelwald.

Getting to Murren, however will depend on where you are coming from. I will speak about logistics from a few main towns around the area – Interlaken, Wengen, and Grindelwald (not to be confused with Gimmelwald).

If you are staying in Murren, well then that should work out quite well for you as you will just need to walk out your front door.

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NOTE: for all scenarios, another option to get to Murren from Lauterbrunnen is to take a bus from Lauterbrunnen station to Stechelberg, and then take two cable cars to Murren (Stechelberg – Gimmelwald & Gimmelwald – Murren).

Since you are taking part of the hike though, it may be nice to do the Lauterbrunnen – Grutschalp – Murren route and then continue on to Gimmelwald on the trail. 

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Hiking Resources & Checklist

Before heading out for the trails, be sure to read up on some of the hiking resources up on the site. These are here to better prepare you for all types of outdoor adventure.

• Gear: Hiking Packing List
• Weather: How to Prepare for Hiking Weather
• Navigation: Hiking GPS & Navigation
• Tips: 20+ Hiking Tips & Tricks for the Trail
• Accommodation: Book Your Hotel Today
• Rental Car: Book Your Car Rental Today

3) The Murren to Gimmelwald Hike

Once in Murren, it is time to follow those yellow hiking signs pointing you in the direction of Gimmelwald. The signs will point you down towards the valley before turning right towards Gimmelwald.

From there it will be a simple path to follow with a couple switchbacks across and down the mountain, where you might see some cows grazing around you.

As you are walking the trail you will see the Lauterbrunnen Valley down below and the snow cap peaks of the Alps out in the distance. The scenery is truly stunning in every which direction.

Once you are finished with the trail and end up in Gimmelwald, you can walk around this even smaller town and enjoy all that it has to offer.

From here you can either take the cable car back to Murren (5 minute ride back), or you can take the cable car (or walk) down to Stechelberg.

In Stechelberg you will be able to take a bus (or walk) the valley back to Lauterbrunnen and continue on with your day.

4) Potential Add Ons Around Murren

Since the Murren to Gimmelwald hike is not too long or strenuous, odds are you will want to do some more activities around the area now that you are already there. Here is a list of a few potential add ons to your day:

A) Schilthorn

Arguably the most popular and stunning place to visit nearby Murren is the top of Schilthorn. At 2,970 meters, Schilthorn will give you vast views of the Alps with the Jungfrau, Monch, Eiger trio out in the distance.

On a clear day, you can see for miles and miles of continuous peaks. Getting to Schilthorn from Murren only requires a couple additional cable cars (Murren – Birg and Birg – Schilthorn).

Once up top you can also visit the rotating restaurant, head into Bond World, and finish up one cable car ride in Birg to take part of the Thrill Walk.

» Read more about all of this in the Complete Guide to Schilthorn I put together

B) Hike the Lauterbrunnen Valley

As mentioned another option here is to walk down the Lauterbrunnen Valley from Stechelberg (you could also potentially walk from Gimmelwald to Stechelberg if you are up for it).

From Stechelberg you can simply follow the road towards Lauterbrunnen as you pass by the famous waterfalls coming off the side of the valley. You are sure to pass by farmland, streams, and more as you enjoy the walk down.

Be on the lookout for Trummelbach Falls, where for a small fee you can explore this “in mountain” waterfall throughout multiple levels.

» Learn much more in the Lauterbrunnen Valley Guide up on the site

C) Murren Funicular to Allmendhubel

One thing I did not have the opportunity to do while in the area was take the short funicular from Murren up to Allmendhubel.

Up in Allmendhubel you can find the Blumental Panorama Trail among some other great walking trails. There is also a great playground here if you are traveling with small children.

D) Murren Via Ferrata

I would not say this is an add on, rather it is an alternative to the trail. Instead of walking from Murren to Gimmelwald, you have the option of taking part of a Via Ferrata between the two towns.

If you are not familiar with what a via ferrata is, it is basically a hiking route, where you are clipped onto a metal wire with carabiners.

Throughout the route you will come across metal rungs, ladders, suspension bridges, and wires to cross. It is definitely something that will get your adrenaline going.

» Take a look at the Murren to Gimmelwald Via Ferrata guide for more.

5) Where to Stay in Murren

There are a lot of different towns to choose from around the area. Here are a few top hotels in each one of these towns. Browse through Booking.com below to find the spot that is best for you.

While the Murren to Gimmelwald trail is not something you will focus your entire day on, it is something that I would highly recommend taking part of if you are around the area. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Murren exploring all that the town had to offer and I am sure you will too!

Take a look at some other Switzerland itineraries and guides to help you with your travel planning and feel free to ask any questions below. Have fun out there!

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