Gundlischwand: Hiking from Easy Trails to Mountain Tours

Hikes in Gundlischwand range from easier trails to challenging mountain tours. There is also the ViaBerna, a cantonal cycling route, as well as landscape and cultural features that give the area its distinctive character. When planning your trip, it is worth considering the differences between the tours and which places or natural features interest you most.

Hiking Trails and the ViaBerna

Gundlischwand, or Zweilütschinen, is a starting point for numerous hikes. Easier trails lead to Wilderswil, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. Challenging mountain hikes lead to Schynige Platte, Männlichen, Leitere-Horn (Schneit) and Wengen. These named destinations therefore vary in difficulty; it is helpful to keep this distinction in mind when choosing a route.

A ViaBerna stage through Gundlischwand is 10 kilometres long, takes five hours and includes 1,350 metres of ascent. Together, distance, time and elevation gain provide a practical guide for planning the tour; seasonal conditions may vary. Another route description leads from Isenfluh via Zweilütschinen and Gundlischwand to Schynige Platte. On the ViaBerna, a steep, winding climb leads from Gundlischwand to Alp Schwand. Seasonal conditions can affect access; be sure to take them into account before your tour, particularly for this climb.

There is also a clear cycling connection: Gundlischwand lies on cantonal cycling route 6.1 from Thun to Meiringen. The route connects the village to Switzerland’s national cycling network. The wider region also has gravel-bike routes, including the Männlichen Viewpoint – View of the Eiger loop from Wengen. This regional context is distinct from the cycling route that directly connects with Gundlischwand. Peaks with panoramic views and a variety of hiking opportunities are also part of the wider region.

Landscape and History

Gundlischwand lies on the edge of the Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site. The upper part of the municipality includes the Sägistal valley and a small lake. At Zweilütschinen, the Schwarze Lütschine and the Weisse Lütschine rivers meet. The village and its surroundings therefore feature both striking landscapes and a range of hiking destinations.

A special testament to the village’s history is the smelting furnace dating from 1682, which has survived to this day. Gundlischwand’s smelting furnace is a roofless historic structure. The site also included a blacksmith’s forge. The smelting furnace and forge provide a tangible connection to the area’s history of metalworking; the surviving furnace makes this part of the village’s history visible on site.

Planning Your Trip

At Zweilütschinen railway station, trains arriving from Interlaken are divided: one section continues to Grindelwald and the other to Lauterbrunnen. If your journey passes through this station, check the current timetable before you travel. This will help you take the train connection into account when planning without confusing the two destinations.

There is a barbecue area in the municipality at Schmelzi. Its seasonal availability may vary, so check whether it is suitable for your planned visit before you go.

Discover more destinations: Niederried Bei Interlaken, Saxeten, Unterseen, Interlaken, Axalp, Iseltwald, Mürren, Habkern

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