Hiking from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen via Beautiful Biglenalp

Looking for more hikes near Kleine Scheidegg and Wengen?
Start your hike with a walk along the easy Panorama Trail from Männlichen. Those up for a serious challenge can hike the Gemsenweg from Wengen to Männlichen as well.

CURRENT INFO

A map (which I highly recommend downloading prior to your hike) and other information about the trail from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen via Biglenalp are available on AllTrails. Yes, the AllTrails website mistakenly calls it “Bigernalp” instead of Bigelnalp. I don’t know why, but I can confirm this is the correct route. If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland that includes the Lauterbrunnen Valley region, I recommend Rick Steves’ Switzerland guidebook.

I HIKED IT

July 2023 & August 2024, approximately 3.5 hours* from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen

*I recommend allowing four hours minimum for the hike

A QUICK TRAIL SIGNAGE TUTORIAL

Switzerland has excellent trail signage, but it can get confusing when there are so many options. When hiking the trail to Biglenalp, here’s what to know:

• From the south side of the train tracks at Kleine Scheidegg, follow the signs for Bilglenalp.
• There may be trail junctions where Biglenalp is not listed. This is where downloading a map ahead of time, such as the one on AllTrails, comes in handy. Note that this route passes Weisse Fluh, then follows a steep rocky trail down to Biglenalp.
• Wait, just what is Biglenalp anyway? Good question! The word “alp” actually refers to a mountainside meadow. At Biglenalp, a few barns nestle alongside a creek at the foot of the Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. It’s the lowest point along this hike, with spectacular views of towering waterfall-lined cliffs.
• Upon leaving Biglenalp, follow the signs for Wengen.
• Special note: Sometimes, there won’t be a clear trail to follow. Look for trail markings featuring a red stripe sandwiched between two white stripes to show the way.

GOOD TO KNOW

• The trail from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen via Biglenalp works well as a one-way hike. Start in Kleine Scheidegg for a somewhat easier, mostly downhill hike. If you prefer an uphill hike, start in Wengen.
• To reach Kleine Scheidegg, take the train from Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, or Grindelwald. Check schedules online ahead of time.
• To lengthen the hike, take the cable car from either Wengen or Grindelwald to Männlichen and hike the easy three-mile Panorama Trail to Kleine Scheidegg. From Kleine Scheidegg, continue on to Biglenalp.
• If you want to lengthen this hike even further and make it more challenging, you can start in Wengen and climb the steep Gemsenweg to Männlichen. From Männlichen, enjoy a breather on the easy Panorama Trail to Kleine Scheidegg, then continue on to Biglenalp and finally back to Wengen.
• This hike ends in Wengen. If you’re staying in Wengen, welcome back! If you’re staying elsewhere in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, take the train from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen, where you can connect with other villages in the valley and Interlaken. Grindelwald is about an hour by train from Lauterbrunnen.
• Start the hike from the south side of the train tracks at Kleine Scheidegg and follow the trail signs to Biglenalp. You will head downhill across a large meadow with the mountains ahead of you and to the left. For further information, see the Trail Signage Tutorial above.

• Good hiking boots or shoes are a must, and hiking poles are recommended. Expect mud and some extremely rocky sections along the trail. At times the trail is narrow and steep.
• Bring layers, including a rain jacket. The weather can change quickly in the Swiss Alps.
• Bring water. The local tap water is safe to drink, so you can fill your water bottle at your hotel.
• Restrooms are available at Kleine Scheidegg.
• There are restaurants and quick-service food options available at both Kleine Scheidegg and Wengen.
• My favorite lunch stop near Kleine Scheidegg is Restaurant Grindelwaldblick. Their rösti can’t be beat! Grindelwaldblick is located up the hill from Kleine Scheidegg along the Panorama Trail.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

The trail from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen via Biglenalp takes you far from the crowds and face to face with the waterfall-laced cliffs of the mighty Jungfrau and Mönch mountains. Glaciers cling to the crags above, while peaceful meadows lay snuggled in the valleys below. It’s this juxtaposition that makes hiking in the Alps so alluring.

Take note that this is a rough trail at times. Sure, there are some smooth, easy stretches, especially on the gravel road back to Wengen, but be prepared for rocky, narrow paths leading deep into the valley at Biglenalp, and a few uphill climbs as well. This, together with the fact that the hike is 6.7 miles one way, is probably the main reason you won’t cross paths with many other hikers. And that, in you ask me, makes it all the more special.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

The trail from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen via Biglenalp is tough. As an adult, I love the changing views, but that may not be enough to keep young hikers engaged, especially when the going gets rough. For this reason, I only recommend it for kids with ample hiking experience and stamina.

For families looking for a short and easy trail that packs a lot of punch, I highly recommend the Panorama Trail from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. From Kleine Scheidegg, you can take the train back to either Wengen or Grindelwald.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

For more great views in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, be sure to stroll the valley floor and visit Trümmelbach Falls. For a full day of fun, include a trip up the other side of the valley to Gimmelwald and Mürren, and take a cable car to the top of the Schilthorn for 360-degree views. Check out my post on Hiking in Switzerland’s Beautiful Lauterbrunnen Valley to learn how to combine all of these activities into one incredible loop hike (with other transportation options possible).

In Wengen, the Coop grocery store near the train station is the place to prep for picnics. Choose from sandwiches, prepared salads, local fruit in season, and much more. I highly recommend picking up a basket of Swiss strawberries in summer! For dining in Wengen, I recommend the pizza at Ristorante Da Sina.

Looking for more hikes near Wengen? The trail to Leiterhorn, a lesser-known hike to a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Interlaken, is a great choice. Those with stamina to spare can hike the Gemsenweg from Wengen to Männlichen for even higher views. Or, you can simply take the cable car. From Männlichen, the Panorama Trail is a highly popular route that provides easy access to mountain vistas all the way to Kleine Scheidegg.

I love this trail. OK, I’ve probably said that about every trail I’ve hiked in Switzerland’s Lauterbrunnen Valley, but believe me, this one is something special. It starts at the busy railway hub of Kleine Scheidegg, but before long, you’re wandering rugged trails over ridges and through valleys where few tourists dare to venture.

Start the hike by crossing to the south side of the tracks at the Kleine Scheidegg train station. That’s the side facing the famous trio of Swiss Peaks that dominate the Berner Oberland, the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. A small gate leads to the trail, and signage points in the direction of a confusing array of destinations.

We’re headed for Biglenalp. Why? Well, unlike the somewhat more popular Mendelssohnsweg (Mendelssohn’s Trail), this one strays far from the train tracks, opting instead to explore hidden meadows and ever closer mountain views. There are other routes, too, including the cliff-hugging Eiger Glacier Trail. Someday, I intend to give that one a go someday, but the trail to Biglenalp offers plenty of adventure in its own right.

The trail toward Biglenalp starts off with a full view of the glacier-clad Jungfrau, her rugged, snowy peak standing in stark contrast to the wildflower-strewn meadows below. One thing I can say about hiking in the Swiss Alps — the views start off amazing and just get better.

Don’t get too distracted, however. There are likely to be a few muddy sections along the trail. If there has been any recent rainfall (and when hasn’t there been in the Alps?), you’re bound to encounter some muck.

Oh, and rocks. Always watch for rocks. The first part of the trail from Kleine Scheidegg to Biglenalp alternates between a narrow packed dirt trail and some rocky sections. In some cases, the rocks were probably placed deliberately to help avoid the worst of the mud.

In other cases, the trail is literally built into a rock field. After following the trial downhill through the open meadows, the going gets rocky as the route leads uphill through the scree. Let those mountain views be your encouragement to keep going!

Thankfully, this uphill stretch doesn’t last long. At the top of the ridge, I followed the faint path past another fence, then turned right to stay on the trail. Even here, there are frequent trail signposts, which are a huge help when navigating. I still recommend downloading the AllTrails map ahead of time, as some intersections may be a little confusing, or may not list Biglenalp by name.

From the ridgetop, I could see across the Lauterbrunnen Valley to the cliffside town of Mürren. High above Mürren, the Schilthorn Mountain formed a neat triangular peak capped by the Piz Gloria, a little revolving restaurant I could only just make out from this distance.

The rocky ridge trail leads gradually back downhill. A sharp turn to the right leads into the woods, where the trail steepens. This, to my mind, is one of the most challenging sections of the trail. It’s quite narrow, and the downhill path is rocky and often muddy, making it easy to lose your footing. Trekking poles definitely ease the way. Not that I had poles myself, but I was definitely outside of the norm. I passed few other hikers on this route, but one thing they nearly all had in common (besides rain jackets) was trekking poles.

At last, I broke through the trees and stepped into what must surely be fairyland: Biglenalp!

I crossed the stream to an idyllic alpine meadow. No cows were in sight, but a few barns lay snuggled in the gentle curves of the hillside. Above this dreamy scene, the sheer cliffs of the Jungfrau towered overhead, laced with delicate waterfalls. I’ve done this hike twice, and the second time was much cloudier, even breaking into a rainstorm as I left Biglenalp. But if there is a silver lining for hiking in the rain, it is this: never will you see more waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. No wonder this place inspired the creation of Rivendell in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.

I paused briefly at Biglenalp, then continued on, following the trail back into the woods. Here again it was often muddy and slick, and I crossed a few creeks tumbling through the forest.

After passing through the woods, the trail opened up to more panoramic views. Instead of following signs toward Biglenalp, I began following signs toward Wengen. The trail joined with the Mendelssohnswg (Mendelssohn’s Trail) and I was now walking along a dirt road. At this point, I didn’t mind. The views were still fantastic, and having hiked up the mountainous Gemsenweg this morning, I was ready for a break. There were a few uphill stretches left to go, but they were far gentler than the unrelenting slope of the Gemsenweg or even the trail from Kleine Scheidegg to Biglenalp.

Eventually, the road led to Wengen. On the way into town, I passed by the pretty Allmend hut, a mountainside restaurant with a lovely deck and small playground. Perhaps a good option if it’s time for a meal or snack at this point? I haven’t yet tried the food at Allmend, but these mountain huts are always a good option in my experience.

The gravel road became a paved path on the final descent into Wengen. I couldn’t imagine a more charming way to arrive back in town after a full day of hiking. Eager as I was to return to my hotel room and pull the hiking boots off my aching feet, I savored this last part of the journey. From rocky Kleine Scheidegg at the foot of the mountains, to peaceful Biglenalp, and finally back to the cliffside village of Wengen, it had been a spectacular hike.

If you’re ever at Kleine Scheidegg and wonder, “Hmm, is there another way to get down to Wengen without taking the train?” the answer is yes, and it’s incredible. In closing, I’ll say it again: I love this trail.