Sweeping alpine panoramas and a herd of cows that literally joined us on the trail set the stage for one of the most unforgettable hikes of our Switzerland adventure. We started the day by checking out of our beloved hotel in Mürren and moving into a chalet on the valley floor in Lauterbrunnen, before riding the train up the opposite rim to Wengen and the cable car to Männlichen. From there, we climbed to the summit on the Royal Walk, then continued along the Panorama Trail with the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau filling the horizon while cowbells jingled at our side. After a scenic lunch at Restaurant Eigernordwand in Kleine Scheidegg, the challenge ramped up with a climb to Eigergletscher on the Jungfrau Eiger Walk past the sparkling Fallbodensee. Then we tackled the Eiger Trail, a rugged cliffside descent that delivered views of the sheer Eiger North Face. We wrapped up with some time in Wengen – the Mürren equivalent on the eastern rim – before returning to Lauterbrunnen.

Itinerary

This itinerary is based on our August 25, 2025 visit, when we transitioned from Mürren to Lauterbrunnen as our base.

• 🌦️ Check weather: Jungfrau.ch webcams – Männlichen, Kleine Scheidegg
• ☕️ Quick breakfast in room (pre-packaged coffee from Coop)
• 🚆 7:28 AM – Transit: Mürren → Männlichen (75m, EarthTrekkers Day 3)
  • 🚆 7:28 AM – Train: Mürren BLM → Grütschalp (11m, every 30m at xx:28/:58 from 6:15 AM – 8:45 PM)
    • 🚶‍♂️ 7:39 AM – Walk (4m) to Cable Car Station
  • 🚠 7:43 AM – Cable Car: Grütschalp → Lauterbrunnen (Seilbahn) (4m, every 30m at xx:13/:43 from 6:06 AM – 8:30 PM)
    • 🧳 Store luggage at Lauterbrunnen Nussbaumerhaus 3 Airbnb (7m walk)
    • 🚶‍♂️ 7:47 AM – Walk (5m) to Train Station
  • 🚆 8:00 AM – Train: Lauterbrunnen → Wengen (11m, every 30m at xx:00/:30 from 5 AM – midnight)
    • 🚶‍♂️ 8:11 AM – Walk (5m) to Cable Car Station 
  • 🚠 8:30 AM – Cable Car: Wengen (Männlichenbahn) → Männlichen (Luftseilb. Wengen) (5m, every 20m at xx:10/:30/:50 from 8:10 AM – 5:10 PM 💡Stand right side for mountain views. 👑 Pay an extra 5 CHF for a Royal Ride on the open upper deck) 
• 👑 8:35 AM – Hike Männlichen Royal Walk to summit of Männlichen
  • 0.5-1h, 1.2 mi round-trip including photo stop at iconic crown with incredible views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley
• 🥾 10:00 AM – Hike Panorama Trail: Männlichen → Kleine Scheidegg
  • 1-2h, 3 mi mostly flat with nonstop views of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau along with cow encounters
• 🍽️ 12:00 PM – Lunch at Restaurant Eigernordwand (🎟️ RESERVED, Modern Alpine chic with terrace facing the Eiger North Face 🌾 GF clearly marked menu which includes Swiss classics)
• 🥾 1:00 PM – Hike Jungfrau Eiger Walk: Kleine Scheidegg → Eigergletscher
  • 0.5-1h, 1.5 mi uphill to get to the Eiger Trail start.
  • 🐄 Stroll around Fallbodensee for alpine reflections and say hi to grazing cows.
  • Backup: Train: Kleine Scheidegg → Eigergletscher (5m, every 30m at xx:00/:30; 🎟️ Not included in Berner Oberland Pass, 4 CHF/person with half-fare pass 💡 It didn’t look like the train was running the day we went, but take this if short on time or want to avoid the steep incline.)
• 🥾 2:00 PM – Hike Eiger Trail: Eigergletscher → Alpiglen
  • 2-3h, 4.5 mi downhill along the north face of Eiger mountain
  • 💡 Steep descent is tough on knees/shins so bring hiking poles. 
  • Optional: Rotstock via ferrata (3-4h), work out logistics to rent gear from Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren or Grindelwald (⏰ Time permitting – we had to skip due to limited time and not having gear)
• 🚆 5:05 PM – Transit: Alpiglen→ Wengen (70m, 🎟️ Not included in Berner Oberland Pass, 22.50 CHF/person with half-fare pass)
  • 🚆 5:05 PM – Train: Alpiglen → Kleine Scheidegg (12m, every 30m at xx:05/:35 from 8:05 AM – 5:35 PM, 💡 Sit left side for mountain views)
  • 🚆 5:44 PM – Train: Kleine Scheidegg → Wengen (25m, every 30m at xx:14/:44 from 8:14 AM – 6:44 PM, 💡 Sit left side for mountain/valley views)
• 🚶‍♂️ 6:09 PM – Explore Wengen (30m)
  • 🧺 Pick up breakfast and picnic lunch for next day from Coop grocery
• 🚆 6:42 PM – Train: Wengen → Lauterbrunnen (13m, every 30m at xx:12/:42 from 6 AM – 11:13 PM)
  • 🥾 Backup – Hike: Wengen → Lauterbrunnen (~1.5h, 1.9 mi)
• 🛌 7:00 PM – Return to Nussbaumerhaus 3 Airbnb in Lauterbrunnen
• 👕 Do laundry (clothesline available, laundromat nearby)
• 🍽️ 8:00 PM – Dinner @ Hotel Oberland Restaurant (🎟️ RESERVED outside. Rustic, friendly, centrally located – great for casual dinners. Touristy and a Rick Steves favorite. 🌾 GF clearly marked menu with good GF reviews)

💡 Tips

• 🌦️ Weather check – Look at Jungfrau.ch webcams for Männlichen & Kleine Scheidegg first thing in the morning, as clouds can make or break the views.
• 🧳 Luggage drop – If transferring accommodations, factor in time for luggage storage before starting the day.
• 🥾 Royal Walk – Take your time on the summit trail; it’s short but panoramic and you can even catch paragliders making the jump.
• ☀️ Panorama Trail – Bring layers and sunscreen. The trail is exposed with no shade but offers sweeping views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Expect cows to join you along the hike.
• 🍽️ Lunch stop – Eigernordwand Restaurant is a good place to linger and rest before the Eiger Trail. Reserve terrace seating to guarantee a seat. We got to sit in a dedicated area away from the crowds.
• 🚆 Eigergletscher train – Consider taking the short train ride from Kleine Scheidegg to Eigergletscher to save energy for the Eiger Trail, as the uphill hike is steep.
• 🥾 Eiger Trail – Hiking poles strongly recommended for the descent to protect knees/shins. Trail is rocky with loose gravel in parts.
• 🥾 Via Ferrata option – The Rotstock route requires advance gear rental and adds 3–4h, so only feasible if you skip the Eiger Trail.
• 🧺 Supplies – Grocery stores close fairly early so stop at Coop in Wengen before returning to Lauterbrunnen to grab next day’s breakfast/picnic items.
• 👕 Laundry – Plan around drying time if your accommodation has a clothesline; laundromat in Lauterbrunnen if you need quicker turnaround.
• 🍽️ Dinner – Hotel Oberland is popular and fills up; make reservations to secure an outdoor table with a view.

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Männlichen Royal Walk

Starting at Männlichen’s cable car station, this short but spectacular trail leads to a summit viewpoint fit for royalty. In a little over a mile round-trip, you climb gently toward a crown-shaped platform where the panorama suddenly opens wide to reveal the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Wengen, and the snowcapped Bernese Alps. From the summit, you can often watch paragliders launch into the sky, their colorful wings drifting through the valley below. It’s the perfect warm-up hike – easy, photogenic, and unforgettable for the sheer scale of the peaks around you.

Panorama Trail: Männlichen → Kleine Scheidegg

True to its name, this 3-mile walk from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg is one continuous postcard. With the mighty Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau lined up ahead, every step feels framed by alpine magic. Friendly cows often wander onto the trail itself, their bells echoing across the meadows as if they’re joining the hike too (see YouTube Short). The path is wide and gently downhill, making it as family-friendly as it is breathtaking.

Restaurant Eigernordwand in Kleine Scheidegg

Restaurant Eigernordwand was the perfect place to pause and recharge before tackling the Eiger Trail. With floor-to-ceiling windows and a spacious terrace, it offers front-row views of the Eiger’s sheer north face that feel almost unreal. Reserving a table on the terrace is well worth it – you’re guaranteed a seat in a quieter, dedicated area away from the bustling crowds. The food matched the setting: I enjoyed a flavorful beef tartare while Scott ordered a hearty sausage dish, both clearly marked gluten-free. To top it off, I treated myself to ice cream while Scott sipped a coffee, the perfect finish before setting out on the dramatic hike ahead.

Jungfrau Eiger Walk

A lesser-known gem, this short connector trail links Kleine Scheidegg with Eigergletscher. It’s about 1.5-miles, but it climbs steadily and gives you the first close-up encounters with the towering north face of the Eiger. Along the way, you pass the sparkling Fallbodensee, a small alpine lake that perfectly mirrors the peaks on clear days. Glacier views, rocky paths, alpine streams, and cow encounters make this section feel like the prologue to a grand mountain adventure.

Eiger Trail

Carved into the base of the Eiger’s north wall, this 4.5-mile trail brings you face-to-face with one of the most legendary peaks in the Alps. The path drops steadily from Eigergletscher to Alpiglen, weaving past waterfalls, boulder fields, and sheer cliffside views. Rugged and rocky, it puts real strain on the knees, but with hiking poles and careful footing the rewards are immense – raw alpine drama at every turn. For even better views of the Eiger itself, consider hiking it uphill instead; the perspective facing the mountain is more dramatic (as you can see in the video below looking back over my shoulder).

Train: Alpiglen → Kleine Scheidegg → Wengen

The train from Alpiglen to Kleine Scheidegg is a short but scenic journey that feels like a reward after the rugged descent of the Eiger Trail. In just about 12 minutes, the Jungfrau Railway winds upward through alpine meadows with sweeping views of the valley below. Sitting on the left side of the train gives you the best panoramas as the Eiger looms dramatically overhead and the landscape opens wide toward Grindelwald. At Kleine Scheidegg, it’s an easy transfer onto the train for Wengen, making this route both efficient and scenic for hikers wrapping up their day in the Jungfrau region.

Wengen

Wengen is a charming, car-free village perched on a sunny terrace above Lauterbrunnen, and it serves as a perfect jumping-off point for some of the region’s best hikes. From here, it’s just a quick cable car ride up to Männlichen for the Royal Walk and Panorama Trail, and trains connect easily to Kleine Scheidegg and beyond for the Jungfrau Eiger Walk and the Eiger Trail. The village itself is small but lively, with alpine chalets, sweeping valley views, and a convenient Coop grocery store where we stocked up on supplies for the next day. Wengen blends relaxed alpine charm with unbeatable trail access, making it an ideal stop for hikers in the Jungfrau region.