Grindelwald - Kleine Scheidegg

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This route takes you straight from the Grindelwald - (Grund) train station to the Kleine Scheidegg summit, starting on local roads transitioning to footpaths ("Wanderweg"), and finally groomed paths shared with sledders.

This route can be done in either direction, depending on the type of workout you're looking for. It intersects the Wengneralpbhan train line at 2 mid-mountain stations, allowing you to hop on the train should your legs give out, of if you're late for a luncheon date.

Grindelwald is a bustling mountain town, that provides plenty of places to stay, eat and shop. As you travel up the hill you'll encounter train stops at Brandegg and Alpiglen -- both of which have restaurants, in addition to the several restaurants at Kleine Scheidegg. There's also a hotel at Kleine Scheidegg, and trains can be caught there up to the Jungfraujoch, the so-called "Top of Europe," coming in at over 11,000 feet.

Switzerland is not inexpensive, and this area is no exception. A packed lunch is totally unnecessary on this journey due to the plentiful restaurants, but be sure to bring plenty of cash -- not all of them take credit cards. Nice to know that there are also bathrooms at each station/restaurant that are clean and open to the public.

Getting a hiking book for the area is a smart plan, so you can learn the meaning of all the trail markings & signs -- there are many, many of them, and some mark winter trails, in addition to noting levels of difficulty.

Starting from the Grindlewald (Grund) train station, cross the street towards the river (west), and take the bridge. There's a signpost at the bridge marking the Wanderweg (walking path), but beware -- in winter, the route is not the same as in summer, so you cannot go by many of the Wanderweg signs or markers.

Generally, heading uphill is the right way to go. In winter, once you intersect with the sledding path, you can follow the signs for it in reverse. Just beware the sledders coming down fast! It is pretty steep and can be icy, particularly once you enter the shadow of the Eiger, which you'll be travelling in for some time if you're doing this mid-day.