• CH & IT Roadtrip
    Alpine farm on the way from Mürren to Gimmelwald, Switzerland.
    A cute calf checking us out as we check it out ... on the way to Gimmelwald, Switzerland.Pop of yellow adds charm to the floral display ... on the way to Gimmelwald, Switzerland.Interesting snow slide barriers ... on the way to Gimmelwald, Switzerland.At this hour, the cable cars that are going up are mostly empty ... on the way to Gimmelwald.Welcome to Gimmelwald, Switzerland.Gimmelwald, Switzerland.Another cable car ... but this one is heading somewhere else other than Mürren.Too bad the mountain tops are cloaked — Gimmelwald, Switzerland.A few more steps and now we can see the main village — Gimmelwald, Switzerland.Nice spot to take a load off and enjoy the views — Gimmelwald, Switzerland.Panorama of the scenery and the village — Gimmelwald, Switzerland.Charming wood pile — Gimmelwald, Switzerland.This goat's curiosity was strong enough for it to pause grazing to check us out — Gimmelwald.Gimmelwald, Switzerland.On the wall of a hut in Gimmelwald, Switzerland.Even the water trough is decorated with flowers — Gimmelwald, Switzerland.Old boots recycled as flower pots — Gimmelwald, Switzerland.Gimmelwald, Switzerland.Some of the colorful blooms from our hike to Gimmelwald, Switzerland.

    Mürren: Hiking Down to Gimmelwald

    July 23 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    “If Heaven isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, send me back to Gimmelwald.”

    I read this statement on grindelwald.com, a website authored by an aficionado of this small, village in the Alps. The website continued, “… No cars, no TV, no newspapers, not even a food store, but many cows and plenty of cheese.” Sounded idyllic to us. When we found the village on the map, and realized that it was down the road, so to speak, from Mürren, we added it to our plans.

    Situated at an elevation of 4,472 feet (1,363 m), Gimmelwald is essentially between Stechelberg in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and Mürren, about 1,000 feet further up the mountain. Accessible only on foot or by cable car, the name of this unspoiled village was first mentioned in 1346. Not sure what the population was back then, but today it is around 100.

    We’d been told that there was a path we could hike down. Turns out that it was the road that connects Gimmelwald with Mürren. There weren’t many vehicles with which to contend, so traffic wasn’t an issue. We encountered other hikers along the way … but few and far between. Overall, an easy hike that we found to be quite peaceful. Cows and goats in farmyards … colorful flowers along the side of the road and decorating huts and houses … cable cars passing overhead … and of course, expansive Alpine views that accompanied every step of our hike.

    When we reached the village, there was nary a person around. Even the shop was unattended … the shopkeeper depending on the honesty of the shoppers. We decided to grab a drink … maybe a snack. Of the two options available to us, we settled on the Biergarten at Pension Gimmelwald. Aha … here’s where everyone was. Also at the Mountain Hostel, around the corner. Mostly hikers by the look of their gear.

    Drinks with a view and then it was time to head back to Mürren to explore it a bit more in depth. Gimmelwald is a stop on the Stechelberg-Mürren line, so it was just a matter of buying two one-way tickets and take the easy way up.

    *** SHFC Reconciliation (PER PERSON): CHF 120 outlay … with the card paid off, the Gimmelwald-Mürren cable car ticket added CHF $4.40 to our credit balance. We have now saved CHF 39.70 on public transport in Switzerland.    Read more