Schynige Platte to First

The Schynige Platte to First traverse is the Bernese Oberland's flagship long day hike — a 16 km ridgewalk above the Lauterbrunnen valley with the Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau triumvirate filling the southern horizon, the Lake Brienz turquoise far below to the north, and the 2,681 m summit of Faulhorn as the trail's midpoint. It's been called the finest day hike in the Alps by more than one guidebook, and the postcard reflection of Wetterhorn in the Bachalpsee tarn is the canonical Bernese photo.

The walk is conventionally east — from Schynige Platte to First — to take advantage of the small net elevation drop and end at the busier First gondola. From the historic Schynige Platte railway station (1,967 m, reached via Switzerland's oldest cog-railway from Wilderswil), the trail climbs gradually through alpine pasture and past the Loucherhorn before pitching up to the Faulhorn summit at km 10. Faulhorn houses an 1893 mountain inn — Switzerland's oldest mountain hotel — and serves a famous Älplermagronen (alpine macaroni) for lunch. From the summit, the trail descends past the cobalt Bachalpsee to the First gondola station. Cumulative climb is 860 m; descent 690 m.

The hiking season is mid-June to mid-October, snowmelt-dependent. The Schynige Platte railway and First gondola both run hourly in season; a combined Berner-Oberland or Jungfrau pass makes the day cost-effective. Start early — the Schynige Platte train runs from about 7 AM and reaching Faulhorn before midday clouds is the goal. Allow 5–7 hours of walking; total trip time including trains is 9–10 hours from Interlaken. Two mountain huts along the route (Faulhorn and Männdlenen) serve hot food and drinks, useful insurance if the weather closes in. Sturdy hiking shoes essential — the Faulhorn approach has a steep stony section that gets slick when wet.