Lauterbrunnen to Kandersteg, via Sefinafurgga and Hohtürli pass
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 22.66 mi
- Elevation gain
- 11,024 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 9,764 ft
- Max elevation
- 9,114 ft
- TrailRank
- 40
- Min elevation
- 2,603 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Coordinates
- 5456
- Uploaded
- September 12, 2020
- Recorded
- September 2020
near Sousberg, Canton de Berne (Switzerland)
Viewed 1286 times, downloaded 21 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
This route will not disappoint, although with over 3000 metres of ascent and descent it is not trivial.
It is two day-sections of the Via Alpina joined together. You only need to follow the Route 1 signs (except when these two sections join and bypass Griesalp, in km21).
Amazing views and soft ground to run on (asphalt only at the beginning in Lauterbrunnen, in the last km in Kandersteg and when crossing the town of Mürren)
The route has two ascents to two passes, Sefinaffurga (2611m) and Hohtürli (2778m), and the respective descents.
The ascent to Sefinafurgga, is uncomplicated and done gradually. The steep sections you can fast hike but not run efficiently. The descent from Sefinafurga is fully runnable
The ascent Hohtürli is also a fasthike (a hard slog). From Hohtürli pass down it is runnable all the way down to Kandersteg.
As of 12 Sep 2020 there is a route change just before Mürren, around km 2.7. You will be asked to take a red/white path up which links to the left to a yellow one to Mürren.
Plenty of resupply options (incl. coop and shops in Mürren). You will also go past two mountain huts, Rotstockhütte (2042m) and Blüemisalphütte SAC (2835m. , just a little up from the Hohtürli pass)
Done in 6 hours of moving time 7 hours total time. (Schweizmobil recommends 16 hours as a hike)
Recommendation to do it from Lauterbrunnen to Kandersteg (as it is here) and not the other way around. The east side of the Hohtürli is steep and very well secured with stairs and some ropes but it is better to go up that, and then run on the west side which is less steep. The climb from Spilboden to Bryndli is a little steep (only 500 metres).
Getting to Interlaken by train is not the quickest sometimes. If you drive with your car consider leaving it in Interlaken Ost carpark and then take train to Lauterbrunnen and from Kandersteg back to Interlaken Ost when you finish. .
Further descriptions of the two sections below
Stage 12 Via Alpina, Lauterbrunnen to Griesalp
Stage 13 Via Alpina, Griesalp to Kandersteg
It is two day-sections of the Via Alpina joined together. You only need to follow the Route 1 signs (except when these two sections join and bypass Griesalp, in km21).
Amazing views and soft ground to run on (asphalt only at the beginning in Lauterbrunnen, in the last km in Kandersteg and when crossing the town of Mürren)
The route has two ascents to two passes, Sefinaffurga (2611m) and Hohtürli (2778m), and the respective descents.
The ascent to Sefinafurgga, is uncomplicated and done gradually. The steep sections you can fast hike but not run efficiently. The descent from Sefinafurga is fully runnable
The ascent Hohtürli is also a fasthike (a hard slog). From Hohtürli pass down it is runnable all the way down to Kandersteg.
As of 12 Sep 2020 there is a route change just before Mürren, around km 2.7. You will be asked to take a red/white path up which links to the left to a yellow one to Mürren.
Plenty of resupply options (incl. coop and shops in Mürren). You will also go past two mountain huts, Rotstockhütte (2042m) and Blüemisalphütte SAC (2835m. , just a little up from the Hohtürli pass)
Done in 6 hours of moving time 7 hours total time. (Schweizmobil recommends 16 hours as a hike)
Recommendation to do it from Lauterbrunnen to Kandersteg (as it is here) and not the other way around. The east side of the Hohtürli is steep and very well secured with stairs and some ropes but it is better to go up that, and then run on the west side which is less steep. The climb from Spilboden to Bryndli is a little steep (only 500 metres).
Getting to Interlaken by train is not the quickest sometimes. If you drive with your car consider leaving it in Interlaken Ost carpark and then take train to Lauterbrunnen and from Kandersteg back to Interlaken Ost when you finish. .
Further descriptions of the two sections below
Stage 12 Via Alpina, Lauterbrunnen to Griesalp
Stage 13 Via Alpina, Griesalp to Kandersteg
Comments (2)
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Very nice, are you planning on doing the entire Via Alpina as runs?
I only have left the western most stretch from Kandersteg to Montreaux, and the eastern-most tip, from Lichtenstein to Sargans. The 2/3rds in the middle are done. It is a very well signalled route.