ViaBerna - stage 14 Isenfluh - Schynige Platte

The hike begins in the mountain village of Isenfluh and takes you along the old church path through the forest and past streams and waterfalls down to Zweilütschinen on the valley floor. From the station building, you walk out of the valley to the iron bridge over the Schwarze Lütschine (Black Lütschine) river. After the bridge, the trail swings onto the old valley road into Grindelwaldtal and takes you through the village of Gündlischwand. The actual ascent to Iselten begins once you leave the village. In wide and narrow bends, the path winds up the mountain through the shade of the forest. In an area characterised by loose rock masses, the trail forces its way through an archway formed by two towering limestone rocks. Locals call this passageway “Engelstor” because you are supposed to hear the angels singing here if you have been good. The open Alpine meadows begin in Ussren Blatti and give a wonderful view down into Grindelwaldtal. At the Ausserläger huts, you look over the entire basin-shaped meadow valley of Alp Iselten and climb up the sunny slope to Oberberg. From here, the hiking trail from Faulhorn leads to Schynige Platte. The view of the Jungfrau group is breathtaking.

The confluence of the Black Lütschine (Schwarze Lütschine) and the White Lütschine (Weisse Lütschine) at Zweilütschinen is an impressive sight, especially at high water. The waters of the Black Lütschine, which are dark in colour because of the slate mud, come from the east and merge with the waters of the White Lütschine that originates in the limestone rich Lauterbrunnen valley.

Schynige Platte is accessible via a rack railway from the “Belle Epoque” and a popular starting point for numerous hikes. Wooden benches in the carriages, rolling stock from the 19th century and the historic uniforms of the conductors recall times gone by.

Risk your life by climbing onto a rock ledge to discover rare mountain flowers? Thanks to the botanical Alpine garden at Schynige Platte, you don’t have to. Nobody needs to risk their life to see Edelweiss up close. Gymnadenia nigra, paradisea and around 650 other species grow in the easily accessible setting of the Alpine garden. On an approximately one kilometre long tour, visitors can see two thirds of the entire Alpine flora and visit two artificial terrains such as the Urgesteinfeld or the Kalkschutthalde, where very specific varieties flourish. You can leave your ice axe, rope and carabiners at home.