Hike from Mürren to Bryndli 2,134m

Average time: 1-2 hours (one way)
Distance: 3.7km
Height difference: 474m
Fatmap link

With the warmer weather finally among us and the lower elevations of the mountain free of snow, we decided to do our first little hike-and-fly of the season to a point called Bryndli. At an altitude of 2,134m and only 474m higher than Mürren, this hike isn’t difficult for those with an average fitness level - but I think it’s one of the most rewarding and beautiful hikes in the area.

We started out at 08:15 with two good friends that were visiting from Portugal, Roy, and Morven. This was their first hike-and-fly in the mountains, so the excitement was high!

The start of the hike (from Mürren to Gimmeln) is easy terrain with a steady incline. There are options to hike over a sealed road or through the forest, both are similar in length.

Arriving in Gimmeln you’re immediately surrounded by a small cluster of typical Swiss holiday chalets and farms, and as soon as you lift your gaze - you see the finish line towering over you, which can be slightly intimidating for the untrained hiker.

Once you’ve crossed a bridge over a small river, things start getting a bit steeper. This is when the hardest part of the journey begins, and hiking poles come in handy. For the next 30 minutes, you’ll be traveling up a never-ending winding staircase of rock and tree roots.

The great thing about hiking in the Swiss Alps is that although the trails can be uneven (as they are mostly dictated by the shape of the mountain) they are well-maintained, signposted and there are even benches along the way for when you need a break.

After the 30 minute steep section, there’s a bit of a flat traverse with some really epic views of Chilchbalm (another amazing place to explore)! Below is a photo of Roy enjoying the moment.

After the short flat section, it starts going up again. The last stretch to the top is probably the most exhausting, there are rails to help you with your balance so you don’t fall off (it’s a little exposed in some places).

As soon as you reach the peak, you really feel like you’ve conquered something and that’s what I love about this hike! A reasonably small area, surrounded by sheer drops on either side, with and a huge metal cross (check out the first photo) gives you the feeling that you’re standing on top of the world.

In true Swiss style, there’s a logbook that you can sign located in a small metal chest underneath the cross. These types of logbooks are located all around Switzerland in various places, usually at the finish line and this makes the experience even more rewarding.

From here, there are many different options. Hikers can hike down the way they came, hike another 45 minutes to a hut called “Rotstockhutte” for a drink and some food, or even make their way along Wasseneg ridge up to Birg and Schilthorn.

But if you’re a paraglider like us, the best way to get down is to fly of course! So, next, we headed over to Wasenegg ridge to find a nice spot to launch and fly home.

Wasenegg Ridge is a calm picturesque ridge surrounding by steep rocky mountains. The contrasts are incredible and the gentle slope is perfect for an launching a paraglider.

I didn’t get a photo from the sky as none of us brought GoPro’s with battery! We all safely launched from Wasenegg Ridge, flew over Mürren, flying for about 20 minutes, and landed safely in the warm, summary valley.

We were all stoked, especially Roy and Morven because they’d just conquered their first hike and fly in the mountains!

A day to remember, thanks, guys!

Flight over Mürren into Lauterbrunnen Valley