Hike from Iffigenalp to the Simmen Falls near Lenk

(Day 1 Photos are HERE)

Saturday and Sunday Aug.24th and 25th: Day Two of our sojourn in the Simmental Valley in Canton Bern, and at first we considered heading out into other side valleys, but those trips all took over two hours, and then we realized, just an 18-minute train ride to Lenk and another 25 minutes by bus, and we can be up in the mountains just South of here. And isn't that the idea of actually vacationing in one place?

So our destination was Iffigenalp, and there were surprisingly many people on the bus, but it was a beautiful Sunday and the first bus of the morning. Good thing most of the hikers headed in the other direction, toward the Iffigen Lake, whereas we headed East toward the the Simmen Falls, fantastic panoramas along the way, loads of waterfalls, dessert at a mountain restaurant, and a bus ride back to Lenk. Since it was also still early in the day, we returned to the Iffigen Falls which we had passed with the bus earlier on our way up to Iffigen Alp. The glimpse we had from the bus on the way up didn't do them justice, so our day of waterfalls had to end with a better look at them...  

It ended up being another perfect hiking day, a hike that I really enjoyed.

Side Note: I still can't get over how those regular city buses just barrel up the winding mountain roads, sometimes unpaved, and usually wide enough for only one vehicle. In this case, as with many others we have been on, the road can only be traveled in each direction for 15 minutes every hour to prevent cars having to pass each other, as it is really not even possible...

Heading up by bus to Iffigenalp, which is in the valley to the right of the hill in the center, the Oberlaubhore, which we climbed up from the back. On the left side is where we came down

A glimpse of the Iffigen Falls on the way up to Iffigenalp. We decided that we would come back here after finishing our hike, so we could see the falls in sunlight.

Heading up to the Iffigen Alp, this is a look BACK toward Lenk where we started the bus ride

At the back of the valley is the Iffigen Alp. The cows have just been let out of the barn to go to pasture. It is 9 a.m. and the sun is just appearing over the steep mountains

We decided to have a coffee at the Iffigen Alp Restaurant, to wait for a bit more sunshine

From Iffigen Alp it was a steep 45-minute climb to the first farm called Ritz-Alp, then another 30 minutes to where we took a detour up to the top of Mount Oberlaubhorn for a view down to Lenk. After that, the rest of the hike was all downhill, along rivers and past many wonderful waterfalls

This first steep hike along the cleared area straight ahead took 45 minutes, but it was a great climb in the shade

From the top of the climb we got some breathtaking views down to Iffigen Alp where we started off. We were almost alone as most other hikers went in the other direction. (As a side note, 6 years ago we hiked over the Rawil Pass, top left, from the Wallis to the South and down the steep cliff to Iffigen Alp)

Up ahead is the Oberlaubhore, a little detour we are planning to take.

Another look back down at Ritz Alp (after the 45-minute climb) and Rawil Pass at the back Left-Center

This upper pasture is called Langermatte, and we are taking a detour up the Oberlaubhore from here (coming back to the same place afterwards)

Heading up the Oberlaubhore. Took us 20 minutes to get to the highest point at the top

From here a nice view down the Simmental Valley to Lenk. The trail here continued another 5-10 minutes to the second lower lookout point, but we decided to skip that.

Heading back down to the vast pasture called Langermatte. Urs was pretty sure that the little mountain restaurant would serve meringues with whipped cream... a break to look forward to before descending to the river on the left.

Sure enough, meringues with whipped cream were on the menu, but a group of at least 20 chattering women (some of them smoking) had shown up, so we decided to try for the next mountain restaurant, which we knew we would pass later along the way. 

High up on the mountain the waterfalls begin 

This bench was kind of cute. Lieblingsplatz means "favourite spot". But we had no time to sit here, had to go get those meringues....

Another descent behind us, and a long boring stretch along a wide road ahead...

But then we got to the next mountain restaurant, Restaurant Siebenbrunnen, where Urs immediately ordered his meringues with whipped cream (we had only 30 minutes extra time in our schedule).

Just can't do without dessert...

While Urs enjoyed dessert, I walked toward the Siebenbrunnen waterfalls, which intrigued me more. This here is the source of the Simme River, which flows North past Lenk and eventually into Lake Thun.

Some more beautiful waterfalls. These are called Siebenbrunnen, namesake of the restaurant and farm here. 

From the Restaurant at Sibenbrunnen, the rest of our hike was along a wide forest road for 45 minutes along the Simme River which has its source above the Siebenbrunnen. There was lots of water, but most notably the powerful upper and lower Simmen Falls.

The upper Simmen Falls

VIDEO: Upper Simmen Falls

And down at the bottom, the lower Simmen Falls. From here we caught the bus back to Lenk (as usual, we got here with about 10 minutes to spare).

VIDEO:  Lower Simmen Falls

At the lower Simmen Falls is a large parking lot where you can take a bus back to Lenk. We immediately took a connecting bus back up to the Iffigen Falls to get a close-up look at them, having only got a glimpse out of the bus earlier in the morning. From there we walked 30 minutes along the Iffigbach to catch the bus as it made its way back down to Lenk.

Heading up by bus the second time in one day toward the Iffigen Falls. In the back of this valley are the Simmen Falls

Below the Iffigen Falls

The magnificent Iffigen Falls

VIDEO: Iffigen Falls

After getting off the bus and walking to the falls, we continued down valley along the Iffigbach (the river at the base of the falls which continues to Lenk) for another half hour to catch the bus again on its way back down to Lenk