From Meiringen-Hasliberg to Brienzwiler in the Bernese Oberland

Sunday March 2, 2025 -- After weeks and weeks of fog, we finally had a nice day and made a really good decision to travel to Meiringen in the Bernese Oberland, just south of the Brünig Pass. Good decision because the fog hung around the pass for most of the day and on the north side, but we had loads of sunshine and quite nice views for this 13-km walk.

We started with a cable-car ride up to Hasliberg (we knew the hillside was popular as a family ski-area, but weren't expecting how many people and equipment they were packing into the cable car!) and from there walked along a high trail above the valley bottom and parallel to the Aare River, coming down once to the valley bottom, and then heading up to another high trail through the forest before reaching the very cute village of Brienzwiler. From there we caught a bus back to the Brünig Pass (where by 4:30 p.m. the fog had finally lifted) for the train ride back to Luzern. In all, we traveled just over two hours each way to Meiringen and back from Brienzwiler. 

The 12-km section of the hike would have been 3½ of straight walking, but we took five hours to do this. Even though there was relatively little ascent involved, it was the first major hike of the year, and we aren't quite in the shape we were in the last hiking season! (We also took many breaks along the way). Also, it was quite cold, even with the sunshine.

All the way from Luzern to the Brünig Pass heading south, there was fog. But on the descent from the Brünig pass we came into wonderful sunshine on the side of the Bernese Oberland. 

View toward Lake Brienz to the west, and the mountains on the north side of the lake, as the train heads down into the Aar River basin. 

The best view we had of the massif north of Lake Brienz was as the train headed to Meiringen. Later, the air became hazy and we barely saw these mountains. 

Having left home at 8:10 a.m., we arrived in Meiringen in just over two hours travel time, which is wonderful! We had to walk about one kilometer from the train station to the cable-car station, and on the way is this lovely church (St.Michael's) which I had visited once in 2018. (Photos HERE). The free-standing bell-tower is 45 meters high.

St. Michael's Evangelical church in Meiringen is one of the most spectacular churches in the area and is under federal protection. The current baroque church was built in 1684 but there were several churches built here before then.

Urs had never seen the inside of the church, so we wanted to have a look. But there was a church service going on, but the usher let me take a photo. From research the last time I found out that the woodwork was done by a local carpenter in 1684.

We saw a sign that directed us to some excavations below the church, so we had a quick look down there instead of going inside the church. The remains of previous churches under the current one were discovered by chance under 5 meters of rubble during renovations in 1915/16.

Currently, 13 construction phases have been identified (from as early as the 9th and 10th Centuries) but it is assumed that there was a church building here even earlier, as remains were found here from before the 9th Century. 

Next to the free-standing bell-tower was another old building which was once an ossuary. We had a quick look inside as well. The building was erected in 1486 on the site of an older chapel. In 1528 at the time of the Reformation, the building was converted to an armory. 

Inside the "Zeughauskapelle" (Armory Chapel?) is a lovely wooden organ. The building has been used as a chapel again since 1892. There are still some remains of Late-Gothic frescoes on the walls. 

Two large bells on display between the free-standing bell-tower and Armory Chapel were manufactured in 1351!!!!

A look back at the Armory Chapel and Bell-tower as we rush to the cable-car station. 

The cable-car officially runs every 30 minutes, and we wanted to get the 10:38 run. With rushing we got there at 10:36, but as it turns out, there were so many people wanting to go up the mountain, that there was a run in progress. We had to wait while more and more people were stuffed into the cabin, including baby buggies, dogs, and tons of ski equipment! Luckily the cable-car run is only about four minutes, as we were totally squished in there!

View over Meiringen as the Reuti Cable-Car heads up the mountain. 

View from the cable-car as we head up the Hasliberg mountain. The road below is part of the trail down the mountain, but we took a different route. 

At the summit station we watched as all the people from our cabin moved to the gondola cable-way. These people were already waiting as we got there!

This is the Meiringen-Reuti cable-car. Imagine it packed full of people with ski equipment and baby buggies!

First we had to walk one kilometer from the train station in Meiringen to the cable-car station. We started at the summit station in Reuti at 11 a.m., and walked another 12 kilometers to Brienzwiler, where we took a bus back to the Brünig Pass at 4:20 p.m. This region can be reached in just over two hours from our home!

From the mountain village of Reuti, we get this fantastic view of the Bernese Alps, all the way to the north face of Mt. Eiger in the center. The massif on the left is called the Wetterhorn. 

Close-up look at the fabulous North Face of Mt.Eiger, the dominant mountain of the popular tourist destination of Grindelwald. The white mountain on the left is the Mönch, the second of the famous trio "Eiger/Mönch/Jungfrau". 

Still a bit of fog hanging over the Hasli Valley, but it didn't affect the sunshine on our walk!

Starting down the mountain, we passed a wood carving of a bear ("Urs" = "Bear", so I always take a photo of Urs with bear sculptures). The inscription on the plaque informs us that a large stone pine set here by the owners' grandfather in 1905 (at that time a 10-year old treelet) stood here till 2022. The tree had to be removed due to damage by the destructive Bark Beetle. This bear is a reminder of the lovely tree which once stood here.  

Gorgeous house which belongs to the Stone Pine Bear. 

A view over the lovely chalets in Reuti toward the summit station of the cable car. As it was a Sunday during school holidays, the number of people traveling up here for skiing didn't really surprise us, but they had to take several more cable cars up the mountain to find some snow!

The next scheduled cable-car run at 11:08. 

We passed another self-serve farm where Urs bought a piece of locally-made cheese. The cash box was stored in the fridge!

One of many self-serve farms in Switzerland! We always check inside them, and often buy cheese, or cold soft-drinks on hot days!

The farm cats always come to Urs for some attention!

Heading down the mountain now, with great views of the Bernese Alps from up here. (We lost this view as we heading down.)

This was a section with a footpath, which was very lovely to walk along!

The footpath was below this lovely farmhouse!

Shortly after starting on the footpath we found this perfectly-located bench, where we had an early pre-lunch at 11:20 and enjoyed the view for about 10 minutes. 

The air was hazy to the east so we unfortunately could not see the Hasli Valley mountains very well. (Later we had much better views!)

We left the main trail to head down a little gully called Grinigraben. 

Forest trail through the Grinigraben. 

Heading west now and passing under the cable-way. The air is hazy in the west and we cannot really see Lake Brienz, unfortunately. 

More lovely footpaths. We are so excited to finally find a mountain trail snow-free and fog-free!

There is a very narrow gorge called Alpbachschlucht (Alpbach Gorge) with this viewing platform on its upper end. It was part of our plan to have a closer look at this gorge, where there is a narrow path in the gorge itself. We found out at this point that the trail is open from April to October, but you can only walk it UPHILL to here. 

View down the Alpbach Gorge to the bell-tower of the St.Michael's church in Meiringen. There is a narrow steep trail (with cable handholds) which also crosses the bridge below. The trail can only be walked along from below to above, from April to October, and you must be vertigo-free to do it!

Continuing to the west now to the high trail mostly through the forest. 

A narrow mountain trail 230 meters above the valley bottom. We love these kinds of trails, but the drop was steep if you would happen to slip. 

Down below we got a glimpse of the parking lot for the cable car! IT is huge and packed full. No wonder there were so many people wanting to ride the cable-car!

There is a stretch here where there was once a bit of a landslide, and therefore the warning that there might be rocks falling onto the path. 

Fantastic view along the Hasli Valley, through which flows the Aar River toward Lake Brienz. 

Narrow trail along the land-slide section of the mountain trail above the Hasli Valley. 

A first butterfly! How exciting!

We had views of this lovely peak all along our hike. Lots of studying the map, and we think it is called the Wandelhorn. 

Down below we watch the trains on the lines between Meiringen and Brienz, or Meiringen and the Brünig Pass (where we descended from, i.e. that closer line). 

A section of forestry road now, with better views of the mountains to the east!

Just before the descent to the valley bottom, we crossed a bridge over a river called the Hüsenbach. That waterfall is the upper part of that river. (Above the waterfall, the river is called Louwenenbach). 

Crossing the bridge over the Hüsenbach before descending on this section of the trail to the valley bottom. 

On the way down, we also have to cross the railway line to the Brünig Pass. Cogwheels are required on the train to make this ascent. 

This is the railway line from Meiringen to the Brünig Pass.

After crossing the Hüsenbach Stream (which enters the Aar River further to the west), we observe the train heading up from Meiringen to the Brünig Pass. 

Walking now along the Haslital Basin, the mountains at the junction of the Gadmen Valley (on the right) and the Aaretal (on the left) loom large! (The Aar River, one of Switzerland's major rivers, has its source in the Grimsel Region up that valley on the left). 

We had a stretch of about two kilometers of very flat landscape, partly along canals. It was a bit tedious and I was glad to head back up the mountain again! From here you can see the fog still hanging over the Brünig Pass. 

A look eastward. We followed the Hüsenbach stream here to a lake at a gravel pit, before heading up the mountain again. The trail was tedious, but the view behind us was spectacular. 

To the south of us is the Aar River Canal. The train between Meiringen and Brienz runs along the Aar River. Unfortunately, the air was now hazy in that direction, so we didn't see the mountains so well any more!

At the gravel pit, our preferred trail heads up the mountain again toward Brienzwiler, which is our planned goal for the day, one hour and 20 minutes from here. At this point it's 14:15, and we want to catch the 16:23 bus in Brienzwiler. So that gives us an extra 40 minutes! 

First we had a quick look at the lovely lake (man-made) next to the gravel-pit. There is another trail which follows the lakeside down to the Aar River and follows the river there. But that would not at all be interesting for us. 

Happy to be back up on a mountain trail!

Cute little cabin in a clearing called Schwendlen

This was a cute little footpath, passing an old barn (barely visible ahead). 

There are always these cool large fungi on old tree trunks!

So exciting to see the first colour in the forests, especially the snow bells!

I had to squat to get this photo. Down below is the Aar River, but it is "tamed" by a canal from the Aare Gorge (east of Meiringen) to Lake Brienz. 

This part of the forest trail was a bit rough. 

We found another perfectly-situated bench for another break!

The view from our little bench. Below us is the Meiringen airport. 

Mountains at the junction of the Gadmen and Aare Valleys to the east. 

These views reminded me of the hikes we have done above the Rhone Valley. (In particular, this March 2016 hike). 

Our first glimpse of the Brienzer Rothorn peak as we approach Brienzwiler. 

The first houses in Brienzwiler, with the backdrop of the Brienzer Rothorn peak. 

There are lots of pretty (and some very old) chalets in this village. For example, the date engraved on this house is 1594.

Urs is trying to find the location of the bus stop we need to catch the 16:23 bus to the Brünig Pass. We don't have a lot of extra time, as it is now already 16:11! (We used up most of our extra time at that last bench!)

Mt. Brienzer Rothorn

So many pretty houses here. The one on the lower left is also old, from 1561, renovated from 1999-2022. We had a good look through the village back in February 2023, when we walked down from the Brünig Pass to Brienz via Brienzwiler (photos HERE). 

We settled for the bus stop at the top of the village. 

We still had to wait 5 minutes for the bus, with this lovely view in the early evening sunshine. 

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. First we took the cable-car up the mountain, then walked 12 kilometers to Brienzwiler. 

Look at that overhang on the main road to the Brünig Pass! We were the only two passengers in this bus, and I sat at the front next to the driver. 

View out of the bus window as we head up to the Brünig Pass . 

We got to the pass at 4:30 p.m., but had to wait there for 20 minutes till the train came. In the meantime, the fog has lifted here as well. 

This is the north end of Lake Lungern, north of the Brünig Pass. The sun is just setting, but it is also somewhat overcast here. 

These are all the hikes we have done so far in the region of Hasliberg and the Brünig Pass. 

Location of Meiringen within Switzerland.