Schynige Platte Panorama Trail

The Schynige Platte Panorama Trail is a signposted circuit over the Schynige Platte plateau at about 1,967 m above Wilderswil, near Interlaken in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. Access is by train from Interlaken Ost to Wilderswil, about 5 minutes, then the Schynige Platte cogwheel railway from Schynige Platte Bahn, Wilderswil station, a ride of about 52 minutes. A return ticket costs about CHF 68 (roughly $84). The railway runs only in summer, scheduled from 13 June to 25 October 2026, so the trail cannot be reached by public transport outside that window. No permit is needed. The loop is about 5 km with roughly 150 m of ascent, mostly level, and takes 1.5 to 2 hours, which places it in the easy category. Surfaces are gravel and packed earth paths across open alpine meadow, with short rocky sections and a few gentle climbs; there is little tree cover, so sun protection matters. The main landmark is the Alpine Garden, which holds more than 600 plant species and peaks in flower from June to August. Along the circuit, viewpoints look across to the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and down to Lake Brienz. The Berghotel Schynige Platte near the station provides food, drink and shelter, and is the reliable place to find water; none should be assumed along the trail. The loop can be shortened by returning to the station at several points, and the last trains down should be checked in advance because missing them has no easy alternative. At this altitude, weather changes quickly and temperatures can be cool even in summer, so a warm layer and rain protection are advisable. In early or late season, snow or ice can linger on shaded paths and views may be obscured by cloud.