Eiger Trail

The Eiger Trail in the Bernese Oberland is one of Switzerland's most dramatic footpaths, running along the base of the legendary Eiger North Face between Eigergletscher station and Alpiglen. The route covers approximately 6 kilometres with a net descent of around 600 metres and a modest 200-metre gain, making it a manageable half-day outing for fit walkers. Access is straightforward: take the Jungfraubahn cogwheel railway from Grindelwald or Kleine Scheidegg to Eigergletscher station at 2,320 metres, where the trail begins just beyond the platform. No permit is required. Driving to Grindelwald is possible — a paid car park sits near the main station — and from there the rack railway departs regularly throughout the day. The trail descends through a landscape shaped by millennia of glacial activity. The surface underfoot alternates between compacted earth paths, rocky sections with embedded boulders, and short stretches of gravel moraine. Some passages traverse exposed ledges above steep drop-offs, so a head for heights is advisable. There is little shade: the north wall of the Eiger blocks morning sun on early sections, but most of the route sits in open alpine meadow. Landmarks along the way include the Eiger's fearsome 1,800-metre North Face, which looms directly overhead for much of the journey. Glacial moraines from the retreating Eigergletscher appear in the upper section, and wildflower meadows bright with alpenroses, gentians, and yellow arnica in summer carpet the lower slopes toward Alpiglen. The village of Alpiglen at 1,616 metres serves as the natural end point; from here, the Grindelwald–Kleine Scheidegg train connects back to the valley in under ten minutes. Water sources along the route are limited to seasonal snowmelt streams in the upper section; no mountain huts serve the trail itself, though a restaurant operates at Alpiglen and a snack kiosk at Eigergletscher station. Starting early to avoid afternoon clouds that often build against the Eiger by midday is strongly recommended.