Hiking Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen in the Jungfrau Region of Switzerland

On our last day of hiking in the Jungfrau Region of Switzerland this summer, we decided to hike the meadow route from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen.

We had considered a few other choices. For instance, we would have liked to go over to Schynige Platte, but the train was closed for construction. We considered the Romantikweg Hike from Männlichen to Alpiglen, but we weren’t super excited about hiking under the new Eiger Express gondola. And the predicated afternoon showers made us want to try something closer to home.

So, we ended up deciding to hike the longer trail from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen, going through Bigelnalp and Mettlenalp. There was a slight risk of having to scramble over some rocks in the rain, but we were pretty sure the rain would hold off long enough for us to get through the more dangerous sections before it started.

Earlier in our trip, we had hiked from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg on the Panoramaweg Trail, and then took the more direct path from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengenalp to Wengen. This more direct path will go along the bike path and will have excellent views of the mountains.

If you take the meadow/forest path through Bigelnalp and Mettlenalp, you will have fewer sweeping views of the mountains, but will avoid the bikes and have more opportunities to get closer to the birds, wild flowers, and cows. There are quite a few different options to make this hike longer or shorter, so while you can follow the signs (they may or may not have hiking times posted), it is wise to pick up a hiking map from the train station since you are unlikely to encounter many people on this hike.

Our Experience

Our hike started in Kleine Scheidegg and we made sure that we took the meadow path. From here, there were a few moments where we weren’t quite sure which fork to take, but usually, the paths met back up.

We also encountered a big construction site and weren’t quite sure which way the path detoured, but again, it all worked out. And then there was the time that we encountered a tiny path going one way, and a gate going a different way. We initially took the gated path, but the path quickly faded away, so we decided to take the other path. Right choice! Fortunately, most of the major intersections are signed.

Along the way we encountered meadows, streams, rocks, and forests.

We saw many more cows than people.

Given that the cows aren’t fenced, this can be a little nerve wracking, particularly when your kids are making loud mooing noises as they see both cows mating as well as signs posted about the dangers of the mama cows protecting their babies.

I thoroughly enjoyed the hike, although everyone else thought that the bike trail was better. One of our boys would have also preferred to do an uphill hike, rather than the downhill hikes that the rest of us prefer. If you like meadows, cows, and don’t mind that it is a little longer, rockier, and muddier than the other way to Wengen, this is a great hike. If you prefer a shorter and steeper hike with fewer forested sections that block your view of the mountains, the bike path may a better option.

Towards the end, we had a choice of continuing along a narrow road/bike path towards Allmend, or taking a forested path towards Mary’s Cafe.

The boys wanted to stay on the road, but as it turns out, I think this was a mistake. In addition to replicating a portion of our hike from earlier in the week, I’m pretty sure it was a bit longer and I think that the forested path would have been prettier and more unique. But we made it back before the torrential rain began, so we were happy!