Hiking the Niederhorn: Alps clear your mind! 🏔️

Updated Dec 22

I was very fortunate to stay with a friend in an enchanting Swiss village called Hilterfingen, right near stunning Lake Thun (pronounced ‘toon‘). Incredibly hospitable, she cooked me wonderful Swiss food specialties like fondue with three local Swiss cheeses melted together!

She also took us along to castles, markets in the town of Thun, and lots of walks in the area, including up on the Niederhorn. To make the most of my short time, we got a boat there, and got this day pass, to soak up the views from the water.

The boat ferried us past the gorgeous 13th century fairytale looking castles of Oberhofen and Spiez, as it zigzagged the way to Beatenbucht. Here we took a funicular railway part way up the hill to Beatenburg. Where the final part up to the peak was completed by gondola, which operates year-round, ensuring that Niederhorn’s magic is accessible in every season.

The vistas from the Niederhorn are just jaw-dropping!

Once atop Niederhorn, the landscape unfolds like a painting, with lush meadows and alpine flowers creating a vibrant picture. The hiking trails cater to various skill levels, offering both challenge and serenity. As you traverse the paths, the crisp mountain air invigorates, and the views of Lake Thun below add a touch of tranquility.

The 1950m peak is a long ridge, so you can see over the edge down to the Justistal Valley, and towards Thun on one side. Then on the other side, great views over to popular Interlaken and Bernese Alps. In particular, the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains are easy to spot, which has the famous cogwheel train going up there.

Hiking shoes on 👟

During winter, there are plenty of skiing routes to navigate and enjoy. But seeing as it was almost summer when I was there, my friend and I first did the short summit ridge trail, walking along the ridge’s easy trail up to Burgfeldstand peak.

Awarding you with blockbuster 360-degree views when you get there. The vantage point allows you to appreciate the beauty of Lake Thun, the surrounding valleys, and the distant mountain ranges. It’s a moment to pause, breathe, and immerse yourself in the sheer majesty of the Swiss Alps.

After a quick bite and drink, we went down another Niederhorn trail section to the middle gondola station of Vorsass. Some of this part was quite a bit harder for me, but not so much for her. She would walk ahead faster, and then wait for me to catch up every so often.

I had to constantly watch my stepping on the unfamiliar rocky forest terrain, which slowed me down. That and taking photos of the beautiful alpine meadows and views!

For wildlife enthusiasts, Niederhorn is a haven. The area is renowned for its ibex population, and lucky hikers may spot these majestic creatures amid the rocky terrain. It’s a harmonious blend of nature and wildlife, a symphony of the Swiss outdoors. I spotted an ibex but never took a photo of it! I don’t know why 🙈

You can keep walking down to Beatenburg or Beatenbucht if you want, as there are many more hiking trails. But after 4ish hours and 8km’s of rough terrain, mixed with the summer heat, I was pooped and wanting it to be over!

That said, I can’t wait to do it all over again one day!

Getting there

From Thun, Spiez or Interlaken, you can do as I did and catch a scenic boat ride across Lake Thun. It was sublime and really set the scene. As mentioned earlier, the boat takes you to Beatenbucht, where a funicular whisks you to Beatenberg. From there, a short gondola ride connects you to the Niederhorn.

You can also take a local bus or train from Thun, Spiez, or Interlaken to Beatenberg, and from there, the gondola ascends to the summit.

If you’re going to Switzerland, and you want a ‘the hills are alive with the sound of music’ moment. I highly recommend visiting the Niederhorn and its lush nature trails.