Hiking the North Face trail in Mürren

Most tourists visiting Lauterbrunnen only explore the village itself. Some might even walk farther down the valley, which is already great, but what if I told you there's an even better way to get the most out of your visit?

A hike offers a great way to explore the Lauterbrunnen area further: it takes you above the valley, lets you discover the picturesque village of Mürren, offers amazing views of the upper mountains, and lets you ride the world's steepest cable car.

All of that, during a relaxed downhill hike across green meadows. What more could we ask for?

In this guide, you will find everything you need to do this hike, from the complex logistics broken down step by step to all the hiking details.

The hike at a glance

Easy

Distance

4.2 miles (6.5 km), point to point

Time needed

2:30 hours total

Elevation gain

420 ft (128 meters) up & 1,280 ft (390 meters) down

Starting point

Cable car station here

Parking

Parkhaus Lauterbrunnen or Parkplatz Lauterbrunnen Kirche

Cost

Cable car return 76 CHF - discount cards accepted

Crowds

Low to Medium

Sun exposure

High

Trail overview

Area Map

Hiking Map

Difficulty

This is an easy hike that skips the ascent (there's only 1 short uphill passage) by taking the cable car to Allmendhubel at the start, then hiking downhill on a steady, knee-friendly slope. So take your time and enjoy the views!

Variations

For a more challenging uphill hike, you can choose to do this hike in the opposite direction.

You can even make it harder by doing the whole hike, including the ascent to Allmendhubel instead of taking the funicular.

I personally dont think these variations add to the experience itself, as the views are mainly in front of you on the way down.

How to get there

Mürren is a car-free mountain village, accessible from the city of Lauterbrunnen.

Getting to the start of the trail and back to Lauterbrunnen might seem complicated, but please bear with me; I promise this scenic route is a great way to explore the area further.

The logistics from Lauterbrunnen are explained below, and you can also find a visual explanation of the route above in the Area Map section.

By car

Drive to Lauterbrunnen, pay for a parking spot near the city, then walk to the cable car valley station and follow the instructions below.

Parking is available at Parkplatz Lauterbrunnen Kirche, a small lot in the middle of town, which I wouldn't recommend during high season. Alternatively, you can park next to the train station at Parkhaus Lauterbrunnen, a larger covered parking lot.

Lauterbrunnen is one of the Swiss cities where I dont think having a car gives you any advantage over public transportation, so consider taking the bus or train to get there.

By public transportation

Take a train to Lauterbrunnen, then follow the signs to Mürren. This will take you on a path below the street straight to the cable car station.

You can also access the cable car station by simply crossing the street in front of the Lauterbrunnen train station, then follow the instructions below.

From Lauterbrunnen

1. Take a cable car to Grütschalp
2. Then take the train to Mürren
3. Walk for about 10 minutes to the Allmendhubel funicular valley station
4. Ride the funicular to Allmendhubel
5. Follow the signs to the North Face trail

Practical planning

Operating hours

• Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp to Mürren (cable car + train): daily from 06:13 am to 8:36 pm (way up, the timetable differs slightly for the way down). It closes for maintenance. Check the schedule here.
• Allmendhubel funicular: daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; it can close for maintenance. Check the schedule here.

Cost

• The whole transfer Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp to Mürren (cable car + train) is sold as a package at 11.8 CHF in 2026
• For the Allmendhubel funicular, you'll have to pay 10 CHF one way and 16 CHF return. Discounts are available for Half Fare tax and other discount cards.

The trail in pictures

1 Grütschalp cable car

This cable car lets you take in the famous Lauterbrunnen Valley from a completely different perspective. Try to get a spot on the left side of the cable car on the way up to catch a view of the main waterfall from the air.

I was surprised to see a pickpocket warning sign before getting in the gondola. It's the only one I've seen on my trips to Switzerland.

2 Train to Mürren

After getting off the gondola, catching the train is pretty straightforward. Places are limited, though, so don't waste time at the cable car arrival station.

The best side to sit on is the right side for dramatic peak views.

3 Funicular to Allmendhubel

Once you're in Mürren, wander through the streets of this cute mountain village, and when you're ready, head to the Allmendhubel funicular.

4 The hike

Hiking downhill lets you enjoy views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau for almost the entire trail.

You're likely to see some cows pasturing along the trail, and you will even come across a small stream where you can refresh your feet (the water is very cold).

5 The steepest cable car in the world

Right at the end of the hike, you'll reach the cable car station to Stechelberg. Get in it and ride the steepest cable car in the world.

From the outside, it doesn't look that impressive, but when you're in it, you definitely start questioning how it can even work.

6 Bus back to Lauterbrunnen

After getting off the cable car, head out of the building and catch the bus 141 towards Lauterbrunnen.

If you have extra time, you can walk back to Lauterbrunnen through the valley, and/or you can even stop at the Trümmelbachfälle on the way.