Brienzer Rothorn Hike (Interlaken): Top Highlights & 6 Essential Tips
DETAILS*
Duration: 7h 50min including all breaks
Difficulty:
Distance: 24 km point-to-point
Incline: 1363 m
Decline: 1949 m
The highest point: 2345 m above sea level
OUR EXPERIENCE:
Start and End point:
We took bus 241 from Schüpfheim, Bahnhof to Sörenberg, Post. The journey takes around 24 minutes, and on Saturdays the bus runs twice per hour.
Itinerary:
We started the hike directly from Sörenberg, Post and climbed towards Brienzer Rothorn, located at 2,345 metres above sea level. As shown on the map, we initially followed trail no. 83, the Emmenuferweg, Stage 1: Brienzer Rothorn–Sörenberg. This early stage of the hike goes along several streams.
However, it is such a beginning of a hike that you do not need or consider re-filling your water bottles.
TIP #1: It is also possible to take the gondola up and hike down. However, I would recommend descending towards Brienz rather than Sörenberg. This way, you can enjoy spectacular views over Lake Brienz for most of the route.
I chose this trail mainly because it passes Eisee. I have to admit that the lake was pleasant, but it was not the most spectacular alpine view I have ever seen.
The climb itself is relatively easy, as the elevation gain is spread gradually over a longer distance. We completed the hike in late May, and there were still several patches of snow, especially because the ascent starts on the northern side of the mountain. You can see photos of how steep were the places to traverse in a snow.
TIP #2: Crossing the remaining snowfields can be challenging. Hiking poles helped us considerably, particularly because some sections involved traversing relatively steep slopes.
From Eisee, the trail continues towards Eiseesattel, where, in my opinion, the most beautiful section of the ascent begins. From there to Brienzer Rothorn, the path follows the ridge while offering increasingly impressive views of Lake Brienz.
At the summit of Brienzer Rothorn, you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of both Lake Brienz and the surrounding Alps.
We decided to extend the hike slightly. From Brienzer Rothorn, we descended towards the Brienzer Rothorn cable car station and then climbed again to the summit of Schongütsch, at 2319 metres above sea level.
From there, we continued for a while along trail no. 65, the Grenzpfad Napfbergland, Stage 5: Marbach–Brienzer Rothorn.
This section was particularly impressive. The route partly follows the ridge and partly traverses the slopes on either side of the summit. There are a few exposed sections secured with chains, and some parts were still covered by snow.
These features made the trail more adventurous and especially enjoyable. You can see the chain and steep section on the photos – it was really nice to hike it!
Shortly after Lättgässli, at approximately 2,073 metres above sea level, we reached a junction. Trail no. 65 continues right to Marbach, but we turned left and began our descent towards Brienz.
We stayed on the left-hand side of the route shown on the map, following the red mountain hiking trail for as long as possible. At one point, the main path towards Brienz was closed because of a major rockfall and landslide that occurred in 2023.
We therefore continued along the yellow hiking trail, gradually losing elevation while still enjoying continuous views over Lake Brienz.
The descent remained varied and interesting. The trail initially led through open valleys and meadows before entering the forest.
Much of the route was still a narrow and engaging mountain path, which made the long descent surprisingly enjoyable.
TIP #3: As shown in our elevation profile, reaching Brienzer Rothorn from the Sörenberg side is easier than climbing from Brienz. However, the route we followed downhill would also be very interesting in the opposite direction. The only less exciting section would probably be the descent towards Sörenberg, where the views are more modest compared with those overlooking Lake Brienz.
Brienz train station is located close to the lake, and the lakeside promenade is beautiful. Along the way, you will find public chairs, attractive fountains and several sculptures.
In my opinion, Brienz is one of the most beautiful towns on the lake and has considerably more charm than Interlaken.
It was a pleasant place to relax after the hike. However, finding a convenient place to swim can be difficult, as much of the shoreline is used by passenger boats and small yachts.
TIP #4: There are not many convenient swimming spots along route no. 4 in Brienz, so keep this in mind when planning to cool down in the lake after the hike.
Our drinks:
We started our day with Basler Cafe coffee on a train (with tiramisu) – delicious!
There are no places along this hike where you can refill your water bottle, so make sure to take this into account when planning your supplies. The first fountain we found was in Greesgi, at 1,566 metres above sea level, on our way down. This made the hike slightly more adventurous than we had planned.
TIP #5: There are no water refill points along the route, so bring enough water with you. The ridge section is also fully exposed, with no shade, so plan accordingly.
We carried 1.6 litres of water per person in total, split between two 0.8-litre bottles, but this was not enough. We refilled both bottles completely at the fountain on the way down.
What we packed:
This hike is fully exposed, so do not expect any shade along the route. Make sure to bring sunscreen. I expected some wind along the ridge, but on the day of our hike, the air was completely still.
TIP #6: Bring sunscreen, as there is no shade at all along the ridge trail.
Highlights:
Ridge trail no. 65, following trail no. 83, was the most beautiful part of the hike.
The section of trail no. 65 from Lättgässli to the junction where the route turns left towards Brienz is adventurous and particularly enjoyable. It is slightly rocky and steeper in places, which makes the hike more interesting.
The views over Lake Brienz are simply breathtaking.
Brienz itself is also a wonderful destination. In my opinion, it is even more charming than Interlaken!
Let's sum up our TIPs:
TIP #1: It is also possible to take the gondola up and hike down. However, I would recommend descending towards Brienz rather than Sörenberg. This way, you can enjoy spectacular views over Lake Brienz for most of the route.
TIP #2: Crossing the remaining snowfields can be challenging. Hiking poles helped us considerably, particularly because some sections involved traversing relatively steep slopes.
TIP #3: As shown in our elevation profile, reaching Brienzer Rothorn from the Sörenberg side is easier than climbing from Brienz. However, the route we followed downhill would also be very interesting in the opposite direction. The only less exciting section would probably be the descent towards Sörenberg, where the views are more modest compared with those overlooking Lake Brienz.
TIP #4: There are not many convenient swimming spots along route no. 4 in Brienz, so keep this in mind when planning to cool down in the lake after the hike.
TIP #5: There are no water refill points along the route, so bring enough water with you. The ridge section is also fully exposed, with no shade, so plan accordingly.
TIP #6: Bring sunscreen, as there is no shade at all along the ridge trail.
Continue hiking with us: hike in Ticino (Tessin) or Valais.
*supported by Garmin and SchweizMobil