did you know you can start hiking in Interlaken?!
Above Interlaken is the Abendberg, the first peak of the ridge that lays south of lake Thun.
You can start directly in Interlaken: first it’s a wide gravel path going up to the Heimwehfluh. On the other side of the playground up there you continue on a nice little hiking path over roots and rocks. Soon you get to enjoy the view over the lake for the first time
Continue following the signs for “BKW Aussichtspunkt”, a nice viewing point with an open fire place. The path continues trough the forest, past flowers and a diverse wildlife. We’ve seen chamois, deer, squirrels and foxes before on the way up. Hike towards “Abendberg” – the wrecked down buildings used to be a well-known health resort. From up there you can finally see the lake Brienz while during the ascent you’ve had views over lake Thun, the mountains and the Interlaken area.
... more insider tips
From the Abendberg on you have 2 choices: go back down to Wilderswil and Interlaken or continue to Saxeten (with some steep and narrow parts). To continue you first follow the street uphill until you can see the yellow hiking sign for “Saxeten”, from there you go up and down into the valley. Once you’ve reached Saxeten I recommend to stop at the Restaurant Alpenrose for some cake or a mixed cheese and meat platter (…or if it’s not too hot maybe even a fondue on the terrasse). The bus that is running between Saxeten and Wilderswil / Interlaken doesn’t run too often. If you have missed the last bus you can either try to do some hitch-hiking or you ask the host at the hotel to call a taxi
The hike from Interlaken to Saxeten takes about 3 hours (about 10 km and 900 meters altitude). I suggest to pack something to drink and maybe a snack as you won’t come past a restaurant and there are no fountains on the way and you probably won’t see any other hiker. At the moment the hike is more beautiful than normal as there are so many different flowers to be discovered…
…greetings from paradise
Bettina