World → Europe → Alps → Switzerland → Harder Ridge
One of our top 10 day hikes in the world
Harder Ridge
Also known as Hardergrat (… grat is ridge in German)
Click PLAY or or get a glimpse on YouTube. #shorts
Best day hike in the world?
AT A GLANCE
This really is our pick for the very best day hike on Earth- considered too dangerous to promote, it’s not an official Swiss hiking trail
- but you can’t get lost, being atop the ridge the entire time
- best strategy is to wait in Interlaken for a day with very good weather
- Brienz to Interlaken
- Brienz Rothorn Railway up to the start
- take the funicular from Harderkulm (Harder Kulm) down to Harderkulm Station in Interlaken
- logistics are much more difficult in the opposite direction. We highly recommend hikers start in Brienz
- 24km total … about 18km on a sharp ridge
- 10+ hours. Physically and psychologically challenging.
- no water available. Carry all you need.
- not an official trail, but it’s easy to follow in good visibility
- about 1500m above the lake
- permits not required
- it’s popular with trail runners who do about 35km entirely on foot. They start at either end.
Why We Like This Hike
- in good weather, views of the Jungfrau’s big peaks; Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, Schreckhorn, Finsteraarhorn
- the advantage of being able to get transport both up and down
- on the same trip, hike nearby Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Schynige Platte and more
- many see Ibex up here
- the thrill of ridge walking. Fantastic vistas on each side.
Considerations
- very dangerous in wet or snowy conditions
- very dangerous in low visibility
- people have fallen. People have been killed.
- it’s a long, tough day. Don’t get caught up high at night.
- definitely don’t get caught in a lightning storm
- there are a few alternate trails descending, but are all steep and difficult
- some fixed cables at exposed sections
- frequent scrambling required
Watch a graphic representation of part of the ridge walk on YouTube. It’s in the opposite direction of what we recommend.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
This dog did about 1/3 of the trail. We don’t recommend it for dogs, however. Footing is quite sharp on the paws.
Cost
Switzerland is an expensive nation. Everything is costly.
Trekking Guides
We don’t know of any hiking guides for this adventure. Leave a comment if you have one.
Logistics
- every half hour a train runs Interlaken – Brienz for about 8.20 Swiss Francs
- be on the first train UP out of Brienz. It can be as early as 5:30am. Or as late as 8:30am.
- a slow, scenic, historic steam engine, it takes about an hour to reach Brienzer Rothorn station — the start of the Harder Ridge hike
- cost of the one-way train in 2023 was 62 Swiss Francs one way. But we paid half price in 2018 for taking the first train. Check if that promotion is available when you get there.
- hike (or run) the trail as quickly as you can. If you don’t reach the funicular down to Interlaken in time (last one is around 9pm) you’ll be stuck up high. Or have to walk down 1300m in the dark.
- the funicular descends from the Bergrestaurant Harder Kulm
- it takes 8 minutes and is relatively inexpensive (for Switzerland)
Local Information
Interlaken Tourismus
Marktgasse 1
Postfach
3800 Interlaken
+41 (0)33 826 53 00
+41 (0)33 826 53 75
mail (a) interlakentourism.ch
Best Trekking Guidebooks
This day hike is not widely promoted due to the dangers involved. We’ve not found a guidebook that includes it. Leave a comment if you know of one.
Best Travel Guidebooks
Best Web Pages
Best Trip Reports
- BestHike editor Rick McCharles (2023)
- BestHike editor Rick McCharles (2018)
An interesting alternative is to hike the ridge in the opposite direction ➙ Brienzer Rothorn railway ➙ 5 hour ridge walk ➙ descend via the Turren-Lungern cable car.
Details.
Movies
Click PLAY or watch Jackson Groves on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch Patrik & Teri on YouTube. Plenty of Ibix.
IF you decide to go the wrong way, it’s a much tougher day. You might have to climb up and down in order to have enough time.
Click PLAY or watch it starting in Interlaken on YouTube.
Questions? Suggestions? Leave a comment on this page. Our editors will reply.
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