North Face Trail, Cheese Hut & Sprutz Waterfall
Sue's very favorite hike!
Starting Point:
Ending Point: Transportation Assistance: Duration (hrs): Distance: Ability Level: |
Murren
Murren Allmendhubel funicular 2 - 3 hours 4 - 5 miles moderate |
Route:
Murren (5374) - funicular to Allmendhubel (6257) - Follow North Face Trail through the Blumental (6070) passing Sonnenberg, Suppenalp (6077), and Schiltalp 6397) - Spielpodenalp (5883) - cut off to the right to the Sprutz Waterfall (5577) - Gimmelwald (4472) - cable car or walk back up to Murren (53740 Lunch on the go: Grab some bread or crackers, cookies and chocolate along with your water bottles; you'll definitely want to purchase alp cheese and salami to enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the Sprutz waterfall. Don't forget a sharp knife to cut the cheese and salami! |
This is Sue's most favorite hike in the world (so far). It has amazing views, carpets of wild flowers in the spring, wild rushing water falls, cows, pigs, horses, and Schiltalp! Schiltalp is a small group of huts, where you can get a bite to eat, a cold drink, and find a toilet. It's a communal area where several farmers bring their cows to graze and make delicious alp cheese. If the bells are under the eaves, the cows are up here, if not they're still in the lower farms. If they're not too busy, they may even give you a tour of the cheese making facilities and explain the process. Whatever you do, don't leave without purchasing cheese and salami for lunch, and enough extra to last until you hike up here again :)
Back to the beginning: Enjoy a ride on the Murren - Allmendhubel funicular. Once on top, drink in the views, get a feel for the location and direction you'll be hiking, and take advantage of the restroom; it's the last you'll find for an hour or so. Follow the North Face Trail for about an hour, enjoying the views & flowers along the way. Don't forget to listen for the sound of cow bells. Before long you'll come upon the small enclave of Schiltalp; notice the children's play area as you approach the main building. This is a great place for a snack and to stock up on alp cheese and salami. |
Once you've rested and bought provisions, carry on towards Spielbodnalp. Along the way, stop and wade in the rushing water; but be prepared for it to be cold!! The more snow in the mountains, the more water in the stream. At Spielbodnalp the path splits; take the right path for the forest path leading to the Sprutz waterfall. Follow the path into the woods; the switchback trail descends until you can see the waterfall in the distance. At first glance, it's difficult to see where the trail goes; it looks like you will come to a dead end. But don't worry, the trail leads underneath the waterfall! There is a bench, perfect for a quick snack just before you enter the spray of the falling water. On the other side of the falls, the forest trail continues for a short distance, eventually spilling out into beautiful meadow lands, filled with spring wild flowers. It eventually descends into Gimmelwald, a quaint village that is also fun to explore. |