Hiking Kleine Scheidegg | Fallbodensee to Eiger Trail Loop
Last Updated on January 6, 2026 by Charlotte
It was a glorious blue sky day in the Jungfrau Region for a walk up on Kleine Scheidegg. We’d hoped to do the Eiger Trail: Alpiglen – Kleine Scheidegg Loop, but we had to settle on a shorter loop because parts of the Eiger Trail were still closed due to snow. Nonetheless, Fallbodensee Lake was stunning, with aqua blue water framing the North Face of the Eiger and the Eiger Glacier. In this guide, Iโll share our experience on this shorter (but still stunning) family-friendly loop at Kleine Scheidegg, along with trail information, transportation tips, and a few things we wish weโd known before setting out.
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Our Day Exploring Kleine Scheidegg
The Fallbodensee to Eiger Trail Loop is a fairly easy 3.45 mile (5.55 km) loop that starts and ends at the Kleine Scheidegg train station. Along the way, you have fabulous views of the North Face of the Eiger and the Eiger Glacier, and you can even get up close to the glacier at the furthest point of the loop.
Along the trail, we saw many families with both elderly grandparents and young children, and the majority of the trail had gravel underfoot with few risks for tripping. This easy and meandering trail led up to the Fallbodensee Lake, a small but picturesque man-made reservoir painted in an incredible shade of blue.
While we’d already spent over a week in Switzerland, this was our first “good weather” day of the whole trip! At the beginning of our trip, southerly winds had carried sands from the Sahara north to envelop the Alps in a golden haze.
Then, mid-week rains and thunderstorms had cleared the haze, but this also meant that our previous day’s visit to Bachalpsee Lake was cloaked with clouds. So we were very thankful to finally have a beautiful weather day for Kleine Scheidegg.
Weโd originally hoped to hike the full 8.1-mile (13 km) Eiger Loop Trail from Alpiglen to Kleine Scheidegg, but lingering snow in early June meant that sections were still closed. Without microspikes or trekking poles, we opted for the shorter loop instead, which felt sensible, if slightly disappointing, because I did not feel like sliding off the side of a mountain that day. Meandering along the base of the mountain, the Eiger Trail is about as up close and personal as you can get with a glacier. In the photo above, you can see the narrow gravel track winding toward the left.
It was so hot this day, that we could hear the crackling of ice, the skittering sound of scree, and I was half convinced that the glacier would fall off the mountain and crush us if we were to walk too close. Believe it or not, the Eiger glacier used to almost touch the Eiger Trail. I honestly don’t know how much longer it will be around, which makes me a bit melancholy.
In all, we had a fun and relaxing day on Kleine Scheidegg, because nothing is better than a beautiful day outside in the Alps.
Plan Your Visit
If youโre planning to add this walk to your Jungfrau itinerary, hereโs everything you need to know to do it smoothly, from trail stats and transportation to what to pack.
Trail Stats: Fallbodensee to Eiger Trail Loop
- Distance: 3.45 miles (5.55 km)
- Duration: ~ 2 hours
- Elevation Gain: 825 ft (251 m)
- Best Season: Late June through September is the peak season. The trail is accessible year-round but may be snowy and icy in winter and early summer.
- Accessibility: The trail is wide and gravel-surfaced, with some gentle inclines. Itโs not suitable for strollers, wheelchairs, or hikers with limited mobility.
- Trail Map: Komoot
How to Get to Kleine Scheidegg
The easiest way to get to Kleine Scheidegg is by train. There are regularly running daily trains from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg and from Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg.
However, these routes are not covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. You can check the exact fare pricing from your place of origin to Kleine Scheidegg on sbb.ch.
Travel tip
We were stunned to find that we only got a 25% discount on the route from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg with our Swiss Travel Passes, which seemed kind of crazy, given that it was the exact same train car running from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen, but then after an imaginary point on the map, suddenly the railway is private en route to Kleine Scheidegg? I think we paid over CHF 50 per person round trip, which we were not expecting!
Live Webcams & Weather Conditions
Before you go, be sure to check the live webcam at the Kleine Scheidegg train station to see the current conditions. The tickets to Kleine Scheidegg are not cheap, so there is no need to waste your money when you can see the current conditions in real time.
What to Pack
- Hiking shoes or boots with good traction (trail runners work fine for this relatively gentle terrain)
- Layered clothing โ the weather in the Alps can change quickly, even in summer
- Sun protection โ hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen (the alpine sun is stronger than you might expect)
- Water bottle (bring at least 1-2 liters of water per person)
- I recommend using a hydration bladder for hands-free drinking or an insulated water bottle to keep your water cold on warm days. Both options are perfect for long hikes!
- Small backpack for snacks, layers, and camera gear
- We have the Osprey Talon / Osprey Tempest day packs, and a Gregory Jade day pack. All of them are super comfy.
- Camera โ you’ll want to capture the spectacular mountain views
- Cash (Swiss francs)
- Trail map or AllTrails app (downloaded offline before your hike)
- Light rain jacket or poncho, even on clear days (mountain weather is unpredictable)
- I have a Mammut Rain Jacket that is super lightweight, and packs down to about the size of a large potato.
- Trekking poles (optional, but helpful for the downhill sections)
- While trekking poles are super popular with hikers from Germany and Austria, I donโt tend to use them often, as theyโre not really needed for hiking at home in Hawaii. However, they can be helpful on steeper or downhill sections if you prefer extra stability. My personal set came from Costco, and I got them for just $20 USD, which works just fine for most hikes.
Ready to Plan Your Trip to Switzerland?
Check out our guide on where to stay in the Bernese Oberland to learn about the different mountain villages. If you’re still figuring out your transportation, our Swiss Travel Pass Calculator can help you compare the total cost of different passes for your own itinerary. And lastly, also be sure to check out my guide to the Oeschinensee Panorama Loop, my favorite hike that we did in all of Switzerland!
