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The possibilities for exploring the wonderful world of mountains here are endless for both athletic and non-athletic types!
Grindelwald offers hiking against the world’s most beautiful backdrop! 300 km of marked walking, hiking and mountain paths for you to choose from. Numerous suggestions can be found on the 1:25,000 walking map of Grindelwald, on sale at Grindelwald Tourism. Grindelwald offers its guests a great deal of other outdoor activities, not only biking and hiking, but also trekking, climbing, mountaineering, tandem paragliding flights, tandem skydiving, bungy jumping, canyoning, river rafting and more. Ask at the tourist office or at your hostel.
Biking downhill is pure adventure. The start of two impressive downhill runs is near the First top station. Two runs are available to conquer the challenging terrain down to the Schreckfeld Station, with an altitude difference of 200 m. Once at Schreckfeld, you can board the gondola cableway to go back up to First and start again! Rental of top-class downhill bikes and gear is available at First.
Also attractive (for ambitious athletes as well as for leisure bikers) is the “Top Ten” (10 bike routes). The starting point is the tourist center, where you will receive a card. This card contains 10 squares corresponding to the different runs. Before setting out for each new run, the corresponding field must be stamped. At the end of the run the card is again stamped to prove completion. Ask for the special brochure and map at the tourist center.
The wildly-romantic Glacier Gorge, with its mills, cuts and green marble slabs, is one of nature’s masterpieces. A specially-constructed wooden walkway leads from the hotel restaurant Gletscherschlucht over gushing waters and through galleries and tunnels over 1,000 m right into the gorge. On either side, the partly smooth walls rise overhead 100 meters. How to get there: 35 minutes walking distance from the village center or by bus from Grindelwald Station. Open daily June until October.
The ascent to the Upper Glacier leads over a rather adventurous wooden staircase that winds its way up to the rock with over 890 steps. A 15 minute walk from the Hotel Wetterhorn takes one to the beginning of the climb. Admire the fantastic view at the foot of the glacier! Open daily from mid-May to end-October.
From the upper Glacier it’s just about a 25 minute walk to the Alpine Bird Park. This small park with various alpine birds as well as an alpine garden and hut restaurant is set in idyllic surroundings 1,400 m above sea level at the foot of Wetterhorn between Grindelwald and the Grosse Scheidegg. Open daily, entrance free of charge.
In the village centre (opposite Hotel Hirschen) there is an attractive 18-hole mini-golf course. Entry costs CHF 7.-, open daily (June, September and October 1 – 6 pm and July and August 10 am – 10 pm).
On a rainy day visit the sports center (Sportzentrum). There you’ll find an indoor pool, sauna complex, solarium, game room, Internet, an attractive boulder room as well as Switzerland’s first indoor rope park, the Sport Pub and the tourist office. The sports center is open daily.
Treat yourself to an exhilarating ride on the First Flyer -thrills and great time guaranteed! Originated in the USA (where it is known as a Zip Rider) Grindelwald-First has the only one of its kind in the whole of Europe! Whizz down 800 metres at speeds of up to 84 km/h and a maximum height of 50 metres above ground. The aerial gondola to First rises at the eastern edge of Grindelwald village (May 21st – Oct 23rd). Save money and book the “combi-special 10” for CHF 86.- (this includes one night’s accommodation in a dorm incl. breakfast at the Downtown Lodge Grindelwald, the aerial gondola trip and a flight with the First Flyer).
For Jungfaujoch – Top of Europe - and more about the beautiful Bernese Oberland www.jungfrau.ch
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