Trailrun Brienzergrat

The gondola takes you from Sörenberg up to Rossweid, where you start above the tree line. Below you, extensive meadows spread out, providing a habitat for countless plants and animals and representing a unique biosphere reserve. To the northwest, you can see the striking rock formations of the Schrattenfluh. The first kilometers lead you through grasslands, past colorful wildflowers, moors, and the typical Entlebuch farmhouses with their wide, deeply sloping roofs. Between Blattenegg and Chrutere, the landscape changes abruptly. On this steep section, you overcome most of the elevation difference to the Brienzer Rothorn, the highest point of the canton of Lucerne at 2351 meters. As you pass the Brienzer Rothorn mountain station, you can look back and enjoy the view of the Harder and Brienzergrat, which flank Lake Brienz along its entire length.

A small descent leads down to the Eisee before the trail flattens out towards Zwischenegg, a grass-covered ridge marking the border between the cantons of Obwalden and Bern. To the north towards the Entlebuch, extensive fields and meadows spread out, while on the other side you have an unobstructed view of the highest peaks of the Bernese Oberland: Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. From Zwischenegg, the trail winds further to the next summit, Höch Gumme. In the valley before you, you see Lake Brienz and another chain of lakes towards Lucerne. From there, it goes downhill again – into the meadow landscape below the ridge you previously crossed. Along the Chuterenbach, you run the last kilometers flat back to the Sörenberg station.

Photos & Text: Switzerland Tourism / patitucciphoto