BAREGG HUT HIKE WITH OVERNIGHT STAY & HIKE TO SCHRECKHORN HUT

Baregg Hut (Bareghutte) is perched on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the lower Grindelwald Glacier. It’s just a 3km walk from Pfingstegg and is a great place for an overnight stay and a basecamp to hiking to the Schreckhorn Hut (Schreckhornhutte).

 

BAREGG HUT HIKE DETAILS

Hike Distance: The distance from Pfingstegg to Baregg Hut is just 2.75km. However, the next day the hike to Schreckhorn and return to Baregg Hut is 11.8 kilometers and then the 2.75km return to Pfingstegg. So all up for this expedition it is 17.3km.

Hike Duration: 

• Pfingstegg to Baregg Hut: 48 minutes (If normal pace would be 1.5 hours)
• Baregg Hut to Schreckhorn Hut Return: 2 hours 54 minutes (If normal pace would be 4-5 hours)
• Baregg Hut to Pfingstegg: 28 minutes

Hike Difficulty: The path from Pfingstegg to Baregg Hut is very easy with just a few hundred meters of incline. Because the Pfingsteggbahn (cable car) takes you most of the way to Baregg Hut, it is a great overnight hut stay for those not looking to hike 1000m+ of elevation. The hike from Baregg Hut to Schreckhorn Hut is rated as a T4 alpine trail (blue and white markers). There were ladders and considerable moments of exposure. I found it to be a basic T4 and if you re okay with exposure (cables provided) and a few simple ladders, then it will be alright. No ropes or harnesses/gear was required.

Hike Incline: Starting point at Pfingstegg: 1,367m – Baregg Hut: 1,755m – Schreckhorn Hut: 2,529m

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HOW TO GET TO BAREGG HUT

The starting point for the Baregg Hut is at the Pfingsteggbahn. You can hike up beneath the Pfingsteggbahn or other access points but most people are catching the cable car to Pfingstegg and beginning from there. To reach the Pfingsteggbahn you will need to head to Grindelwald and either walk from Grund Station or park your car in the Pfingstegg parking lot (it costs per hour).

Once you reach Pfingstegg you will follow the yellow signs to Baregg Hut, which will guide you alongside the glacier canyon for 2.75km until you reach the hut.

If you have the Swiss Half-Card you will receive a huge discount on your tickets. I bought mine when I arrived in Switzerland and it has saved me over a thousand dollars throughout my trip.

I’ve attached my GPX map which you can download here for use on your Garmin, smartwatch or another app.

 

HOW TO BOOK A NIGHT AT BAREGG HUT

In order to book a night (or more) at Gleckstein Hut you will need to send an email, make a phone call or fill out the form on their website. They are not on other booking platforms, this is how the hut is booked.

To email Gleckstein Hut you can contact them here: [email protected]

To visis the website to make a booking you can do so here: Baeregg.com

To make a booking via phone you can do so with this number: +41 (0) 33 221 10 80

WHAT IS INCLUDED WHEN YOU STAY AT BAREGG HUT

The way mountain huts generally work is that you reserve a bed and also your half-board is included, which means you get a great dinner and breakfast service. Depending on the hut you can also get tea and drinking water but some do charge for this pending availability. You can choose to stay overnight without half-board but understand that there is no ‘cafe’ around the corner. I think the only reason you would choose not to have half-board is if you arrived very late and left very early missing dinner and breakfast.

The price of one night at Baregg Hut with half-board (two meals) is: $86

 

MY EXPERIENCE HIKING TO BAREGG HUT

I began my day in Interlaken and caught the train to Grindelwald where I then walked from Grund Station to the Pfingsteggbahn. After arriving at Pfingsteggbahn Station, I caught the cable car up to Pfingstegg where you will find a nice restaurant and lots of activities for the kids. There are playgrounds, games and even a toboggan. I jumped on the toboggan costing $6 to have a little bit of fun before heading off on the hike. This is how my ride on the tobaggan went…

 

 

After playing around for a little bit at Pfingstegg, it was time to head off on the hike. Unlike many in trails Switzerland, it is quite a short journey and is only 2.75km walking from Pfingstegg to Baregg Hut. This makes it perfect for the casual hiker or the older hiker who want to stay overnight in a mountain hut.

The trail follows along the edge of the cliff, alongside the Lower Grindelwald Glacier… or at least where the glacier used to be. This hike shows you exactly how much the glacier has receded in the last century and a half. Although the hike is short you will still find some incline of a few hundred meters, which should be okay for most to navigate at their own pace. There are no moments of exposure or danger.

 

I arrived at the hut in the late afternoon and dropped my gear off in the dormitory, got changed and went outside to enjoy the scenery. The dormitory-style rooms have nice bunk beds with comfortable mattresses and brilliant views even from the bunks themselves. Inside the mountain hut, you will find showers, bathrooms, a dining room and lots of areas to hang out, play cards and enjoy the cozy atmosphere. 

 

Outside the hut, the Grindelwald Glacier is providing an epic backdrop to the scene with views in the direction leading you all the way back to Grindelwald Town. While we had dinner, I continually ducked outside taking photos of the majestic light rays flooding into the valley. That is the beauty of staying overnight at the hut. You can enjoy the sunset from the comfort of the hut in your socks and slippers without having to worry about hiking down in the dark.

 

I enjoyed a great night sleep and woke up for an early breakfast at around 6 am. I hung out at the hut during sunrise and it was an absolute burner. Pinks filled the sky and the alpenglow on the glacial peaks was immense. After the sunrise, I then set off to hike to the next hut, which is called Schreckhorn Hut. 

 

BAREGG HUT TO SCHRECKHORN HUT

The hike from Baregg Hut to Schreckhorn Hut is a bit more challenging than the route from Pfingstegg to Baregg Hut. It’s a 12km round-trip hike back to Baregg with over 1000m of incline. It is also rated a T4 difficulty alpine trail as it has some cables, ladders and areas of exposure. I photographed the ‘dangerous’ spots so you can decide if it is within your abilities/limits to traverse this route.

The trail begins by wrapping around the glacier and down the hill along the rocky/dirt trail. The morning light on the glacier was sublime!

You will be following the blue and white markers throughout the trail and for the first 30-40 minutes, there isn’t too much to worry about on the route with just a few river crossings to navigate. The hardest part is keeping your eyes on the trail and off the glacier as you concentrate on where you are heading.

 

At this point, the T4 details of the hike emerge with a series of ladders and cable-assisted rock climbing required. I didn’t find any of it too difficult but those with a fear of heights or not much bouldering experience may not feel comfortable. You can always turn back at this point and it’s probably still worth the hike from Baregg Hut as you see a lot of the glacier already that you couldn’t from Baregg. I’ve photographed as much of the T4 elements as possible to help you decided if you are up for the challenge or not.

 

Aside from the ladders and cables, you do have to climb 1000+ meters, which is a challenge in itself so definitely gear up for an adventure! The views of the glacier that are within touching distance throughout the trail make it all worth it! The trail is signed all the way from Baregg so it is almost impossible to get lost!

 

After 1 hour and 45 minutes, I made it up to Schreckhorn Hut. Only one other hiker was there that early and we enjoyed the sun out on the terrace and shared a few stories over a vegetable soup and some coffee. You can also stay overnight at Schreckhorn Hut and it is the base camp for several climbs in the area that involve guides, equipment and a higher level of experience.

 

I hung out here at the hut for about an hour taking it all in while the sun spread across the glacier. As my soup friend headed off, I snapped a few photos of him crossing the path alongside the glacier.

 

The hike back down to Baregg took me just over an hour and then another 30 minutes back down to Pfingstegg. Most people can bargain for about double that as I was running a bit, just to help you plan your times.

Overall this expedition was incredible. Sunset, sunrise, good food, great hosts and an incredible day and a half up in the mountains surrounded by glaciers, adventure and fresh alpine air!