Switzerland is a mountainous country in Central Europe known for picturesque lakes, charming villages, unbelievable chocolate, and of course, the Swiss alps. These stunning mountain ranges are full of hiking trails, climbing areas, and epic adventures. In this blog post, I am going to share everything you need to know about one of our FAVOURITES, the Mürren Via Ferrata.
The Via Ferrata from Mürren to Gimmelwald (AKA Klettersteig Mürren-Gimmelwald) is a one-of-a-kind experience in Switzerland! It offers adrenaline-filled excitement and incredible mountain views.
You might be wondering “what is a via ferrata?”
Well, a via ferrata is a protected climbing route found in many mountainous regions across the world. Think rock climbing for beginners, with more pronounced steps and handholds. These routes consist of steel cables, steps, ladders, and bridges that are securely fastened to the rock.
Once suited up in a climbing harness with two metal leashes, you can safely secure yourself to a metal cable as you traverse the course. This allows climbing on otherwise dangerous routes without the risks of a fall or the need for technical climbing equipment. A via ferrata is a great alternative to rock climbing and mountaineering because it requires less skill and specialized equipment.
With over 35 via ferrata routes of varying difficulty, Switzerland has several excellent options. We chose the Mürren via ferrata because it was easy to access, close to Interlaken, and offers incredible scenery.
In total, this trail is only 2.2 km with an elevation loss of approximately 300 meters. The entire adventure took us around 2.5 hours to complete.
We would highly recommend booking a guide if you have never done a via ferrata before. On this route, you will be crossing rope bridges, traversing ladders, and scaling cliffs that are hundreds of meters above the jaw-dropping valley below.
We had only done 1 one via ferrata before attempting this and felt completely confident doing so. As long as you know the basics of how to clip yourself in and out safely, you will be fine!
If you feel comfortable and would like to attempt it on your own, here’s what to do:
Take the gondola/ train combination from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren for CHF 22 round trip. Once you have arrived in Mürren, make your way to Intersport. Here, you can rent a harness and helmet for CHF 25 per person (2022). If you need hiking boots, you can also rent them for an additional fee.
They will direct you to the beginning of the course which is just across the street from the shop. There are a few mild sections at the beginning where you can get your bearings and practice clipping in and out.
Next, you will begin hiking down toward the cliff, which is the most intimidating part of this course. Up until this point, you are able to turn around. Once you scale the massive cliff on the U-shaped rebar steps, however, there is no turning back.
During this section, we took our time to cross the steps, admire the passing paragliders, and freak the heck out!
Once you’ve crossed the cliff, you will make your way down several ladders, across rope bridges, and along ledges that are far less intimidating. The final challenge is to cross a massive suspension bridge that David found more terrifying than the cliff. Me? I loved it!
Once you cross the bridge, you only have to walk a few hundred meters to get to the Gimmelwald gondola station. From there, you can catch a ride back to Mürren for CHF 6 per person. After returning your equipment at Intersport, grab some ice cream and make your way back down to Lauterbrunnen.
We hope you enjoy your time in Switzerland. Please feel free to contact us with any question or comment below with your thoughts on the Mürren via ferrata. We would love to hear from you!
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