ChrisC
Well-known member
Skiing
The Jungfrau Ski Region has three main ski areas, all covered by the full Jungfrau Ski Pass, but they are not all lift-connected.
If you purchase a valid multi-day (3+) ski pass, you qualify for the discounted Jungfraujoch “Top Ticket,” priced at CHF 63 round trip. Otherwise, the Jungfraujoch ticket is CHF 200-225. I have never visited because other Alpine resorts include similar experiences in their lift ticket price (e.g., Zermatt includes Gornergrat Railway or Matterhorn-Glacier Paradise simply as part of a ski ticket at 92 CHF).
Lodging
There are various lodging bases:
The biggest downside is that your location might limit where you ski because of the effort required. For example, Mürren is the highest ski area with the most snowfall and fewest crowds, but someone staying in Grindelwald is less likely to make the trip. And vice versa if you stay in Mürren and want to check out First. Almost all the Jungfrau sectors deserve at least a half day, but if one has to pick, Grindelwald-Wengen and Mürren-Schilthorn are my favorites
Jungfrau Railways will invest CHF 70 million to build a new direct S3 / "Triline" gondola system from Grindelwald station via a new route to the First summit, eliminating the bus ride.
(Note: Grindelwald will soon have two S3 Gondola systems in perhaps one of the world's most scenic alpine environments. Perhaps 'Save Our Canyons' should take note and not use an aesthetics argument against a Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola.)
Jungfrau Piste Map
Murren
A few years ago, I only skied Murren in a more cursory way as a half-day add-on to the larger Grindelwald-Wengen (Kleine Scheidegg) complex. I wrongly assumed that it was more rolling (yet interesting) intermediate terrain similar to Grindelwald-First or Grindelwald-Wengen. Despite hiking the area in the summer as well, I underestimated the area. Therefore, a return was warranted. Also, for my partner, I think a Zermatt-Jungfrau via train best typifies Switzerland. (The Glacier Express to St. Moritz was vetoed (too much train time), and Verbier).
To me, Mürren is more akin to a smaller-scale Engleberg or Andermatt-Gemsstock. It has roughly the same:
Murren Piste Map
Mürren Topographical Map for accuracy - freeride navigation
Link: Murren at Openskimap
Partial list of Backcountry Skiing Routes in Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren
LINK
Freeride Guide Jungfrau Region map
Best Lines that are lift accessible and returnable: 25, 26, 27
Mürren - Arrival by Train from Zermatt
We arrived by train during a break in the Nordstau storm forecast to hit the Jungfrau region that evening.
The journey is complex but manageable. Having visited Mürren twice before, I knew exactly what to expect.
The route involves five transfers and six segments, taking 3.5 hours in total. This is because both Zermatt and Mürren are car-free villages.
However, once you reach Interlaken, it's basically just sightseeing. Ski & luggage storage areas are available the entire way.
Zermatt → Visp → Spiez → Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → Grütschalp → Mürren BLM
Even with a car, you'd still complete 3 segments: (Zermatt → Tasch) and (Lauterbrunnen → Grütschalp → Mürren BLM). Plus driving. Plus parking garages. Again, a car is not necessarily easier.
Afternoon View of the Lauterbrunnen Valley from the Mürrenbahn (150p Cable Car). Lauterbrunnen --> Grutschalp
Storm break; snow levels are lowering.
Typically, I don't pay much attention to where I stay, but the Hotel Edelweiss in Mürren is a notable exception. Their third addition was built directly into the cliffside, hanging above the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
From the room, we had a perfect "bullseye" view of the Mönch, with the Eiger and Jungfrau peaks just visible through the clouds. The structure reminded me of the architecture at Snowbird’s Cliff Lodge.
We recently took a sunset ride on the new Stechelberg–Mürren cable car, which is included in our rail pass as a transit-only lift. Opened in December 2024, this project marks the first completed phase of the extensive Schilthornbahn 20XX reconstruction. We look forward to riding the remaining two segments—from Mürren to Birg and onward to the Schilthorn summit—during our ski days.
This direct, non-stop aerial tramway climbs from the Lauterbrunnen Valley floor to Mürren in just four minutes. Its design is truly unique, featuring an 11-meter suspension arm and a roof-based entry/exit system at the Stechelberg station to accommodate its extreme 159.4% gradient, which currently ranks as the steepest in the world.
Key specs include:
Heading down
Back Up - Round Trip
Murren Village
Allmendhubelbahn (Funicular)
You can also go sledding/sledding off this lift!
The Allmendhubelbahn is a short funicular running from central Mürren at approximately 1,650 m to Allmendhubel at 1,907 m. It gains about 257 vertical meters in only four to five minutes.
The principal sledding route is the Bob Run:
Most lodging in Mürren includes access to the Sports Center
Hotel Mürren Palace
Perched at 1,650 meters (5,413 feet) above sea level on the highest point of the Mürren mountain terrace, it has stood since 1874 and is recognized as Switzerland's oldest palace hotel.
We ate here later in the evening.
Some minor league Apres-Ski
The Jungfrau Ski Region has three main ski areas, all covered by the full Jungfrau Ski Pass, but they are not all lift-connected.
- Mürren–Schilthorn. On the opposite side of the Lauterbrunnen Valley: This is the highest and most challenging of the three, reaching 2,970 meters, with the best expert terrain and the most interesting off-piste possibilities.
- Grindelwald–Wengen. Sometimes called Kleine Scheidegg, it's the largest interconnected area located directly beneath the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
- Grindelwald–First. A separate mountain above Grindelwald, but it isn't connected to Kleine Scheidegg by lifts, so you need a bus. First is sunnier and has more open freeride terrain, but it's more exposed to wind.
If you purchase a valid multi-day (3+) ski pass, you qualify for the discounted Jungfraujoch “Top Ticket,” priced at CHF 63 round trip. Otherwise, the Jungfraujoch ticket is CHF 200-225. I have never visited because other Alpine resorts include similar experiences in their lift ticket price (e.g., Zermatt includes Gornergrat Railway or Matterhorn-Glacier Paradise simply as part of a ski ticket at 92 CHF).
Lodging
There are various lodging bases:
- Wengen: A charming, car-free village with direct access to Männlichen, Kleine Scheidegg, and the Grindelwald–Wengen ski area. It has limited nightlife and requires travel to reach Mürren or Grindelwald-First.
- Mürren: A scenic, car-free village offering the region’s highest and steepest skiing with excellent access to the Schilthorn sector. The ski area is relatively small, wind-sensitive, and isolated from Wengen and Grindelwald.
- Grindelwald: The largest and most convenient resort base, with access to Grindelwald-First and the Eiger Express toward Eigergletscher. The village is spread out, busy, and less intimate than Wengen or Mürren.
- Lauterbrunnen: A central valley base with convenient transportation to both Wengen and Mürren. It has no direct skiing and requires a train, bus, or cable car journey each morning.
- Interlaken: A lively town with the region’s widest range of hotels, restaurants, shops, and transportation connections. It is far from the ski lifts and requires a daily commute.
The biggest downside is that your location might limit where you ski because of the effort required. For example, Mürren is the highest ski area with the most snowfall and fewest crowds, but someone staying in Grindelwald is less likely to make the trip. And vice versa if you stay in Mürren and want to check out First. Almost all the Jungfrau sectors deserve at least a half day, but if one has to pick, Grindelwald-Wengen and Mürren-Schilthorn are my favorites
Jungfrau Railways will invest CHF 70 million to build a new direct S3 / "Triline" gondola system from Grindelwald station via a new route to the First summit, eliminating the bus ride.
(Note: Grindelwald will soon have two S3 Gondola systems in perhaps one of the world's most scenic alpine environments. Perhaps 'Save Our Canyons' should take note and not use an aesthetics argument against a Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola.)
Jungfrau Piste Map
Murren
A few years ago, I only skied Murren in a more cursory way as a half-day add-on to the larger Grindelwald-Wengen (Kleine Scheidegg) complex. I wrongly assumed that it was more rolling (yet interesting) intermediate terrain similar to Grindelwald-First or Grindelwald-Wengen. Despite hiking the area in the summer as well, I underestimated the area. Therefore, a return was warranted. Also, for my partner, I think a Zermatt-Jungfrau via train best typifies Switzerland. (The Glacier Express to St. Moritz was vetoed (too much train time), and Verbier).
To me, Mürren is more akin to a smaller-scale Engleberg or Andermatt-Gemsstock. It has roughly the same:
- Vertical (Mürren 1628 m to Schilthorn/Piz Gloira 2970 m), which is roughly 4500 ft - possibly more if one can ski to Winteregg, Gimmelwald, or Lauterbrunnen.
- High snowfall. Snowpack increases rapidly as one enters the front range of the Alps from Interlaken - or even Lauterbrunnen. The same Nordstau and W/NW storms that dump in Engelberg hit the area. They run into a wall of nearly 3600m/12k ft in the Bernese-Oberland Alps from the 500m/1.8k ft lowlands of Interlaken.
- Big Off-Piste lines: Totenkopf/Grauseewli, Tschingelchrache. Almost anything into the Blumental drainage (under Birg Cable Car) or Schiltal drainage (south of Birg and Schilthorn Cable Cars). See map below: Routes 25, 26, 27.
- General steepness
- Under-the-Radar. Less powder competition than at other big-name resorts.
- Size. Just not quite as large.
- Orientation. The mountain is oriented E-W, meaning some areas have a southern exposure (looker's left).
Murren Piste Map
Mürren Topographical Map for accuracy - freeride navigation
Link: Murren at Openskimap
Partial list of Backcountry Skiing Routes in Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren
LINK
Freeride Guide Jungfrau Region map
Best Lines that are lift accessible and returnable: 25, 26, 27
Mürren - Arrival by Train from Zermatt
We arrived by train during a break in the Nordstau storm forecast to hit the Jungfrau region that evening.
The journey is complex but manageable. Having visited Mürren twice before, I knew exactly what to expect.
The route involves five transfers and six segments, taking 3.5 hours in total. This is because both Zermatt and Mürren are car-free villages.
However, once you reach Interlaken, it's basically just sightseeing. Ski & luggage storage areas are available the entire way.
Zermatt → Visp → Spiez → Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → Grütschalp → Mürren BLM
- Zermatt–Visp: Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
- Visp–Spiez: SBB InterCity
- Spiez–Interlaken Ost: BLS/SBB
- Interlaken Ost–Lauterbrunnen: Berner Oberland Bahn
- Lauterbrunnen–Grütschalp: Cable car
- Grütschalp–Mürren BLM: Mountain railway
Even with a car, you'd still complete 3 segments: (Zermatt → Tasch) and (Lauterbrunnen → Grütschalp → Mürren BLM). Plus driving. Plus parking garages. Again, a car is not necessarily easier.
Afternoon View of the Lauterbrunnen Valley from the Mürrenbahn (150p Cable Car). Lauterbrunnen --> Grutschalp
Storm break; snow levels are lowering.
Typically, I don't pay much attention to where I stay, but the Hotel Edelweiss in Mürren is a notable exception. Their third addition was built directly into the cliffside, hanging above the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
From the room, we had a perfect "bullseye" view of the Mönch, with the Eiger and Jungfrau peaks just visible through the clouds. The structure reminded me of the architecture at Snowbird’s Cliff Lodge.
We recently took a sunset ride on the new Stechelberg–Mürren cable car, which is included in our rail pass as a transit-only lift. Opened in December 2024, this project marks the first completed phase of the extensive Schilthornbahn 20XX reconstruction. We look forward to riding the remaining two segments—from Mürren to Birg and onward to the Schilthorn summit—during our ski days.
This direct, non-stop aerial tramway climbs from the Lauterbrunnen Valley floor to Mürren in just four minutes. Its design is truly unique, featuring an 11-meter suspension arm and a roof-based entry/exit system at the Stechelberg station to accommodate its extreme 159.4% gradient, which currently ranks as the steepest in the world.
Key specs include:
- Route: Stechelberg to Mürren
- Vertical Rise: 775 m / 2,543 ft
- Length: Approx. 1,194 m / 3,917 ft
- Capacity: 85 passengers per cabin; approx. 800 passengers per hour
- Operations: Fully automated with integrated freight containers for luggage and supplies
Heading down
Back Up - Round Trip
Murren Village
Allmendhubelbahn (Funicular)
You can also go sledding/sledding off this lift!
The Allmendhubelbahn is a short funicular running from central Mürren at approximately 1,650 m to Allmendhubel at 1,907 m. It gains about 257 vertical meters in only four to five minutes.
The principal sledding route is the Bob Run:
- Start: Allmendhubel upper station
- Finish: Allmendhubelbahn lower station in Mürren
- Distance: Approximately 3 km / 1.9 miles
- Vertical descent: Approximately 270 m / 886 ft
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Route: Allmendhubel → Blumental → forest → Mürren
- Typical descent: Roughly 15–25 minutes, depending on conditions and stops
Most lodging in Mürren includes access to the Sports Center
Hotel Mürren Palace
Perched at 1,650 meters (5,413 feet) above sea level on the highest point of the Mürren mountain terrace, it has stood since 1874 and is recognized as Switzerland's oldest palace hotel.
We ate here later in the evening.
Some minor league Apres-Ski
Last edited:
