The Northface trail… man, this Swiss hike is unlike any other. I hiked this trail in 2021 and again in 2023, and the views have only gotten better. From start to finish the views will overwhelm you. On most hikes there are one or two “money spots”, but on the Northface it just doesn’t let up. This trail will stick with you and all others will be measured against it.
The soundtrack of cowbells gives the hike a unique experience (In a good way!). Towering pine trees, open meadows, dramatic mountain views, rocky streams, and wooden bridges are some of the many highlights you will get to experience on this Swiss hike. We even caught some views of wildlife enjoying the area as we were. I cannot recommend adding this to your to-do list while in Switzerland. Infact, I would even say this should be at the top of your list.
Was It Worth It?
I would say undoubtedly! I have gone on quite a few Swiss hikes, and this hike takes the cake. In 2021, when I was hiking through the Jungfrau region, I hiked a total of 50 miles. The Northface was so unbelievably beautiful, that it was the first thing we attempted to do when we arrived in the region in 2023. After consulting all trails, and making it about halfway to Murren, we realized that we needed a bit more rest to tackle the trail. We failed to take into consideration that our 23 hours of travel time and lack of sleep did not leave us in the best condition to go hiking in the Swiss Alps. A small oversight 🙂 but, that’s how excited we were to get on this trail.
The previous plans made for our trip postponed our Swiss hike for a couple of days, but we knew we were not leaving without doing the Northface trail. Please, please, please add this to your list if you are in the Jungfrau region and you can thank me later. It’s free, it’s beautiful (huge understatement), it’s unforgettable, and it is not hard to find. The trail is pretty well marked, and there are restaurants and bars scattered along the trail in some of the cutest villages you will ever see.
What To Wear?
Depending on the time of year, this will greatly impact what you wear. I completed the trail in both late September, and mid-October. In September, the weather was still surprisingly warm during the day, but did get cooler after the sun went down. I ended up wearing a flannel over a T Shirt, my Columbia boots (I will swear by these guys), and some comfortable leggings. In mid-October, I did also wear a hat, gloves, and brought a heavier coat. I can confidently say that I was not cold while hiking in late September.
When To Go?
When is the best time for a Swiss hike? In my opinion, pretty much any time. 🙂 Like I mentioned above, I have hiked this trail twice. I would say that late September, was better weatherwise, then in mid-October. Something else to note about this region in mid to late October. It closes down and the owners of the mountain huts go on holiday for 3-6 weeks. There was not this issue in late September.
Swiss Hike Details:
The trailhead is easily accessible in the town of Murren. Download the AllTrails app and search for “Northface Trail, Alternate Route”. There will be signs showing you which side streets to turn down, AllTrails makes it very easy to find and you can also use their app to check your progress along the trail. You will hike close to 5 miles, and if you are in a hurry, you could complete it within 2.5 hours. We took our time, and it took us just over 4 hours including our stops for coffee and a bunch of pictures. This is a loop trail and will end where you started in Murren.
The suggested way is counterclockwise, which we did, and the first half of the trail can be a bit strenuous depending on your fitness level. There are plenty of places to stop and pretend you are taking pictures to catch your breath. A couple of miles into the trail you will come across Sonnenberg Hotel and get a great cup of coffee with a fantastic view. Beyond that there is Pension Suppenalp which is a great stop to refill your water bottle or get a beer and some food.
When we did the trail, there was a spot just past Pension Suppenalp where there was some local construction, and the trail was not clearly marked, and we went off the trail further than I’d care to admit. After our extremely steep course correction the rest of the trail was easy to follow and pretty well marked. You will pass close to houses and fenced in pastures with goats, don’t worry, you’re still on the trail. As far as the construction goes, I checked AllTrails and they have updated the path to show the construction and the new path to take. All of this was done after we hiked the trail, so you shouldn’t run into the problems we did.
All in all, this Swiss hike is my absolute favorite. I will more than likely be completing it again in the future. In the meantime, keep adventuring! XO, Joanna
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