Grindelwald First | Interlaken

Grindelwald First is a minor summit (2,166 m) on the Schwarzhorn range, serving as a primary adventure and sightseeing hub in the Jungfrau Region.

Visual Characteristics

The site is characterized by high-alpine pastures and sheer limestone cliffs. It offers a direct, unobstructed "front-row" view of the Eiger North Face and the surrounding 4,000-meter peaks and glaciers across the Grindelwald valley.

Location & Access Logistics

Base Station: Located in the upper part of Grindelwald village.

Transit: Reachable from Interlaken Ost via the Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) to Grindelwald, followed by a 10-minute walk or local bus to the Firstbahn station.

Cable Car: A 6-person aerial gondola transports visitors from Grindelwald to First in 25 minutes, with intermediate stops at Bort and Schreckfeld.

Operating Season: Open year-round, with closures for maintenance in late autumn and spring.

Key Highlights & Activities

First Cliff Walk by Tissot: A steel walkway pinned to the vertical rock face, featuring a 45-meter long single-cable suspension bridge and a viewing platform extending 37 meters over the void.

First Flyer (First Flieger): A 800-meter long zip line where four people can descend simultaneously at speeds up to 84 km/h.

First Glider: A bird-of-prey themed zip line that pulls four passengers backward up the mountain before releasing them for a high-speed descent.

First Mountain Cart: A three-wheeled cart used for descending the gravel path from Schreckfeld to Bort.

Trottibike Scooters: Hybrid bicycle-scooters used for the final descent from Bort to Grindelwald.

Bachalpsee Hike: A popular, relatively flat alpine trail leading to the Bachalpsee (lake), famous for its mirror reflection of the Schreckhorn. (Duration: ~1 hour each way).

Infrastructure & Amenities

Berggasthaus First: A large mountain restaurant at the summit station offering traditional Swiss cuisine and a terrace.

Accessibility: The gondola and the main summit area/restaurant are wheelchair and stroller accessible. The Cliff Walk is narrow but accessible to most.

Connectivity: Consistent 5G coverage throughout the summit area.

Best Time to Visit

Morning: To secure slots for the "First Adventure" attractions (Flyer/Glider), which often have long wait times in peak season.

Winter: Serves as a sunny ski resort with long, south-facing runs and the world’s longest sledding run (from Faulhorn to Grindelwald).

Nearby Landmarks

Bachalpsee – 3.0 km (Hiking distance)

Grosse Scheidegg – Accessible via hiking or PostBus from the valley

Eiger North Face – Visible across the valley

Schwarzhorn – 2,928 m (The summit dominating the First area)