With Heavy Boots to the Tanzbödeli

Short info

Starting point

Gimmelwald, 1368 m a.s.l.

Endpoint

Stechelberg Post, 913 m a.s.l.

Track

12 km

Duration

5 h

Difficulty

Difficult

Ascent

800 m

Descent

1260 m

Lowest point

913 m a.s.l.

Highest Point

2012 m a.s.l.

The tour

The Tanzbödeli is no down-to-earth Disco, but a great view point in the rear Lauterbrunnen valley. However being a plateau, the way up there runs on steep and sometimes narrow paths. Therefore, the dancing shoes remain at home - a good sole profile is requested. 

The first section to the Tanzbödeli is overcome by the Schilthorn cable car: it passes the almost vertical wall of the Mürrenflue and drives up to the first stopover Gimmelwald, the starting point of the tour. In a gentle descent you get first into the idyllic valley of Sefinenlütschine. The river is crossed down in the valley, then it goes steeply uphill to the Alp Busen. Initially, the route runs in the forest, later on alpine pastures. 

At point 1978 a narrow little path branches off from the main road and leads in a further 20-minutes climb to the Tanzbödeli. It is a remarkably flat, grassy plain, which would certainly have been good enough, at least in the old days, for some snappy pirouettes. Only the irregularly scattered stones would probably put certain limits to the dances and elegance. The view is extraordinary: the whole Lauterbrunnen valley is to your feet - from the villages Gimmelwald, Mürren, Lauterbrunnen and Wengen in the north to the rear bottom of the valley with the striking Schmadribach in the south.

Alternative Route

Descent over the Ammerta (- 30 minutes) / Overnight in the Berghotel Obersteinberg or Tschingelhorn and hiking by Lake Oberhore, Schmadrihütte and Tanzhubel to Stechelberg (+ 2 h)

Meals

Berghotel Obersteinberg, Berghotel Tschingelhorn, Restaurant Trachsellauenen

General Tips

Note the signage and any information boards on the spot. Further information about the Swiss footpath network and the signposting can be found here.