Braunwald Panorama Trail

Hiking map

This trail is located in Braunwald, an alpine village in the Glarnerland region of eastern Switzerland (see on Google Maps). You can access this trail by riding a funicular to the village, then a gondola to where the trail starts.

This loop trail starts and ends at the top of the Grötzenbüel gondola. I suggest hiking it counterclockwise, starting the steep climb in the forest.

See trail map on Komoot • SchweizMobil

Shorter version: Instead of hiking up to Gumen, hike over to the Gumen chair lift and ride up. Then hike down the second half of the trail.

Skip the gondola: If you want to hike longer and pay less, you can start and end this hike in Braunwald, instead of riding the gondola up to Grötzenbüel. 

How to get there

This trail is located in Braunwald, an alpine village in the Glarnerland region of eastern Switzerland (see on Google Maps).

You cannot drive directly to Braunwald, which is a car-free alpine village. Instead, ride the Linthal-Braunwald funicular train – Stachelbergstrasse 2, 8783 Glarus Süd Switzerland.

By car:

Drive to Linthal in the Glarus region. The parking address is Stachelbergstrasse 2, 8783 Glarus Süd Switzerland.

Follow signs to the metered parking lot adjacent to the funicular station. If the parking lot next to the station is full, there is additional parking on the south side of the train tracks.

By public transit:

Take the train to Linthal Braunwaldbahn station (not Linthal, which is one stop further). The train station is below the funicular station.

If you traveled here with the Ostwind day pass, your ticket includes the funicular up to Braunwald. But you need to show your train ticket at the Linthal-Braunwald ticket office to get a barcode ticket for the funicular train. More details on tickets below.

Planning your day

Ticket prices

You’ll need a ticket for the Braunwald funicular and mountain lifts to access the trail. Which exact ticket you need depends on which version of the trail you plan to do and which discount travel cards you have.

Best to explain your plans at the ticket office, show any discount cards you have, and they will sell you the correct ticket.

In 2024, this ticket costs CHF 30/adult, CHF 15/child age 6 to 15, under 6 ride free. Slight discount for SBB Half-fare and SBB Junior Cards. See current prices on their website.

NOTE: If you traveled here by train with the Ostwind daypass, your ticket includes the funicular up to Braunwald. This means you pay a bit less for your hiking ticket. Show your train ticket at the Linthal-Braunwald ticket desk booth to get a barcode ticket for the funicular train. 

Opening Times

The Braunwaldbahn funicular train from Linthal runs year round, about every 30 mins. The first train is at 7:25, last train at 19:48.

The Grötzenbüel gondolastarts its daily summer season in mid-June. It runs constantly from 8:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00.

Check current schedule on their website.

Photo story of the trail

1. Riding up to Braunwald

At Linthal, you board this funicular train to ride up to Braunwald. The funicular leaves on the :25 and :55, ride lasts 7 min. 

This is the Braunwald village at the top of the funicular. At the top, you’ll find a kiosk and WC. Now follow signs to Hüttenberg to reach the Grötzenbüel gondola.

2. Walking to Grötzenbüel gondola

Walk west 1 km through town to the Hüttenberg-Grötzenbüel gondola as shown below. 

The gondola takes you to Grötzenbüel, where you’ll find a restaurant and playground. The trail starts to your left behind the restaurant, up the mountain.

3. Hiking up the mountain

Follow the trail signs with the green “Panoramaweg” label. 

The trail starts on a dirt road behind the restaurant. Then it forks to the left, following a steep path up the mountain through the forest.

When you reach the top of the climb, you get this view over the mountain.

There is a picnic area and fire pit here.

4. Traverse to Gumen

Now you traverse the mountain over to Gumen. Strangely, both times I’ve been on this trail, it has been in the clouds.

You’ll walk through a short tunnel, a bit wet and muddy both times I was there.

Eventually you arrive at Gumen where you’ll find a mountain café (with a toilet). This about the halfway point, nice place for a break.

5. Hiking down from Gumen

The trail continues past Gumen, traversing the mountain some more.

At this sign, follow the fork to your left, following the OSH arrows.

This was my favorite part of the trail, lots of variety.

Continue following signs to OSH.

Here is the Ortstockhaus (OSH), which has a cafe and outdoor seating. From here, follow the road down to Grötzenbüel.

At Grötzenbüel, you can ride the gondola down to Huttenberg, then a short walk to the Braunwald funicular. Or you can rent trotti scooters at Grötzenbüel and ride them down to Braunwald.