This fun activity trail has 12 elaborate marble runs along a 3 km trail in the mountains, good motivation to keep the kids moving. Our crew had lots of fun racing their marbles down the different tracks and competing with each other. They sell a large wooden “marble” to use on the trail.
We combined this “Kugelweg” trail with the Muggestutz activity trail, adding another fun 4 km to our day. We also visited the Alpen Tower viewpoint at 2275m to get the big panorama views before heading lower down the mountain for hiking.
The mountain views on the Kugelweg are very nice, but since you are often in the forest and at a lower elevation, you don’t get big panorama views like you do up top, just fyi. But this also makes it a good choice for a very hot day when you need some shade.
Location: | Berner Oberland, Switzerland |
Address: | Reuti-Bidmi gondola (Resti 2, 6072 Reuti) or Meiringen-Hasliberg cable car (Steinmühlestrasse 40, 6072 Meiringen) |
Car: | 25 mins from Interlaken to Meiringen or 1hr20 from Zürich to Reuti |
Train: | 20 mins from Interlaken to Meiringen, then 10 min walk to cable car or 2hr30 from Zurich HB to Hasliberg Reuti, Dorf |
Trail: | 3 km one way, about 1.5 hours |
Elevation: | Kugelweg trail starts at 1410m, optional viewpoint at 2275m |
Condition: | footpath, steep in some areas, not suitable for strollers |
Skill: | easy, yellow hiking trail |
Services: | restaurant and WC at start and end of trail |
Cost 2023: | Mountain transport starting at CHF 16/adult. Discount for GA & SBB Half-fare. Junior cards accepted. Free with Tell Pass. Giant marbles cost CHF 3 each to use on the marble runs. |
Open: | mid-June to mid-October 9:00 to 16:30 |
More info: | www.meiringen-hasliberg.ch |
Overview
Hasliberg is located in the Berner Oberland region, east of Interlaken. This trail is accessed by a cable car from Meiringen and gondolas from Reuti.
Hasliberg Overview
Here is the summer map for Hasliberg. The Kugelweg trail starts at the Bidmi mountain station and ends at the Reuti mountain station, where you can park your car or catch the bus. Or you can start in Meiringen farther down the valley.
There are lots of add-ons to make for a longer day. We started by visiting the Alpen Tower for the views. Then we rode the gondola down to Mägisalp and did the Muggestutz trail to Bidmi. Then we did the Kugelweg down to Reuti. This made for a long day, but lots of fun.
Hiking map
Here is the trail map for the Kugelweg. The path is relatively easy, steep in parts, but not too difficult. The path is rather lumpy. I saw one group with a stroller but it’s not an obstacle free path.
If you want to hike longer, you can add the Muggestutz activity trail from Magisalp down to Bidmi (about 4 km), then continue walking down on the Kugelweg to Reuti. This would be a total of 7 km and would take about 4-5 hours with kids.
In any case, I recommend starting your day by riding up to Alpen Tower (2245m) for the views. Then ride back down to Magisalp or Bidmi to start your hike.
Video of the trail
A short video of our day at the Marble Run in mid October 2019.
Getting There
If you are coming from direction Bern/Interlaken, it’s more convenient to start in Meiringen in the valley and ride the gondola up to Reuti, then Bidmi. If you are coming from Luzern or Zurich, it’s shorter to go directly Reuti, the middle station.
By car to Bern/Interlaken to Meiringen: Drive to Meiringen and park in the large parking lot at Steinmühlestrasse 40, 6072 Meirinen. Then walk up along the stream to the cable car station.
By car from Luzern/Zürich to Reuti: Drive to Reuti and park in the metered street parking next to the gondola station (Resti 2, 6072 Reuti). If it’s extremely busy, there is an overflow lot north of the gondola station. In 2020, parking costs CHF 7/day.
By public transport from Bern/Interlaken: Take a train to Meiringen, which runs about every 30 mins on the xx:04 and xx:33. The ride takes 30 mins. From the Meiringen train station, walk about 10 mins to the Meiringen-Hasliberg Reuti cable car (Alpbachalle, Meiringen).
By public transport from Luzern/Zürich: Take a train to Brunig-Hasliberg, then a bus to Hasliberg Reuti, Dorf. The bus drops off next to the gondola station.
Planning your day
Tickets
The ticket price depends on where you start (Meiringen or Reuti) and how far up the mountain you travel. So just tell them where you plan to hike (or point to it on a map) and you’ll get the right ticket. Here are some sample fares.
- From Reuti to Bidmi, just the Kugelweg, costs CHF 18/adult.
- From Reuti to Magisalp, for both the Muggenstutz and Kugelweg trails, costs CHF 32/adult.
- From Meiringen to Alpen Tower, both trails and mountain top, costs CHF 52/adult.
In any case, SBB Half-fare, GA and children 6-16 get a discount. SBB Junior cards ride free. The Tell Pass covers all mountain transport. See current prices here.
IMPORTANT! Don’t forget to purchase a large wooden “marble” for CHF 3 to use on the trail. They sell it at the gondola station ticket offices. We found it best for each child to have their own marble or there were fights.
Opening Times
Hasliberg is open for summer season from mid-June through mid-October. The gondolas typically run from 9:00 to 16:30. But check the opening times before heading out because things can change based on weather.
Photo story of the trail
1. Riding up to Alpen Tower
We started our day in Reuti, riding a gondola to Bidmi, then Mägisalp, and finally the Alpen Tower at the top to get the views before hiking.
Skip down to the Kugelweg pics >>
The gondola drops you off at the Alpen Tower restaurant at 2275m. We were there in mid-October right after a light snow. Make sure to take the path leading out to the viewpoint.
Great views over the Berner Oberland region. That’s Lake Brienz in the distance.
When you are done, ride the gondola down to Mägisalp to start the Muggestutz trail. Or ride down one more section to Bidmi to start the Kugelweg. Skip down to the Kugelweg pics >>
2. At Mägisalp for the Muggestutz trail
If you stop at Mägisalp, you’ll find a playground, restaurant and WC.
The Muggestutz activity trail starts here. This trail has over a dozen activity stations, like the labyrinth below, that match up with the Muggestutz storybook, which tells about the fairy-tale dwarfs that live in the Hasliberg area. More details about this trail in this post >>
The Muggestutz trail ends in Bidmi, where you can join the Kugelweg.
3. At the Bidmi station for the Kugelweg
However you got to Bidmi (trail, trotti scooter or gondola), you’ll find a restaurant, some play equipment and WC. You’ll also find the first marble run right at the station.
There is a little pond with a picnic area and fire pits, nice place for a picnic.
When you are ready to hike, follow the purple signs to the Kugelweg.
Here is the first marble run on the trail. Each one is built by a different local business.
Some are quite simple and others are super elaborate. This one had a funnel where you had to guess where the marble might come out.
Often in the forest but you still get mountain views here and there.
The path is a lovely on its own without the amusements.
The only one that was painted bright colors.
I really admired the craftsmanship in the design and construction.
In the second week of October, the fall colors were fantastic.
One of the more rustic marble runs but still fun.
The last one right next to the Reuti gondola station.
If you started in Reuti, you can find your car or the bus stop here. If you started in Meiringen, you’ll need to ride the cable car from Reuti down to Meiringen.
2 Responses
Looks very interesting!
Silly question about the marbles for playing through the marble run – are they rented? can we take regular size marbles from home for playing?
Hi. The “marbles” are big wooden balls that are correctly sized for the marble runs. You purchase them from a machine near the trail or at the cable car station. If you have a similarly sized ball from home, you could certainly use that.