Hasliberg Muggestutz Hike • Storybook trail for children

This children’s theme trail near Interlaken has play stations that match up with the Muggestutz storybook, which tells about the fairy-tale dwarfs that live in the Hasliberg area. We read the book before going on the hike, which made it more fun for the kids. But you can definitely still enjoy the trail without the the book.

The trail is not too long, about 4km, mostly downhill, and the play stations keep the kids motivated. Very small children might get tired, so you might have to carry them at some point since the path is not suitable for strollers.

You should plan for at least 3 hours on the trail, though we spent all day on the trail, playing at all the stations. I suggest you go with friends, which will make it even more fun for the kids.

Gallery

Location

This trail is located in the Hasliberg region of the Berner Oberland, east of Interlaken. See on Google Maps.

Trail Overview

Here is the Hasliberg summer map (view larger map).

Hiking map

There are two Muggestutz trails in the Hasliberg area. I’m talking about the one that starts at Mägisalp and hikes down 4 km back to Bidmi (not the one from the Käserstatt lift). The trail is a narrow, lumpy dirt path, not suitable for strollers.

Longer option: You can combine this with the new Marble Run trail, adding another 3 km down the mountain with 11 elaborate marble runs. See the Marble Run post for details >>

Panorama Detour: Before you hike, I suggest riding to the top of the Alpen Tour to catch the views. Then ride back down to Mägisalp to start the hike.

Video of the trail

A short video of our day on the Muggestutz trail in mid October 2019.

Getting There

This trail starts at the top of the Bidmi-Mägisalp cable car. You can reach this point by taking the cable car from Meiringen or from the Hasliberg Reuti, which is halfway up the mountain. By starting at Reuti, you can save some money on the gondola tickets.

By car: From Zürich or Lucerne, it’s faster to drive to Hasliberg Reuti and park in the metered parking next to the Reuti cable car station (46°43’59.9″N 8°12’30.6″E). On busy days, there is a larger parking lot a couple minutes back on the road (46°44’04.2″N 8°12’27.1″E).

From Interlaken or Bern, it’s most convenient to drive to Meiringen and parking in the big metered lot next to cable car station – Steinmühlestrasse 40, 6072 Sachseln (46°43’40.5″N 8°11’33.4″E).

By transit: From eastern Switzerland, take a train to Brünig-Hasliberg, then a bus to Hasliberg Reuti-Dorf. The Reuti-Bidmi cable car station is adjacent to the bus stop. From western Switzerland, take a train to Meiringen, then a short walk to the Meirigen-Reuti cable car station.

Planning your day

Ticket prices

You’ll need a “Wandertageskarte” up to Mägisalp to cover the cable car up and down the mountain. The price varies depending on where you start. Prices below are from summer 2022.

From Reuti, this costs CHF 32/adult. From Meiringen, it costs CHF 42/adult. If you want to visit the Alpen Tower, you need to buy a “3 Zone” ticket, which costs CHF 10 more. See current prices.

Discounts:

• Children: under 6 are free, age 6 -16 half price. SBB Junior cards ride free. 
• Discounts for GA and SBB Half-fare.
• Free with the Tell Pass and Berner Oberland Regional Pass.
• Swiss Travel Pass – discount for the section between Meiringen-Reuti, not the other gondolas.

Note: If you plan to also do the Kugelweg and park in Reuti, you only need a one-way ticket from Reuti-Mägisalp since you will walk all the way back down to Reuti.  

Operating times

This trail is usually open from mid June to mid October. The cable cars and services are open from about 8:30 to 17:30. Check current opening times.

Photo story of the trail

Take the cable cars up to the Mägisalp station. Here you’ll find a cafe and playground, but you might want to get started on the trail before the kids run out of energy.

Follow the signs for the Muggestutz trail.

Here’s the illustrated map showing some of the play stations along the way. Some of the stations are like playgrounds like the swings. Others take a little imagination to make fun.

We brought our off-road stroller, but the trail is not stroller-friendly; it gets quite lumpy and steep in parts.

First up, the pine cone drying station, surprisingly entertaining for such a mundane task.

Some of the caves where dwarfs live. Be careful with little kids here. There are little holes they can fall into (not that deep) and tricky ladders to climb.

In the middle of the trail, there is a large group of fire pits and picnic tables with wood and grills.

The swings here are simulating the flight of an eagle that snatches one of the dwarfs in the storybook.

Pretty views along the way.

There are a few dwarf homes along the trail. This first one has a little garden of edelweiss and mini clothes on the laundry line.

This alp cheese shop is along the trail, where you can buy some quite yummy cheese with the Muggestutz label.

Shortly after the cheese shop is a picnic area with a water fountain and fire pit.

There is also another dwarf home, decked out inside with all the comforts of home.

Briefly joining a paved road as you near Bidmi.

You can climb a ladder to check out a bird’s nest with hidden treasures.

This is the last station, a cave at the end of the trail, where the dwarfs (and your children) find a crystal (locked in a box, not to take home).

Then a maze, in which the kids insisted on playing tag with the adults.