Snowshoe Hiking
The region around Gstaad is well-known for its gentle hilly landscape and idyllic nature. The perfect setting for snowshoeing! Whether on a groomed winter hiking trail or in deep powder – a variety of tours are waiting to be tried out. It’s worth taking a break along the way, unpacking your picnic and enjoying the snow-covered winter landscape and wonderful view.
The snowshoe tours take you through the snow-covered mountains around Gstaad, over panoramic winter hiking trails and are the perfect activity for a relaxing winter stay. In steep terrain, snowshoes offer the perfect grip in order to get through the deep powder safely.
Information and important tips
Nature is not only a wonderful place for snowshoe tours, it’s also home to animals and plants, so it must be respected.
The winter hiking trails in the area are marked with pink signs. The snowshoe trails are not groomed and are not controlled. Use of these trails is done at your own risk.
In preparation for a snowshoe tour, it’s important to check the weather ahead of time, as well as the current avalanche risk. Tours require good equipment, which include a LVS device, drinks, snacks and a first aid kit. Beginners, or those who don’t feel comfortable doing the tour alone, will find trained guides at one of the local snow sports stores. Even hiking guides conduct guided snowshoe tours.
Equipment such snowshoes, poles and LVS devices can be rented at local sports stores and sometimes even at the hotel.
Schönried – Rellerli – Schönried
A snowshoe tour on the sunny Rellerli mountain. Ascend the Rellerli from Schönried via Bodme. After this, the route heads up to the Hugeligrat and then down to the Grossi Vorschess. A good time is guaranteed – provided you have a good level of fitness.
Lauenen – Chrinepass – Gsteig
The signposted snowshoe hike takes you across snow-covered landscapes, guides you through magical wooded sections and promises impressive views.
Feutersoey – Tuxberg – Schneeweid – Hindere Walig
The route starts in the village of Feutersoey before following the road up to the gate for Arnensee lake. If you stick to the summer hiking route, you will reach Tuxberg and pass through snowy pine forests before suddenly ending up on Alp Schneeweid.
Stomping through the snow and enjoying the stillness of nature while discovering the region – those are only a few of the highlights that snowshoeing offers. The advantage to winter hiking is that snowshoes prevent you from sinking into the deep snow. No groomed trails are necessary. Snowshoes are also ideal for climbs and descents in steep terrain.
In addition to proper equipment (good shoes, snowshoes, poles, winter clothing, gloves, sunglasses, hat, etc.) and LVS devices, a waterproof backpack with spare clothes, warm drinks and snacks must also be taken on each snowshoe hike.
Which shoe is best suited, how long do the poles need to be, how do I set up the LVS device, etc.? Local snow sports stores offer competent advice and rent out the necessary equipment.
What’s nice about snowshoeing, is that one can find a good route just about anywhere. It doesn’t matter if you start in Zweisimmen, Schönried or Lauenen. The nicest snow shoes hikes in the region around Gstaad are listed below. These hikes are all on marked snowshoe trails.
On the Wispile, for example, snowshoeing can be combined with a gondola ride. We recommend the ride from Gstaad up to the Wispile followed by a snowshoe hike over the Wispile ridge all the way to Feutersoey or over the Chrine Pass down to Lauenen. Snowshoers can take a break in the oversized fondue pots and re-energize for the rest of the tour.
Useful links
- Interactive map
- Wiinter map with snowshoe trails and winter hiking trails (a printed version can be picked up at the valley stations or at the Gstaad Saanenland Tourism office)
- Rental, sports stores
- Outdoor businesses, snow sport schools
- Hiking guides
- Avalanche bulletin
- Weather
- Webcams
Snowshoe Tours
The possibilities for snowshoeing are diverse. Whether on groomed trails or in open terrain, high up on the mountain or down in the valley, through snow-covered forests or in alpine terrain – snow sports lovers get their money’s worth in the Bernese Oberland.
These are our tips for the most beautiful snowshoeing tours. On the other pages, you will find the details for each tour, such as the duration, kilometres (km), altitude, etc.
Grubenberg Trail NR. 191 Get away from it all here on this spectacular, signposted snowshoe trail to the Grubenberg hut. This is located high above the lovely Saanenland, at the foot of the bizarre limestone crags of the Gastlosen mountains. 7,58 km 4:20 hrs. 532 m 532 m 93 TOP Difficult 
Rellerli Trail: Schönried – Rellerli (1833 M.ü.M) – Schönried Not signposted snowshoe trail from Schönried up to the top of the Rellerli and back. 8,53 km 4:08 hrs. 657 m 657 m 91 TOP Difficult 
Chrine Trail 1: Wispile - Chrinepass - Lauenen Wonderful signposted snowshoe trail from the Wispile mountain station via Chrinepass to Lauenen 7,64 km 2:50 hrs. 31 m 719 m 89 TOP Moderate 
Bergmoos Trail: Wispile - Bergmoos - Feutersoey Snowshoe hike over the ridge of the Wispile, past the Fondue Caquelon (Cheese pot) and via Bergmoos to Feutersoey. 7,50 km 2:45 hrs. 37 m 814 m 89 TOP Moderate 
Rüwlispass Trail: St. Stephan - Rüwlispass - Turbach Not marked snowshoe hike from St. Stephan over the Rüwlispass to Turbach. 9,03 km 3:53 hrs. 724 m 335 m 89 TOP Difficult 
Lochstafel Trail: Saanenmöser - Chübelialp - Lochstafel - Saanenmöser Medium-length, signposted snowshoe tour via Chübelialp to the Lochstafel mountain restaurant. It's worth taking a break there in the cosy mountain restaurant. Then it's all downhill back to Saanenmöser. 7,37 km 2:45 hrs. 324 m 326 m 87 TOP Moderate Gifferhüttli Trail: Parkplatz Wasserngrat – Gifferhüttli – Parkplatz Wasserngrat Unprepared and unmarked snowshoe tour from Wasserngrat car park to Gifferhüttli and back to Wasserngrat car park. 11,58 km 4:48 hrs. 672 m 672 m 85 TOP Difficult 
Tiger Trail: Wasserngrat valley station - Wasserngrat mountain station Marked and groomed snowshoe tour from the valley station to the mountain station of the Wasserngrat cable car. 2,28 km 1:45 hrs. 667 m 0 m 83 TOP Moderate 
Hindere Walig Trail: Feutersoey - Tuxberg - Schneeweid - Hindere Walig Enjoyable not signposted snowshoe tour from Feutersoey to Hindere Walig. 3,99 km 2:05 hrs. 577 m 0 m 81 TOP Easy 
Trüttlisberg Trail: Lauenen - Safretvorschess - Trüttlisberg The not signposted snowshoe hike from Lauenen to the Trüttlisberg offers great views and magical winter landscapes. 5,65 km 3:06 hrs. 834 m 1 m 81 TOP Difficult Chrine Trail 2: Lauenen – Chrinepass – Gsteig The marked snowshoe hike leads through snow-covered landscapes, enchanting forest sections and offers impressive views. 6,09 km 2:45 hrs. 427 m 483 m 79 TOP Moderate 
Nüjeberg Trail The signposted "Nüjeberg Trail" is a little more challenging and requires some stamina. Once you reach the highest point, you are sure to be suitably rewarded. Let yourself be surprised! 6,75 km 2:30 hrs. 151 m 151 m 76 TOP Moderate 
Sparenmoos Trail NR. 190 The "Sparenmoos Trail" is an easy, signposted panoramic circular trail through the snow-covered moorland on the Sparenmoos. It enchants with its views of the Bernese Alps and the Simmental valley. 3,37 km 1:15 hrs. 126 m 126 m 72 TOP Moderate 
Eggli Trail: Eggli - Voderes Eggli – Eggli Marked, easy, panoramic snowshoe tour on Gstaad's local mountain Eggli. 3,26 km 1:15 hrs. 168 m 168 m 67 TOP Moderate 
