Schwanden bei Brienz: Nature Trails and Excursions

Schwanden bei Brienz offers a circular trail, activities for children, the Schwanderbedli forest swimming area and cycling opportunities; nearby, you’ll also find cultural and scenic attractions. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, first consider whether walks, family activities, the forest swimming area, cycling or regional culture will shape your trip.

Circular Trail and Views at Schonegg

The Schwander Lebensweg is a four-kilometre circular trail. It can be walked year-round and is suitable for family outings as well as trips for nature enthusiasts. The public Schonegg barbecue area is right on the trail. It is accessible by vehicle and has been designed to be barrier-free; from here, you can enjoy views across Schwander- and Brienzerlauene to Lake Brienz. At Schonegg, the trail, barbecue area and views come together.

Forest Activities for Children

The Zauberschulpfad is a nature and experiential learning activity in the forest for children aged three to twelve. Following a set route, school classes or children can enjoy hands-on, creative and sensory experiences of nature at twelve stations. The Pippi Waldstrumpf Wald is a forest play and learning area for school classes, families and holidaymakers. The activities have different focuses: the Zauberschulpfad centres on the trail and its stations, while the Pippi Waldstrumpf Wald combines play and learning. If you’re travelling with children, their ages, the schedule and the activities you have in mind can help guide your plans for the day.

Schwanderbedli: Forest Swimming Area and Barbecue

Schwanderbedli is a forest swimming area by the Lammbach with a barbecue area. From May to September, it is supplied with fresh water from the Lammbach; the barbecue area is available year-round. Schwanderbedli also has tables, benches and toilet facilities. For planning purposes, it’s useful to note the difference between the seasonal water supply and the year-round availability of the barbecue area: you can plan around each amenity’s respective availability.

Explore on Foot and by Bike

The walk from Brienz railway station to Schwanden takes about 20 minutes and passes the flood protection structures on the Glyssibach. The Schwanden-Brienz bike trail runs along the Lammbach from Oberschwanden down to Kienholz. The trail is 1,200 metres long, with an elevation difference of 140 metres. The area around Schwanden also has cycling and mountain biking routes, ranging from moderate rides around Lake Brienz to more challenging gravel routes. In addition to the named trail, there are therefore regional options for different cycling abilities and preferences.

Crafts, Culture and Scenery Nearby

Finkel Bogenwerkstätte AG at Bogenweg 4 in Schwanden / Brienz has carried on the craft of bow making for five generations. Nearby, the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum offers insights into traditional Swiss village life and local crafts. Brienz is also associated with woodcarving; it is home to a woodcarving school and a woodcarving museum. These craft traditions add a cultural focus to the area’s nature and leisure activities.

For views over Schwanden bei Brienz and the surrounding area, Burgstollen on Burgstollenweg is a viewpoint. Nearby scenic destinations also include the Giessbach Falls, where you can walk behind the falling water, and Lake Lungern, known for its clear water and beautiful scenery. Brienzer Rothorn Summit offers panoramic views of Central Switzerland and Lake Brienz. When planning, you can choose between a local viewpoint, waterside scenery and panoramas that stretch farther afield.

Discover more destinations: Matten bei Interlaken, Interlaken, Lütschental, Leissigen, Bönigen, Hofstetten bei Brienz, Niederried bei Interlaken, Iseltwald.

Go to the main travel overview: Interlaken.