Sledding in Interlaken: 9 Runs and How to Choose

Sledding in Interlaken starts with a train ride, because the town has no sled run. Interlaken Ost sits at 567 metres, and snow on the valley floor is rare and melts fast. The runs are above you: nine of them, from a 3 km family track to a descent that touches 36%.

I guide sledding tours on two of them, Isenfluh and the Bob Run in Mürren, and I have walked up to the Faulhorn for the longest one. For a first time on your own, I send people to Mürren. The run I tell beginners to leave alone is the Eiger Run.

Here are the nine runs in one table, the one for beginners, the quiet one, the long one, the family one, and what to rent and wear. Every length, price and timetable was checked at the official source on 30 September 2026.

Where can you go sledding near Interlaken?

On nine marked runs in four areas: Mürren, Isenfluh, Beatenberg, and the slopes of Grindelwald and Wengen. The Jungfrau railways count more than 50 km of sled runs in their ski region, and Interlaken Tourism counts over 70 km across the holiday region. None of them starts in town, so every run begins with a train or a bus.

The table in words. In Mürren, the Bob Run starts at the Allmendhubel, 1,907 metres, and the Apollo Run starts at Schiltgrat. At Isenfluh, a forest road drops 425 metres over 4.7 km from Sulwald. Above Beatenberg, the Niederhorn run covers 3 km down to Vorsass. Around Grindelwald, the Eiger Run falls from 2,320 to 943 metres in about 1 hour 10, the Big Pintenfritz from 2,552 to 1,153 metres in about 3 hours 30 with the walk up, and the First run from 2,166 to 1,560 metres in about 20 minutes. Above Wengen, the Fox Run covers 4.5 km in about 25 minutes, and Rita's Speedway on the Männlichen covers 1,000 metres in about 15.

Getting there is quick. On the timetable for Wednesday 13 January 2027, Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald takes 36 minutes, to Wengen 37, to the Isenfluh cable car 47 and to Mürren 50. From Interlaken West, the bus reaches Beatenberg Station in 32 minutes.

Asked about snow in Interlaken itself, I put it in a few words: rare, and it melts fast. Whether the town is worth a winter trip at all is a separate question, answered in Interlaken in winter.

Which sled run is best for beginners?

The Bob Run in Mürren. A funicular lifts you from the village to the Allmendhubel, 1,907 metres, in four minutes. The run comes back down through the forest and between the chalets to the village, and the operator itself calls it a leisurely route. A single ride up costs CHF 10 for an adult.

Asked where I send someone who is sledding alone for the first time, I answer:

Pierre says: "Mürren, Bob Run."

Pierre Vetsch, founder and head guide at Swiss Local Adventures

It is also the run I use with my own groups when Isenfluh does not have enough snow. You can rent a sled at the Salomon Station in Mürren, according to Schilthorn Cableway, and children from 6 to 15 ride the funicular for CHF 5.

Asked what my guests remember from the Bob Run, I answer in three words.

Pierre says: "The pink peaks."

Pierre

Fun fact: In 1969, all the bobsleigh scenes of the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" were shot on this track, according to Schilthorn Cableway.

Mürren has no road, so plan the way up first: how to get to Mürren compares the three routes.

Bob Run or Eiger Run: which one for a first time?

The Bob Run. Leave the Eiger Run for your second winter. The Eiger Run drops from the Eigergletscher station at 2,320 metres to Grindelwald at 943 metres. The Jungfrau railways give it about 1 hour 10 and a gradient of up to 36%. That is 1,377 metres of descent on your heels.

Asked which run I tell beginners to avoid, I name it.

Pierre says: "The Eiger Run."

Pierre

The numbers explain it. On the Isenfluh road, the average gradient is 9%. On the Eiger Run, the steepest part is four times that. A sled has no brakes but your feet, and the Swiss accident prevention office measured beginners at more than 40 km/h on an easy run. What that means for you is in is night sledding dangerous.

There is a softer way to meet the Eiger Run. The railway also lights the 3.5 km between Alpiglen and Brandegg for the Eiger Run by Night, from CHF 19, a ride of about 10 minutes. From Interlaken Ost, the train reaches Alpiglen in 61 minutes.

The verdict: first day on a sled, Mürren. Once braking is a reflex, the Eiger Run is the big one.

Is Isenfluh the quiet alternative?

Yes. Isenfluh is where I take my own tours, because we are alone on the run. A small red cable car climbs from the village to Sulwald, and a forest road brings you back down: 4.7 km, 425 metres of descent, 9% on average. The return ticket costs CHF 16 and a sled CHF 7 a day.

Pierre says: "Nobody. We are alone on the run, the forest is sublime, and the old egg that takes you up is extra."

Pierre

The weak point is the snow. The run ends at 1,095 metres, against 1,907 metres at the top of the Bob Run. My own summary of the snow at Isenfluh: very variable, and we often switch to Mürren.

The second weak point is the bus itself. On 13 January 2027, the last one leaves Isenfluh at 17:13, while the cable car runs until 18:15. The cabin, the run and the timetable are in our guide to Isenfluh sledding.

Is the Big Pintenfritz worth the walk?

Yes, if you have the legs and a full day. You take the gondola to First, then walk up to the Faulhorn pulling your sled. The run drops from 2,552 to 1,153 metres, down to Grindelwald. The Jungfrau railways give it about 3 hours 30, walk included, and call it one of the longest toboggan runs in Europe.

I have done it, and my answer to the question in the title is short.

Pierre says: "Yes, it is worth the walk."

How fit do you need to be? Fit enough to walk uphill in snow above 2,000 metres with a sled behind you, and then to brake for 1,399 metres of descent. This is a mountain day. Start early, carry water and food, and check on the day that the run is open. It is a long day for children and for anyone who does not walk often.

The ticket starts at CHF 28 according to the Jungfrau railways sledging page, which also lists the state of each run.

Where do families go: the Niederhorn or Mürren?

The Niederhorn for families, and Mürren once the children are teenagers. The Niederhorn run covers 3 km from the summit station to the Vorsass middle station. The operator rates it medium, with steeper parts, tight bends and flatter stretches, and says beginners can ride it. At Vorsass the gondola takes you back up for another go.

Asked whether I send people to the Niederhorn, I say: "Yes, for families." From Interlaken West, the bus reaches Beatenberg Station, where the gondola starts, in 32 minutes. The operator adds two rules: small children sled under supervision, and the last sledding departure from the Niederhorn is at 16:00.

For teenagers, I have said it before: Mürren for a family with teenagers.

For younger children, my first pick is now the Bob Run in Mürren: the age-by-age choices are in sledding with kids near Interlaken.

If you stay in Wengen, you have two runs at your door: the Fox Run from Wengernalp, 4.5 km beside the Lauberhorn ski race course, and Rita's Speedway from the Männlichen. Which of the two villages suits your stay is settled in Wengen or Mürren.

What do you need: sled, pass, clothes and the last lift?

A steerable sled, waterproof clothes, real boots, and the time of the last ride up. In the Jungfrau ski region, a Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass starts at CHF 61 a day and is sold from 21 November 2026 to 25 April 2027. Isenfluh and the Niederhorn sell their own tickets.

Going without a guide? Read sledding in Interlaken with a guide or on your own first: it puts the costs side by side, with the last bus and lift times.

If sledding is only one of your winter plans, see our ranking of winter activities in Interlaken.

The sled. Asked which sled a beginner should rent, I say: "A Rodel." The Swiss accident prevention office agrees: on hard or icy ground, it writes, only a Rodel steers properly, while the classic wooden sled is rigid.

The helmet. The same office recommends one, and a ski helmet or a bike helmet both work. Our tours do not provide one, so bring your own.

The clothes. Ski trousers, a warm jacket, gloves, a beanie and high boots with a good tread. Your feet are your brakes. For the detail, and what to do without ski gear, see how to dress for a sledding evening.

Insider tip: The mistake I see most from people who sled without a guide is missing the last lift up. Look it up before the first run, not after the third: 16:00 for the last sledding departure on the Niederhorn, 17:13 for the last bus out of Isenfluh in January.

The season. Our own sledding tours run from December to March, depending on the snow. If you can choose your month, my pick for winter here has not changed.

Pierre says: "March. Fewer people, more sun, and snow."

If you would rather walk than slide, the quiet option is in snowshoeing around Interlaken.

Your Questions About Sledding in Interlaken

Short answers first: you can sled at night on three runs and on guided tours, a ride up starts at CHF 10 and a day pass at CHF 61, the pass is sold from late November to late April, and you do not need to ski.

Can you go sledding at night near Interlaken?

Yes, in four ways. The Jungfrau railways light 3.5 km of the Eiger Run between Alpiglen and Brandegg for the Eiger Run by Night, from CHF 19. On the Niederhorn, the run opens for lantern sledding on Friday and Saturday evenings; in 2026 that ran from 1 January to 8 March, and the 2027 dates were not published when we checked on 30 September 2026. In Mürren, Schilthorn Cableway runs a sledging and fondue evening on the Allmendhubel every Thursday and Friday from 7 January to 5 March 2027, for CHF 35 with the funicular, and sleds are not provided. The fourth way is a guided tour with a headlamp, which is how we sled at Isenfluh.

How much does sledding cost near Interlaken?

It depends on the run. A single funicular ride to the Allmendhubel in Mürren costs CHF 10 for an adult and CHF 5 for a child. The Isenfluh cable car costs CHF 16 return, and a sled there CHF 7 a day. The Eiger Run by Night starts at CHF 19 and the Big Pintenfritz at CHF 28. If you plan several runs in the Jungfrau ski region on the same day, the Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass starts at CHF 61. Add the train from Interlaken and the sled rental where it is not included. Prices were read on the operators' websites on 28 and 30 September 2026; the Mürren page still showed last winter's high-season dates, so check it again before you go.

When is the sledding season near Interlaken?

It depends on the snow and on the altitude. The Jungfrau railways sell their sledging pass from 21 November 2026 to 25 April 2027. Our guided tours run from December to March. Low runs suffer first: Isenfluh ends at 1,095 metres and its snow varies a lot from one winter to the next, while the Allmendhubel in Mürren starts at 1,907 metres. The Jungfrau railways and the Niederhorn cableway publish the state of their runs online. Read it on the morning you go.

Can you go sledding if you do not ski?

Yes. Sledding asks for no lessons and no ski equipment, which is why it suits groups where some people ski and others do not. You sit down, steer with your weight and brake with both heels. That simplicity is also the trap: the sled moves before anyone has shown you how to stop. Spend the first hundred metres braking on purpose. On a guided tour the briefing at the top covers it, and on your own a short first run like the Bob Run in Mürren lets you learn before the gradient arrives. If you do ski, here is where to ski near Interlaken.

Go sledding with a local guide

The hard part of sledding here is the choice: which run has snow today, which one suits your group, and when the last lift leaves. On our tours that part is ours. We drive you from Interlaken, bring the sleds and the headlamps, ride at the back of the group, and keep it to eight guests.

A guest on GetYourGuide called the evening great fun in January 2026. Our Google profile showed 5.0 stars from 54 reviews on 30 September 2026.

If you want the quiet forest run at sunset, a headlamp for the way down and a fondue in Interlaken afterwards, join the Sunset Sledding and Fondue tour. When Isenfluh lacks snow, we take you to the Bob Run instead.

How we made this: based on Pierre's interviews of 20, 24, 28 and 30 September 2026, facts and prices checked at the official sources on 28 and 30 September 2026, written with AI assistance.

Source: Niederhorn cableway, sledging, the Jungfrau railways and Schilthorn Cableway sledging pages, the Swiss timetable for 13 January 2027, and guided sledding tours at Isenfluh and Mürren with Swiss Local Adventures, 2025-2026.

*Written by Pierre Vetsch, founder and head guide at Swiss Local Adventures