Summary
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Trail in numbers
- Distance: 43 km
- Total climb: 1400 m
- High point: 1330 m
- Ridable: 90%
- Duration: 4-6 h
Highlights
- Jungfrau. From the top of the Harder Klum, one can take a good look at the majestic Jungfrau mountain, always topped with snow and ice. The view is even nicer if you have time to enjoy it sipping a (very expensive) beer from the terrace of the cozy Harder Klum Panorama restaurant, always packed with tourists.
- Luxury shopping. If you can (and want!) to combine a day on your mountain bike with high-end shopping, remember that you are in a posh Swiss tourist destination. Therefore, you will find the ever-present strip of luxury boutiques – just mind of your looks and levels of smell after your day of riding, you might get bounced! .
Useful info
- When to go: May to October is probably the best period, as there should be no snow. Remember that this is one of the regions in Europe that gets more rain, so don’t waste any time waiting for the perfect day and pack your rainjacket.
- Trail options:. Of course you can split the trail in two and make it more manageable, in case you are looking for trails with less climb. Another option is to opt for the cable car from Interlaken to Harder Klum, that will take 800 meters out of the equations, as well as some non-negligible amount of money from your pockets.
- Food and Water: Considering that you’ll ride by a panoramic restaurant at the highest point of the trail, and that you’ll cross Interlacken three times in this route, I would not worry too much about it, just get a water bottle and energy bars.
- Recommended gears&bike: full suspension bike, all-mountain / enduro.
- Starting point: We started from Darligen because this is where we were based. However, it makes perfect sense to leave from Interlaken.
Table of contents:
Photostory
Luca, an old friend of mine and founder of ItalyBike Adventures (the team that I am part of and that I raced for, once) has been living in Interlaken, Switzerland, for a couple of months.
Interlaken is often described as the “outdoors paradise” in Switzerland and offers countless options to keep up the adrenaline levels such as paragliding, rafting, kayaking, etc. Above all, the little touristy town in the Bernese canyon is surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountains in the Alps, the Jungfrau being one of those with its icy and rocky 4100 meters.
We dedicate the weekend at exploring the surrounding mountains, looking for fun trails to ride. Despite being still to early to venture high up (it was snowing last week), we succeed in our mission.
Saturday: we conquer the Harder Klum, the mountain towering just above the town reachable by cableway (of course we pedal and push when necessary). There are incredible views from the top and the descent is first very technical and then flowy and smoother..good fun! The same day we cross the city and climb the other mountain just opposite the city. Not a lot of views from here because of the thick forest offering little sightseeing possibilities, but the trail is as fun as hell!!
Sunday: we go on an exploration ride based on some indication that a local rider has given us the previous day. Same climb of the first day, but totally different descent. This time is very tough, a super exposed trail full of switchbacks and as tricky as hell with the slippery roots and rocks. When we get to the bottom of the valley and begin following the river, the trail becomes faster and funnier to ride until our well deserved beer in Interlaken.
Enjoy the pictures!
Maps and Stats
Max elevation: 1331 m
Total climbing: 3039 m
Video
Relive ‘Interlaken – Harder Kulm – Aabendberg with Luca ‘