The three parks hike
A 6-stage tour of the pre-alpine parks
Suggestions
- famille
- agriculture
- mobilité
- énergie
- tourisme
- faune
- biodiversité
- vélo
- patrimoine
- randonnée
- produit
- alpage
From Zweisimmen to Gruyères, the Three Parks Hike takes you through the regional nature parks of the Pre-Alps: Diemtigtal, Gantrisch and Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut. This six-day itinerary plunges you into the heart of the landscapes shaped by mountain farming: from daily life on the mountain pastures to the solidarity between mountain farmers, via the traditional, yet creative, production of cheese and the age-old art of carpentry. Come and discover the local culture and traditions that the regional parks are committed to preserving in small ways, or sometimes in total immersion.
This 6-day/5-night itinerary follows scenic paths that require sure-footedness and good physical condition.
The guide tells you an amazing story for each stage and provides all the practical information you need to plan your trip. This way, you can easily organise your own tailor-made trip, either by doing the whole tour in one go, or by selecting a few stages - all of which are accessible by public transport. You can also book the package that includes overnight accommodation and daily luggage transport with our partner Eurotrek, so you can set off with complete peace of mind. A gourmet package also includes dinners at the stages and a packed lunch of local specialities for each tour.
Eurotrek will organise hotel accommodation for you and transport your luggage from one point to another.
Stage 1 : Zweisimmen - Grimmialp
From Zweisimmen you start the first day by climbing to the Gubi Pass, where your efforts are rewarded with a well-deserved break on the shores of Lake Seeberg. The trail then descends to the Diemtigtal valley. Throughout the day, you will notice the grazing cows, which produce valuable milk. The story Von glücklichen Kühen und ideenreichen Bauern (in German) and Pour le bonheur des vaches et de toute la vallée (in French) will tell you more about these cows.
Distance : 16 km (6h)
Stage 2 : Grimmialp - Oey
On the second day, the trail takes you through the Diemigtal Nature Park, along streams, through flowering meadows and sheltered forests. Along the way you can admire the beautifully decorated Simmental houses: they bear witness to a bygone era and have many stories to tell. Read the Zeitzeugen uralter Tradition (in German) or the Témoins d'une tradition séculaire (in French) for more information.
Distance : 14 km (4h)
Stage 3 : Oey - Gurnigel
The third day's hike begins with a cable car ride to the top of the Stockhorn. From here, a panoramic trail along the peaks of the Gantrisch range starts to the Leiterepass and then leads up to Gurnigel Wasserscheide. On the way, you pass the peaceful and wild Walalp, where you will find the habitat of a tiny animal who plays an important role in the ecological balance of the region. Learn more about it in the story Kleine Baumeister auf der Alp (in German) or Le plus petit architecte des alpages (in French).
Distance : 13 km (4h30)
Stage 4 : Gurnigel - Lac Noir
Stage 4 leads along the Gantrisch panorama trail to Zollhaus, where the warm and cold Singine rivers meet and flow into Schwarzsee. If you're not staying overnight, don't miss the crossing to the Chuebärg alp at the start of the stage. Sarah Gross, a passionate alpine farmer, makes cheese in her mobile cheese dairy at an altitude of almost 1700 metres. It's guaranteed to be fun! Read more about Sarah in Sarahs mobile Alpkäserei (in German) or La fromagerie mobile de Sarah (in French).
Distance : 22 km (6h30)
Stage 5 : Lac Noir - Jaun
The 5th day of the hike takes you through the Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Nature Park to the Euschels Pass via the wild Brecca Gorge before descending to Jaun. This stage is characterised by several alpine huts and chalets, ideal for taking a break and tasting regional specialities. One of them, the Hubel Rippa alp, is particularly worth a visit... Discover it in the story Ein halbes Jahrhundert zu zweit (in German or Un demi-siècle sur l'alpage (in French).
Distance : 12 km (4h)
Stage 6 : Jaun - Gruyères
Culture enthusiasts will have a strong memory of this last stage, which is marked by numerous chalets, churches, chapels and the unique heritage of the Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Regional Nature Park. In the following story (Handwerkskunst im Rhythmus der Natur in German or Un artisanat au rythme de la nature in French), you will discover how small wooden planks, typical of the pre-Alpine landscape, are the pride of the whole region and how Vincent Gachet, a tavillonneur, is committed to maintaining this know-how.Distance : 22 km (6h)
