Axalp lies at 1,535 metres on a high plateau above turquoise Lake Brienz. Its position high above the lake and views of the surrounding mountains define the village. You can choose from a range of experiences as you plan your trip: the Schnitzlerweg and other hiking options, views of the lake, and skiing, sledging and snowshoe trails in winter. Specific information about the paths and routes helps you choose activities to suit your time and ability.
Location and how to get to Axalp
From Brienz, you can reach Axalp by PostBus or private car in about 35 minutes. PostBus route 155 connects Brienz with Axalp. All services on this route are wheelchair-accessible; a reservation by phone or email is required. If you travel by PostBus, remember to make this reservation as part of your travel arrangements.
Schnitzlerweg, forest and Hinterburgseeli
The adventure trail from Axalp to Hinterburgseeli features around 100 carved figures and takes about an hour. The Axalp Schnitzlerweg passes through open high forest and across alpine meadows where cows graze. The route combines woodcarving with a landscape of forest and alpine pastures. Grazing conditions vary by season.
The sculptures have a special history: after the avalanche winter of 1998/99 and Storm Lothar, woodcarvers from the Brienz region carved numerous figures from damaged tree trunks. New figures are still added every year during the so-called Schnitzlerwoche at the end of July. Visitors can also watch a wood carving being created live in July. As event dates should be checked, it is a good idea to confirm the programme dates before your trip.
Hinterburgseeli and its surroundings are in a nature reserve. You may only use the specially marked barbecue areas for grilling there. Fishing is prohibited throughout the area; only the tenant or alpine herdsman may fish. These rules are important when visiting the lake, whether you choose the trail mainly for its carvings or its scenery.
Snowshoe trails, winter hiking and skiing
There are three signposted snowshoe trails on Axalp. They all start at the Axalp-Sportbahnen bus stop. A winter hike, on the other hand, starts after a ride on the chairlift to Windegg and follows a well-prepared path back to the village. This gives you different ways to explore the snow; the winter hike described here specifically includes a chairlift ride.
The ski area has seven pistes with a total length of 15 kilometres: five are classified as easy, one as intermediate and one as difficult. The winter sports area has one chairlift and three drag lifts; piste conditions and services vary by season. Other winter activities on Axalp include cross-country skiing, winter hiking and sledging. You can choose between groomed pistes, a cross-country trail and winter paths without treating them as a single type of route.
There are also two clearly distinct sledging routes: a challenging three-kilometre run leads from Windegg via Chrutmettli to Axalp. The easy route from Hüttboden to Burster is 300 metres long. You can rent sledges at the ticket office at the chairlift’s valley station. Skis, ski boots, ski poles and snowboards are available for hire at the sports shop on Axalp; check the rental location before you travel.
Activities for families and woodcarving enthusiasts
AXILAND is the practice area of the Axalp Swiss Ski School. It has numerous courses as well as a small Axi-Park with jumps and boxes. The layout of the area may change over time, so it is worth checking the current conditions if specific features are important for your visit.
The family-oriented AXI-Pfad themed trail runs from the Windegg chairlift’s mountain station to the Axalp chairlift’s valley station. Along the way, questions and answers introduce children to the fox; those who answer correctly receive a small prize at the end. Operating conditions may vary by season. If you plan to include this trail in your itinerary, check the conditions for your travel dates.
The season and your preferred activities are a practical guide when choosing Axalp as a place to stay: in summer, the Schnitzlerweg and woodcarving are among the highlights; in winter, there are pistes, sledging runs and snowshoe trails. The approximately one-hour Schnitzlerweg can be planned differently from the sledging runs, whose lengths and difficulty levels are specified. For your stay, check in particular the seasonal activities and event dates that fit your plans.
Discover more destinations: Gundlischwand, Beatenberg, Gsteigwiler, Leissigen, Brienz, Saxeten, Unterseen, Iseltwald.
Return to the main travel overview: Interlaken.
