From the Interlaken West train station, head northwest across the river and along Bahnofstrasse/Scheidgasse, taking the marked trail on your right at ~1.2km. Grind upward on forested switchbacks until reaching a small, grassy clearing (4.6km). Continue north, climbing up through the trees again before emerging at the Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant. (Note the finishing arch for the ‘Harder Run,’ more details below).
Depending on your appetite for crowds, you may wish to check out the Two Lakes Bridge, a cantilevered viewing platform with a glass floor and great views across Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and Interlaken, with Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau beyond. There are also some cute little tree carvings behind the restaurant that warrant a quick nosy while you catch your breath (unless you’ve elected to stop for a bite and/or beverage). Beyond these, the trail carries on upwards to the Hardergrat ridgeline, though unfortunately that’s an adventure for another time.
For this little loop, drop back down through the restaurant and down to the grassy clearing. At the far edge of the clearing, pick up the trail to your left (possibly noting the green trail markers for the Jungfrau Harder Run). After the tiniest section of flat running, the descent steepens, and as you drop quickly through the trees you cross the tracks for the Harderbahn funicular several times.
At the bottom of the hill, you’ll arrive at the Harderbahn Valley Station. From here, cross the river and turn right into Höheweg, which you follow past the sports fields and back to the railway station to close the loop.
The uphill-only ‘Harder Run’ operates as both a conventional mass start race (early September) and as a fixed time trial that you can run independently over the summer months to record an official time. For the latter, the segment runs from Harderbahn Valley Station up to Harder Kulm (ie, the downhill section as described here – to time trial, you’ll need to run this route in reverse). Purchase an official timing chip online (CHF25) then redeem at the ticket counter at Harderbahn. The fee also includes luggage transport (to send warm layers to the top), a drink at the top, and a train ticket back to Interlaken. Your chip can be used to record up to 10 efforts over the season, if you’re that way inclined! Transport/drink perks are first session only.
