Napf
1,408 m
Switzerland
Also known as ნაპფიAlso known as
ნაპფი
- Elevation
- 1,408 m
- Prominence
- 552 m
- Difficulty
- 1/10
- Easy walk
- Best Season
- May–Oct
- Routes
- 2
AdvisoryReported 7 Oct 2026
Berghotel Napf reports a water shortage: water is being trucked up, bottles cannot be refilled, toilets are free only with a purchase and guest showers are unavailable. Undated notice seen on the hotel homepage in October 2026.
hotelnapf.ch
Routes
2The shortest way up: from the restaurant and car park at Mettlenalp (about 1,050 m) a narrow path zigzags steeply through forest to the summit plateau, cross and Berghotel Napf, about 350 m of ascent. Return over the broad ridge path via Stächelegg for an easy 7 km loop of about 2 hours 20 minutes.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 1.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +355 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,408 m
- Time Up
- 1h 24m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 56m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Mettlenalp (about 1,050 m), at the end of the road from Fankhaus (Trub), has a restaurant, a few parking spaces and a stop for the BLS hiking bus. Follow the signpost to the left: a narrow path climbs steeply in switchbacks through the forest and comes out on the summit plateau of the Napf (1,408 m), with a summit cross, viewing area and the Berghotel Napf. The usual return follows wide, easy paths along the ridge east to Stächelegg (about 1,300 m, small farm shop and refreshments) and back down to Mettlenalp. The loop is about 7 km with 350 m of ascent and takes about 2 hours 20 minutes; BLS gives about 1 hour for the descent from the summit to Mettlenalp. The longer classic approach from Trub follows the Trueb and Fankhusbach to Fankhaus, then climbs via Lenn and Buechi to the ridge over Höstulle and Grüebli and a final steep climb around the Schlegelgrabe to the summit (Trub–Napf–Mettlenalp 11.4 km, +684 m, 3 h 50).
Start
Mettlenalp (Napf)1,053 m
- BLS hiking bus (line 284) from Trubschachen via Trub to Mettlenalp (Napf) on weekends and public holidays, May to early November; otherwise regular bus to Fankhaus (Trub), Schulhaus and walk up.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mettlenalp (Napf) → Napf | 1.8 | 355 | 0 | 1h 24m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Mettlenalp (Napf)1,053 m
- Summit: Napf1,408 m
Key Passages
- Steep forest switchbacks above Mettlenalp
- Summit plateau and Berghotel Napf
- Ridge path via Stächelegg
Equipment
0/2 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
The 1,408 m high point of the Napfbergland, a maze of steep wooded ridges and deep ravines on the Bern–Lucerne border. Easy paths from Mettlenalp, Luthern Bad or Fankhaus lead to a summit hotel with an unobstructed view from the Jura to the Bernese Alps.
The Napf rises at the head of the Emmental, where the cantons of Bern and Lucerne meet; the border runs just north of the summit, which lies in the municipality of Trub. Around it spreads the Napfbergland, a hill country of narrow ridges, steep forested ravines (Gräben) and scattered mountain farms, quite unlike the open pastures of the Prealps further south. Geologically it belongs to the Swiss Plateau rather than the Alps.
Because no higher hills stand nearby, the flat summit gives one of the widest panoramas in central Switzerland: the Bernese Alps with Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, Titlis and Pilatus, the Jura and, on clear days, the Vosges and the Black Forest. The Berghotel Napf on the summit has a large terrace, restaurant, simple rooms and a dormitory.
The ascents are walks rather than climbs, but the paths up the ridges and through the ravines are often steep and slippery after rain. Popular starting points are Mettlenalp (shortest), Luthern Bad and Menzberg on the Lucerne side, and Trub and Fankhaus in the Emmental. The UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch begins just east of the summit.
Climbing Notes
An easy hike suitable for families, from 1 hour (Mettlenalp) to a full day (Trub, Lüderenalp or Menzberg traverses). Good shoes are needed, as the forest paths are steep and muddy after rain. The best season is May to October; the summit is often above the autumn fog of the Plateau. In winter the summit can be reached on snowshoes or winter paths when conditions allow.
Public transport to the higher starting points is limited: the BLS hiking bus to Mettlenalp runs only at weekends and on public holidays in the summer half-year, with a single afternoon return, and buses to Luthern Bad are irregular. Staying overnight at the Berghotel Napf for the sunset and sunrise is a popular option; overnight stays are possible only on certain weekdays, so book ahead.
Season
Best May–Oct- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Best (best window)
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Winter; snowshoe or winter-walking conditions vary; hotel opening limited
- Feb
- Winter; icy forest paths
- Mar
- Snowmelt; muddy paths
- Apr
- Paths usually clear late in the month
- May
- Hiking bus to Mettlenalp starts in early May
- Jul
- Afternoon thunderstorms
- Sep
- Clear views; often above the Plateau fog
- Oct
- Autumn colours; summit often above the fog
- Nov
- Hotel open until the end of November with reduced hours
- Dec
- Winter
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Berghotel Napf: reservations by phone (+41 34 495 54 08) or email (info@hotelnapf.ch). Overnight stays are possible only on certain weekdays depending on the season.
- Fees
- Berghotel Napf: room with breakfast CHF 78 per person, dormitory CHF 52 (hotel price list)
- Getting There
Langnau im Emmental; Willisau
Zurich (ZRH) or Bern (BRN)
- Train to Trubschachen, then bus 284 to Trub or Fankhaus (Trub), Schulhaus; the BLS hiking bus continues to Mettlenalp (Napf) on weekends and public holidays from early May to early November (2026: 2 May – 1 November), with only one afternoon return
- Lucerne side: train to Zell LU, then PostBus to Luthern Bad (irregular timetable); buses also reach Menzberg
- By car: road from Trub via Fankhaus to Mettlenalp (limited parking)
Hazards
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,405 m
Berghotel NapfHotelStaffedBooking required
Most of the year with seasonal hours; autumn 2026: September–18 October (overnight Tuesday–Saturday), 19 October–end of November (overnight Wednesday, Friday, Saturday)