Stockhorn
2,190 m
Switzerland
Also known as შტოკჰორნიAlso known as
შტოკჰორნი
- Elevation
- 2,190 m
- Prominence
- 399 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Jun–Sep
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2The standard walk up the Stockhorn: about 1,500 m from Erlenbach im Simmental on marked mountain paths beside the cable car to the Chrindi mid-station and Hinterstockensee, then past the Oberstockenalp inn and up the Stockenfeld path to the summit station and the top. Most people shorten it by taking the cable car to Chrindi and ride down.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 3.5 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +602 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,190 m
- Time Up
- 2h 33m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 49m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Erlenbach im Simmental (681 m), the path runs roughly parallel to the cable car through Moos (918 m) and along the Wildebach to Oberchlusi (1,311 m), then climbs many steps to Chrindi (about 1,640 m), the cable-car mid-station above the Hinterstockensee. Camptocamp rates the whole ascent from Erlenbach T2, with railings at the few exposed spots below Chrindi; the Stockhornbahn signs the Chrindi–Erlenbach descent at about 2 hours. From Chrindi walk around the Hinterstockensee and climb to the Oberstockenalp (1,776 m) with its mountain inn. The classic path then climbs over the Stockenfeld to the summit station and restaurant (about 2,140 m); the official trail network signs this section (in descent) as suitable for families. A short alpine-flower path (about 7 minutes, 50 m) leads from the summit station to the top. A 70 m tunnel from the station leads to a viewing platform built in 2013. Most walkers ride the cable car down. On foot, descend the same way or by the quieter Chummli–Oberbärgli path to Chrindi (1 h 10 min), and from Chrindi direct to Erlenbach (about 2 hours).
Start
Chrindi1,638 m
- Stockhornbahn Erlenbach–Chrindi–Stockhorn
- Train Spiez–Zweisimmen to Erlenbach im Simmental; the Stockhornbahn valley station is about 15 minutes' walk
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chrindi → Stockhorn | 3.5 | 602 | 50 | 2h 33m |
Waypoints
- Lift: Chrindi1,638 m
- Feature: Hinterstockensee1,595 m
- Hut: Oberstockenalp1,777 m
- Feature: Stockenfeld2,144 m
not on route line
- Summit: Stockhorn2,190 m
Key Passages
- Steep stepped path from Oberchlusi to Chrindi (railings at exposed spots)
- Stockenfeld path from the Oberstockenalp to the summit station
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
The 2,190 m limestone tooth at the eastern end of the Bernese Prealps, seen from all over the Aare valley and Lake Thun. A cable car runs almost to the top, and marked T2–T3 paths climb about 1,500 m from Erlenbach im Simmental.
The Stockhorn is the highest summit of the Stockhorn chain, a 13 km prealpine ridge separating the Simmental from the Stockental south-west of Thun. It is a near-vertical slab of rock, so it looks broad from one side and sharply pointed from another, and it is one of the most recognisable peaks seen when driving or riding into the Bernese Oberland from Bern.
Since 1969 the Stockhornbahn has run from Erlenbach im Simmental via the Chrindi mid-station to a summit station just below the top, with a panoramic restaurant and, since 2013, a viewing platform reached by a 70 m tunnel. From the summit you look down on Lake Thun, across the Swiss Plateau to the Jura, and on clear days to the Vosges and the Black Forest, with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau to the south-east.
On the Simmental side lie two small lakes, the Hinterstockensee and Oberstockensee, linked by a natural underground passage and popular with anglers. Walkers can choose between gentle lakeside trails, the classic path past the Oberstockenalp inn, the slightly exposed Strüssligrat, or the full climb from the valley floor. The area also has about 120 sport-climbing routes on compact limestone around the summit and the mid-station.
Climbing Notes
In summer this is a straightforward mountain walk. From Erlenbach on foot it is about 1,500 m of ascent (3–4 hours up); starting from the Chrindi mid-station roughly halves that. The normal path via the Oberstockenalp is T2; the Strüssligrat variant is T3, narrow and slightly exposed, for sure-footed walkers. Most people walk up and ride down.
The cable car runs for most of the year, and the summit is a winter-walking and snowshoe destination, but in winter and spring the paths below the summit can be icy and crampons and an ice axe may be needed. Check the trail status on the Stockhornbahn website, which marks each path open or closed. Camping is not permitted.
History
The Stockhorn has one of the earliest documented mountain ascents in the Alps: a climb in 1536 was later written up by the historian Eduard Bähler, and in 1557 the Bernese scholar Benedictus Aretius climbed the Stockhorn and the Niesen, publishing a description of both mountains and their plants in 1561. The cable car opened in 1969. A cave system around the Oberstockenalp was discovered in 1974. Since 2004 a half-marathon from Oberwil im Simmental has finished on the summit every July.
Season
Best Jun–Sep- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Cable car usually running; winter walks and snowshoe tours; paths may be icy
- Feb
- Winter conditions; snowshoe routes
- Mar
- Snow; check trail status
- Apr
- Spring snow on the upper paths; check trail and cable car status
- May
- Lower paths clear; snow patches near the top
- Jun
- Alpine flowers; paths usually open
- Jul
- Main season; half-marathon to the summit in July
- Aug
- Main season; afternoon thunderstorms
- Sep
- Clear views, fewer people
- Oct
- Good until the first snow
- Nov
- Early snow; check trail and cable car status
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Stockhornbahn fares; combined hiking tickets (e.g. Gurnigel–Stockhorn) are offered
- Rules
- Camping is not permitted in the Stockhorn area (Stockhornbahn)
- Individual paths are opened and closed by the operator depending on conditions; check the trail status page
- Getting There
Erlenbach im Simmental (Thun, Spiez)
Bern (BRN) for limited flights; Zurich (ZRH) or Geneva (GVA)
- Train Spiez–Zweisimmen to Erlenbach im Simmental, then about 15 minutes' walk to the Stockhornbahn valley station
- By car to Erlenbach im Simmental (parking at the valley station)
- From the north side: Oberstocken in the Stockental, via Vorderälpital and the Baachegg
Hazards
- Weather
- Exposure
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,776 m
OberstockenalpHotelStaffed