La Berneuse

🗺️ Overview

• Start: Leysin, base of the télécabine (1314m)

• End: La Berneuse summit (2044m)

• Elevation gain: ~750m

• Time to summit: ~1h30 (for fit hikers)

• Descent: Optional lift back (Magic Pass valid)

• Highlights: Forest trails, alpages with local cheese, panoramic views, Kuklos rotating restaurant

• Variants:

• Via Col du Luissel (steeper)

• Main ridge path (longer, more scenic)

• Option to Lac d’Aï or Solacyre

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The hike from Leysin (1300m) to La Berneuse (2044m) is perfect if you want a solid training session but don’t have the whole day. In just about 1.5 hours, you gain 750 meters of elevation and can reward yourself with a scenic ride back down via the télécabine (thank you, Magic Pass!).

You can park your car at the base of the télécabine—or take the bus if you’re going car-free. From there, follow the road on the left of the lift, marked with signs for the Via Ferrata.

After a few minutes, the trail curves sharply back (U-turn) and climbs up a narrow path through pastures. You’ll soon reach a fork in the forest. It’s a bit confusing, so here’s the breakdown:

• Left: our path to La Berneuse, starting with a metal chain (not a real via ferrata)

• Center: the actual Via Ferrata (K5 – short but demanding)

• Right: a longer scenic detour to Lac d’Aï

The chain on our path is more psychological than necessary. The steep forest trail quickly gains altitude before meeting a gravel road, giving your legs a welcome break with a flat section.

Soon after, you reach an asphalt road leading to Tameley, a lovely alpage at 1700m where you can grab a cheese platter or dried meat.

Here, you have two options:

• Left: the main trail—longer, gentler switchbacks with great views of Les Dents du Midi

• Right: a steeper shortcut via Col du Luissel
  If you plan a round trip, I recommend going up via the Col and down the main path. That’s the route I took.

A gate marks the start of a broad path up a quiet valley. It’s steady but not too steep, and in about 20 minutes, you reach the Col. To the left lies Solacyre, another great destination. For La Berneuse, head right where the trail narrows and steepens again.

After a short climb, the trail splits once more:

• Left to La Berneuse (our goal)

• Right to Lac d’Aï

To reach La Berneuse, follow the path toward the cliff above. It threads through a notch in the rocks, and as you reach the edge, you’ll spot the télécabine station just across. A short 5–10 minute climb brings you to the summit.

At the top, the Kuklos—La Berneuse’s iconic rotating glass restaurant—finally appears. Step inside and enjoy a meal with a 360° rotating view. From the Tour d’Aï and Tour de Mayen to Lake Geneva and the Dents du Midi, the panorama is nothing short of spectacular. And of course I had my, by now traditional, high altitude cappuccino.

I ended my hike with a smooth télécabine descent and was back at the car within minutes—ready to hit the lake for a relaxing afternoon.