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Grindelwald is a ski village in the Swiss Alps neighboring the Lauterbrunnen valley. As with most other places in Switzerland, we didn’t really know what to expect heading there, and simply drove up the valley towards Grindelwald because that’s where the sun was shining.
But these little bits in time, literally not knowing what’s around the next corner, provide the best experiences. Turns out, driving to Grindelwald was one of the best decisions we could have made!
Driving To Grindelwald
After turning off the road that leads towards Lauterbrunnen, and instead opting to follow the river towards Grindelwald, the views yet again were just taking our breath away. But it wasn’t until we drove in the village of Grindelwald that we were really taken aback.
The road turns the bend and sits right along the edge of the valley overlooking green rolling hills scattered with cabins and B&Bs, with gondolas running through to the nearest peaks.
It was breathtaking. The contrast of the red gondolas against the green rolling hills, paired with the massive gray rock peaks all around… could it get better than that?!
Traveler’s Tip… Right at the start of the village, there’s a place to pull off on the right side of the road. This is where we took these photos.
We continued driving through the village with no real idea of where we would stop and turn around. It wasn’t until we pulled off at the far side of Grindelwald to take a couple pictures and look at the map that we found the road goes up and over a mountain pass, right back to Brienz, a wee village on a lake we wanted to visit.
Looking at the views that lay before us, we thought, eh.. what the heck, let’s take on the pass! Izzy’s a champ, and those views are way too good to pass up, so on we went.
READ MORE | Our First Experience With Killer Swiss Alps Views
Driving The Grindelwald Pass | Scheideggstrasse
Driving up Scheideggstrasse (the pass) we couldn’t believe how gorgeous it was. This was our first real break in the weather since getting to the Swiss Alps, and we were just in awe of God’s glory surrounding us.
Seeing a great parking place and a wee bench, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sit and enjoy the surroundings and finally eat our breakfast…with a killer view!
READ MORE | Tips For Driving In Switzerland
Traveler’s Tip… at the bottom of the pass, there’s a sign stating some kind of restrictions or something to drive over Scheideggstrasse. We ignored this and took the drive anyways. There were other campers, cars, and even buses along the route, so don’t hesitate driving the Grindelwald pass.
We felt like we were close enough to simply reach out our hands and grab the tops of the peaks. We were finally right in the midst of the Alps without the touristy feels of Lauterbrunnen, truly able to enjoy the Creation around us.
Reaching The Top Of Grindelwald Pass | Gross Scheidegg
Continuing the climb up the mountain, it seemed like every turn we made we wanted to pull over and take pictures. The drive was just remarkable. Views 360 degrees around, sun shining bright, and huge smiles plastered on our faces thinking, “Wow, now this is Switzerland!”
Traveler’s Tip… You will want to stop and take a bajillion photos on your way up the pass. If you do stop, just be sure to do so in an appropriate place. Don’t ruin the flora off the road just to pull over! Wait till you have a pull-out and grab your photos there!
Nearing the tip-top of the pass, at 6,437 feet, we drove right into a cloud. It’s crazy how the weather can change so quickly! We decided to pull over and enjoy some lunch while waiting to see if the clouds blew off. Turns out they weren’t going to, so down the pass we went, in some real thick cloud coverage!
Traveler’s Tip… Just over the pass, after the cattle grid and the big parking lot at Gross Scheidegg, there’s a big flat space to park that’s a bit quieter than the top! It’s a great place to enjoy lunch, or even wild camp!
Driving In A Cloud | Back Down The Pass We Went
Not going to lie here, it was scary going back down the pass. At least for the first bit of it all. We were in such a thick cloud, and knowing how fast other people were driving, and that there were cyclists all along the road, we took the road slow and steady.
But as the clouds slowly began to get less dense, driving down the pass reminded us so much of driving in Oregon. With gorgeous green trees all around, and an eerie vibe with the clouds, it made for one of the prettiest drives we’ve done!
Traveler’s Tip… There are some weird poles that almost look like electric poles or some kind of fence across the road heading down the pass. Don’t be alarmed, we *think* they’re only cattle grids. Go on and drive right through them.
Finding A Home In The Grindelwalk Mountains
There’s a constant running vibe with Jay and I that we can’t stop. We love, love, love, life on the road. And we’re sure we’ll always have some kind of adventure-mobile setup and ready to just pick up and leave at any given moment.
But with that said.. we’re always on the hunt for ideas for a home we’ll have one day too. Part of what we love about traveling is seeing all the different style homes. We think they say so much about what’s important in different cultures and where priorities lie. So, we always take photos of homes in the places we visit.
Driving to Grindelwald and up over Scheideggstrasse, we found so many homes we just loved! Now if only we could figure out how to make all these styles and feels fit into one space! 😉
Coming Off The Mountain Pass
Getting to the bottom of the pass, we were both relieved from getting out of the clouds, and also sad that the beautiful drive was over. There’s always a bit of nervousness with Izzy’s age and passes too, so coming down back to normal altitude always feels like a weight lifted off our shoulders!
Once reaching the bottom of the pass, we were still in a bit of bad weather. We really wanted to give Brienz another try though, as it was really wet the first time through. However, it was wet and rainy again. So we ended up just finding a place to park up for a few days on the water to let the weather pass.
Where To Stay In Grindelwald
Staying in Grindelwald
We went through Grindelwald with our campervan, and didn’t end up staying in the area. However, if you’re looking for accommodation in the Grindelwald area, check out current pricing and availability here.
Staying in Interlaken
If you fancy staying in not so much a village, but more of a town in the area, Interlaken is the place for you! Find availability here.
Wild Camping Near Grindelwald
There are quite a few places to wild camp up along the pass. With gorgeous views and a not so busy road, Scheideggstrasse offers some killer spots! Just be sure to not destroy nature by going off road! Use one of the pullouts instead. If you want to also visit Lauterbrunnen, you could camp along the road leading to Lauterbrunnen too. There are plenty of places just before the Grindelwald turn!
READ MORE | Visiting Lauterbrunnen
Recommended Gear For Grindelwald
Everyday Backpack
We swear by this backpack. It’s super comfy, has loads of compartments, and multiple entry points. It’s great for keeping an organized pack, and has extra padding to keep camera gear safe! Even if you’re not into photography, we recommend this bag! Waterproof + lifetime warranty, what more could you want! 😉
Camera
All the photos in this post were taken with this camera. We love having a DSLR to be able to really capture exactly what we’re after with all the manual settings! We usually shoot with this lens, but also use this one for all the wide angle shots!
Water Bottle
This water bottle is the only water bottle we recommend. We love that it keeps drinks hot for up to 6 hours, and cold for 24! It’s great for the unexpected weather, and the cold winds that being in the Swiss Alps typically brings!
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