Schwarzenbühl panoramic trail – easy snowshoe tour in the Gurnigel area

We were on a flying visit home and took advantage of the opportunity – fresh snow mornings are rare this winter – for a detour to the Gurnigel area. The Gantrisch Nature Park is a worthwhile destination not only in summer, but also in winter. 45 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski slopes, leisurely winter hiking trails, family ski lifts and snowshoe trails with great views. This time we took a close look at the Schwarzenbühl Panorama Trail. And yes – the panorama on this round trip is really in a class of its own!

Winter in the Gantrisch Gurnigel area

With its wooded hills, the peaks of the foothills of the Alps and the 360° panorama from the Jura to the Alps, the Gantrisch Nature Park in the city triangle of Bern – Thun – Fribourg is an Eldorado for all those who are less interested in kilometres of slopes and more in the active enjoyment of nature.

In the Gurnigel area – in the south-eastern tip of the nature park – three snowshoe tours are signposted. The Selibühl Panorama Trail and the Obergurnigel Trail start on the Gurnigel Pass. The Schwarzenbühl Panorama Trail is located in the somewhat more remote Seli Valley. It should be noted that these three signposted routes lead through wildlife sanctuaries. From 1 December to 31 March, only designated paths and roads may be used. Winter sports outside the designated routes are prohibited. Dogs must also be kept on a leash from 1 December to 30 June. These regulations provide safe havens for wild animals – so please adhere to them!

From Schwarzenbühl via Gägger to the Pfyffe

The extremely welcome patch of fresh snow has sugared the fir forests of the Gurnigel area overnight. The perfect backdrop for a short snowshoe tour along the Schwarzenbühl Panorama Trail. I had suggested this trail to my parents as an alternative to our previous standard round on the Selibühl panorama trail from the Stierenhütte up to the Selibüelsattel. And although we start “late” for our standards on this Saturday morning, only another trio has set off in front of us, which we catch up with halfway and thus unexpectedly enjoy the lead.

The Schwarzenbühl Panorama Trail starts opposite the Schwarzenbühl restaurant and is hard to miss thanks to the large wooden sign “zum Gäggeresteg”. The first 20 to 30 minutes demand a bit of “bite”. Right from the first step, it’s a snappy uphill. Around 125 metres in altitude separate us from the wonderful ridge path between Gägger and Pfyffe at the entrance. Once the altitude difference has been overcome, the path leads through the enchanting forest reserve on the Pfyffe, whose “foundation stone” was laid virtually overnight in 1999 by the storm of the century Lother.

A beautiful view over the pioneer forest to the Gantrisch chain with its striking peaks is offered by the viewing platform with benches on the Pfyffe. Here you have reached the highest and most panoramic point of the tour. Afterwards, the Schwarzenbühl Panorama Trail continues along the ridge until a U-turn is made back towards Schwarzenbühl. The way back leads past the cross-country ski trail and the “Gägger” ski lift and then leads us along the same zigzag path as on the ascent through the forest down to the starting point.

An entertaining round that fully fulfills its purpose – two or three active hours in the snow. And in contrast to the two trails that start on the Gurnigel Pass, here in the Elii Valley the hustle and bustle is kept within an absolutely tolerable framework, at least until noon.

Practical tips for snowshoeing in the Gantrisch Gurnigel area

Unfortunately, the days when snow was guaranteed in the foothills of the Alps in winter are over. The snowshoe trails on the Gurnigel are located at altitudes between 1,200 and 1,600 metres above sea level. An altitude that is often just above the snow line in warm winters. It is best to find out about the daily snow conditions before your tour. All ski lifts in the Gurnigel area have a snow telephone on offer. The number of Schnee Selital is as follows: 031 735 55 55.

From the end of December to the end of February, you can reach the starting point of the Schwarzenbühl Panorama Trail from Schwarzenburg train station by snow bus (bus alpin, line 30.615). From Thurnen/Riggisberg, Schwarzenbühl can unfortunately only be reached by public transport via a hairpin bend via Bern and Schwarzenburg. For those arriving by car, there are paid parking spaces available in the area of the Hotel Restaurant Schwarzenbühl.

On the following map you can see the route of the Schwarzenbühl Panorama Trail. The trail is clearly signposted at all forks in the road and is also suitable for beginners, as long as you are prepared for the first steep 500 meters of trail. SwitzerlandMobility specifies a time of 2:20 h as the approximate time for the tour. We needed almost 1:45 h for the entire round without a long break.

Key data of the snowshoe tour on the Schwarzenbühl Panorama Trail

Starting point	Rüschegg Schwarzenbühl, Kurhaus (1,490 m above sea level)
Reachability	Accessible by public transport (ski bus)
Length	4.5 kilometres
Elevation gain	↗ 290 m 290 m ↘
Duration	1:45 p.m.
Destination	Rüschegg Schwarzenbühl, Kurhaus (1,490 m above sea level)
Catering	Picnic! (The Hotel Restaurant Schwarzenbühl is closed in winter)