Sporty mountain hike: over the Goitschenpass to Elsigenalp

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On the hike from Kandersteg over the Golitschen Pass to the Elsigenalp, you can expect not only a magnificent alpine panorama. Here you will also have the opportunity to shift down a gear and immerse yourself in the simple life of the alpine people. We have scouted out the tour for you and share our impressions in this post.

From Kandersteg steeply uphill

While most of the passengers at Kandersteg train station follow the signpost towards the village centre, we are clearly moving against the current. The ascent to the Golitschen Pass starts directly at the “back” of Kanderstegs station. Here a signpost leads us over the bypass road that leads to the car transport and on to the green Waldegg. In the direction of “uf der Höh”, the path first climbs leisurely and soon offers us the first panoramic views of the surrounding mountain peaks. Admittedly, I didn’t have any great expectations of this first part of the trail and am very enthusiastic about the flora and fauna along the way.

After a little more than thirty minutes, however, the cosiness is over in one fell swoop. Here the signpost leads us into the shady north face of the Lohnerkette. From now on, the narrow mountain hiking trail knows only one direction: steeply uphill over hill and dale. 500 metres further up – on the Golitschenalp – we will later learn that the cows, cattle and calves also ascend to the summering area via this path.

But even if the ascent is physically demanding, the surrounding mountain panorama always offers a good reason for a short breather. After about 50 minutes of ascent, the Golitschenalp appears high above us and looks down – so it seems to us – cheekily at us panting hikers.

Stopover on the Golitschenalp

With the intermediate destination in sight, we mobilize the remaining forces and another thirty minutes later we have reached the Golitschenalp. Peter and Deborah Lauber not only manage the alp including their own cheese dairy, but also entertain thirsty and hungry hikers with drinks and alpine cheese in their small alpine restaurant. A welcome breather on the way to the Golitschen Pass.

Pause in the alpine idyll

We are lucky enough to be able to stay a little longer. If available, there is also the possibility to spend the night on the Golitschenalp. A great opportunity to learn more about alpine life in conversation with Deborah and Peter Lauber and to fall under the magic of this wonderful spot high above Kandersteg. I simply feel right at home between free-roaming clucking chickens, curious alpine pigs, cheeky kids and high-spirited calves. In addition, there is the impressive mountain panorama, which stretches from the Balmhorn over the Doldenhorn to the Blüemlisalp.

The last meters of altitude to the Golitschen Pass

Despite all the romance of the Alps, a summer in the Alps is definitely not a walk in the park. The days are long and the work doesn’t run out. And so the next morning starts early. It’s Sunday just before 7:00 a.m. The last cows are milked in the barn. The cheese biscuit is heated with wood and a fresh Züpf, Anke, milk and jam are ready on the table.

Shortly after the first rays of sunshine peek out from behind the summit peaks, we tackle the remaining 340 metres of altitude difference to the pass between the Kander and Engstligen valleys. It feels dead straight and leads over the steep alpine meadows up to the Golitschen Pass. A terrain in which the chamois also feel at home. In the distance we see a group of young bucks. And then we did it! In front of us, the signpost at the top of the pass appears.

Over alpine meadows to Elsigenalp

The strenuous part would now be done. Now it’s over much gentler terrain and with a view of the Elsighorn downhill towards Elsigenalp. If you still have enough lively legs, you can combine the hike over the Golitschen Pass with the ascent to the Elsighorn. This is especially useful for an overnight stay on the Golitschenalp. In this case, you descend for a good thirty minutes to the Obere Elsige and follow the signpost towards Elsighorn (400 meters uphill, a good hour’s walk from the junction).

At this point, everyone else can either follow the road downhill to the mountain station of the Elsigenalpbahn or make the bow over the Elsigsee. However, this often has no water from the end of July/beginning of August – as was the case with our tour at the end of July.

Key data of the hike Kandersteg – Golitschenpass – Elsigenalp

On the following hiking map you can see the route of our mountain hike from Kandersteg over the Golitschen Pass to the Elsigenalp. The hike starts at Kandersteg train station. From there, first follow a yellow-marked hiking trail. From the junction to the Höh over the Golitschen Pass to Obere Elsige, it is a white-red-white marked mountain hiking trail (difficulty T2/T3). Locally it has one or the other exposed spot (although these are well secured everywhere) and in certain sections it goes very steeply uphill. The last 20 minutes lead along the paved road. Alternatively, you could install a loop to the Elsigsee here. However, this is usually dried out from the end of July/beginning of August. The route measures a good 8 kilometers and it is recommended to allow a hiking time of four hours (without breaks).

Starting point	Kandersteg railway station (1,171 m above sea level)
Reachability	Accessible by public transport
Length	8.1 kilometers
Elevation gain	1056 m 451 m
Duration	4:00 h
Destination	Elsigenalp mountain station (1,797 m above sea level)
Catering	Alpbeizli Golitschenalp, Beizli at the alpine beach Brandsee, as well as Berghaus Elsigenalp (from 2024 again)

Practical tips for your hike over the Golitschen Pass to the Elsigenalp

• The hike over the Golitschen Pass can be started in Kandersteg as well as on the Elsigenalp. We deliberately chose the uphill variant (ideal altitude training for the further mountain tours this summer).
• The cable car to the Elsigenalp is in operation in summer from the end of May to mid-October. Information on travel times and ticket prices can be found on the Elsigen-Metsch website. I recommend the tour over the Golitsch Pass in the period from mid-June to mid/end of September.
• During the alpine summer, there is the possibility to stop off at the Golitschenalp (offer: various drinks, cheese plate).
• On the Golitschenalp there is a simple overnight accommodation (bunk bed, no shower, outhouse) if available. For inquiries and reservations you can contact Deborah Lauber at 079 421 43 34 (you can also send a WhatsApp message, for example). A change of scenery from the hustle and bustle of the city is guaranteed here!
• Note that the bus connection from Achseten Kirche to Achseten Elsigbach (connection towards Frutigen) is an on-demand bus. A reservation by phone is required. The telephone number can be found in the SBB timetable or it is also posted on the Golitschenalp.
• You can find more hiking tips starting in Elsigenalp here: Panorama hike from Elsigenalp to Frutigen and crisp circular hike to the Elsighorn.