Hike between Bern and Lucerne – Napfbergland Border Trail

Rather than divide, the Napfbergland Border Trail connects regions, traditions and landscapes in the heart of Switzerland. The Napf doesn’t only provide inspiration for the trail’s name, it’s also a highlight of the hilly landscape. Towering between Emmental, Entlebuch and the Lucerne hinterland, the 1,406 metre (4,612 feet) summit is just one of the incredible vantage points along this long-distance trail. You also learn about the area’s rich history and culture at the sights and information boards along the way.

The Napfbergland Border Trail follows the historic cantonal border between Bern and Lucerne. 150 years ago, hostile conflicts played out here. Today, the magnificent border trail runs through peaceful, pristine landscapes instead. The Napf region was once characterised by distrust: Catholicism was the biggest influencer in Lucerne whilst the Reformation determined people’s everyday lives in Bern. The remote valleys around the Napf formed a scenic border between the two cultures. Nowadays, peace and tranquility reign in this dreamlike, unspoiled region of Switzerland.

Long stretches of the approximately 120-kilometre-long (74 mile) border trail run through nature that is often deserted, small wooded areas, and across magnificent alpine meadows. From the starting point in Langenthal, the route leads through the gentle hills of the Emmental which melt into the pre-Alpine peaks of the UNESCO Entlebuch Biosphere Reserve to Brünig Pass, close to Lake Brienz. The long-distance trail reaches its high point at the Brienzer Rothorn, the highest summit in the Emmental Alps – the panorama from the top overlooking Lake Brienz is unbeatable.

In this Collection, I’ve divided the Napfbergland Border Trail into six stages. You can also easily split the longer stages, for example, stage 5. I’ve included additional tips and accommodation in the Tour descriptions. It’s a good idea to reserve accommodation well in advance. You don’t need alpine experience for this hike, but you should have enough stamina and surefootedness for the narrow paths on the Brienzer Horn.

You can easily reach the starting point in Langenthal by train – the journey takes only 30 minutes from Bern and one hour from Zurich. If you don't want to hike the entire border trail in one go, you can catch public transport along the way such as in Huttwil or Trubschachen. There’s also a train station at the destination on the Brünig Pass, making it easy to return home.