Tschentenalp - the best sights and activities

Tschentenalp is known as a year-round hiker's paradise with great views, beautiful mountain lakes and ice-cold streams

7 Highlights Tschentenalp

• Tschentenalp is located at 1950 m above sea level in the Bernese Oberland and offers a great view of the Engstligen valley all the way to the Wildhorn.
• Tschentenalp is Adelboden's local mountain and can be reached from there in five minutes by cable car
• Opposite the summit restaurant rise the three-thousand-meter peaks: the Lohnermassiv, the Tschingellochtighorn and the Wildstrubel.
• A hike from the TschentenAlp to the Choleren Gorge is an easy hike suitable for the whole family and shows the thundering Tschentenbach as a highlight close up.
• A six-kilometer-long sledding tour leads from Tschentenalp on a particularly wide slope down into the valley. Night sledding is also very popular here.
• The giant swing Giant Swing is considered a special photo point on Tschentenalp.
• The large iron sculpture "Mondsäge I" on the alp was created by the artist Hans Bernhard Luginbühl.

The "mountain of views" is accessed by a gondola lift which, as a group circulating lift, takes its guests to the top in 5 minutes. The Tschentenalp is therefore a very popular excursion destination and recreation area.

Sights on the Tschentenalp

The Tschentenalp offers some fantastic viewpoints. From the mountain restaurant, as well as from various lookout points on the mountain, you can see into the Engstligental, towards the Wildstrubel, and all the way to the Wildhorn.

A special viewpoint is located about 400m southwest of the mountain station of the cable car. Another great photo spot is where a large swing has been set up. The Giant Swing is the swing on the slopes of the Tschentenalp that gives you the feeling of soaring through the air. It’s a hanging seat swing, also known in the Bernese Oberland as Rytiplampi. The swing is situated at an elevation of 1,950 m a.s.l. and allows visitors to swing back and forth on a 5m long rope. The view is directly towards the opposite Lohner massif.

The Giant Swing is open year-round and free to use. You'll find the swing about 200 meters northeast of the cable car station, just above the children's ski lift.

A playground with a slide and various climbing options awaits the kids near the gondola station. The climbing structures are mostly made of wood and ropes. They've been integrated into the landscape in a way that ensures the best play experiences for the children. The playground is right next to the mountain restaurant. On rainy days, kids can also enjoy climbing and sliding indoors. So, nothing stands in the way of your next family outing to Tschentenalp.

The metal sculpture at the top of Tschentenalp is by Hans Bernhard Luginbühl (* 1929 in Bern; † 2011 in Langnau im Emmental). This artwork is named "Mondsäge I". Many of his famous iron sculptures are located in public spaces.

Mountain Lifts to Tschentenalp

The gondola lift of type UK-15 was built in 1991 and covers a distance of 1,257 meters, gaining about 590 meters in altitude between Adelboden and Tschentenalp.

Facts about the Adelboden – Tschentenalp Gondola Lift

This gondola lift is a 15-person circulating system.

• 1,267 m length
• 580 m altitude gain
• 2,950 m above sea level at the mountain station
• 1,370 m above sea level at the valley station
• Ride time 4 min 40 sec
• 5 m per second
• 810 people per hour

Additionally, a chairlift operates between Möser (1,641 m above sea level) and Tschentenegg (1,945 m above sea level).

Operating hours of the gondola

During the seasonal periods from about mid-December to about mid-March and early July to about mid-October, the gondola operates daily and at short intervals

In the mid-season May-June and the end of October it does not run daily, but mostly on weekends. The prerequisite is good weather

The winter season on TschentenAlp starts around mid-December and ends around mid-March Between the end of the mid-season in early December and the beginning of the winter season all facilities are closed.

Offers Swiss Activities:

• Tschentenalp Cable Car Ticket
• Tschentenalp Sled Pass

Activities on the Tschentenalp

The TschentenAlp is not only a paradise for hikers and mountain bikers in summer. hikes, for example, over the Schermtanne to Adelboden or to the Höreli are also very pleasant and easily accomplished in winter. Paragliders also find very favorable conditions here

Among the most popular activities are:

• Hiking, also winter hiking and snowshoeing
• Mountain biking
• Paragliding
• Sledding and night sledding
• Ski & Snowboard, Snowfarming
• Snowbiking

Hikes to and from Tschentenalp

For hiking, there are shorter and longer hikes, most of which are classified as easy to moderately difficult. Especially inexperienced hikers can take the gondola up to TschentenAlp in five minutes and hike downhill on pleasant trails. Many of these paths are passable all year round. Dangerous fixed rope routes are not on the way here. The special mountain panorama can already be enjoyed from the terrace of the mountain restaurant.

For snowshoe hikes the path via the mountain station of TschentenAlp, Tschentenegg and Möser to the valley station of the chair lift is used. The hiking time is 1.5 hours.

Various hiking trails are designated on the TschentenAlp, which are marked accordingly. These include various paths downhill to the village of Adelboden, which can also be walked uphill in the opposite direction.

Among the most popular hikes are these destinations:

• Höreli Alpine Garden on the Lower Hörnli Trail
• Upper Hörnliweg
• The Choleren gorge with the Tschentenbach waterfall
• The deep rock funnel of the Pochtenkessel, where the Engstlige and Otterebach rivers meet
• Upper Fluhweide with a view of the Wildstrubel massif
• The Schermtanne with restaurant and hotel and the view of the Stiegelschwand
• The Schwandfeldspitz (2025 m)

Mountain biking at Tschentenalp

Mountain bikes are transported free of charge by gondola to TschentenAlp. The descent from the mountain is on hard trails, which are partly tarred between Ausserschwand via Möser to Tschentenegg.

The descent towards Schermtanne, which is often used by mountain bikers, is popular with hikers and must therefore be ridden with particular care. E- mountain bikers can easily manage the way to Tschentenalp without the gondola lift.

Popular tours are:

• Panorama tour Adelboden via Bütschegga, Mösere to Tschentenalp and via Blachti and Allebach back to Adelboden
• Bikeroute 20 Engstligen to Loop: More than 2000 meters of altitude are covered up and down in about 6.5 hours of riding time. However, the ride can be broken off at some points beforehand, as it goes around Adelboden. There are also eight places to stop for refreshments along the route.
• Bikeroute 11 Adelboden to Tschentenalp and via Schermtanne back to Adelboden
• Adelboden to Tschenten and via Hahnemoos and Chuenis to Tschenten: this tour includes 2800 vertical meters and two gondola rides.

Paragliding from Tschentenalp

Paragliding from TschentenAlp is a very popular sport. The jump is made from the Schwandfälspitz.

From the top station of the gondola lift, the path leads southeast for about ten minutes to the large take-off area at Schwandfälspitz. Even in January, climb rates of 2-3 meters per second are not uncommon here. In the Oey near the cemetery is the paragliding landing site.

If you don't like to fly yourself, watch the paragliders as they spread out their paragliders on the meadow (or on the snow), secure harnesses and jump into the air after a few steps.

Tobogganing and Night Tobogganing at Tschentenalp

At TschentenAlp, there are several designated slopes perfect for tobogganing. The toboggan tracks are generally separate from the ski runs, with only one crossing point.

Swiss Activities Offer

• Tschentenalp Toboggan Ticket and Rental

By purchasing the toboggan ticket, you can rent your choice of sports equipment if needed: ski sled, ski toboggan, balance board, airboard (air cushion toboggan) or classic Davos toboggan are available.

The toboggan trail network from Tschentenalp totals 14 kilometers and is divided into six routes:

• Möser easy: 2.2 km, return trip with chairlift
• Möser medium and Möser (airboard): 2.0 km, return trip with chairlift
• Möser medium: 1.5 km, return trip with chairlift
• Möser difficult: 1.0 km, return trip with chairlift

The toboggan runs start next to the mountain station of the chairlift. From here, they lead down over Tschentenegg and end after about 300 vertical meters at the valley station of the chairlift. After 3.5 minutes of travel time, you're back up at the mountain station.

• Valley: 6.0 km, combination of tobogganing/hiking (bus to the mountain lift or a 45-minute walk)
• Valley (ski sled track) difficult: 1.5 km

Every Wednesday and Saturday evening, the toboggan slopes are illuminated for night tobogganing from 6 PM to 9 PM. In the restaurants, you can enjoy hot mulled wine or fondue. The last descent of the gondola group lift is at 10 PM.

Operating Times for Tobogganing and Night Tobogganing in the Winter Season

Operating Times	from - to
Tobogganing	09:00 to 16:30 hours

|Night Tobogganing|18:00 to 21:00 hours on Saturdays and Wednesdays|

|Gondola for Night Tobogganing|starting at 18:00 every 30 minutes| |last ascent for Night Tobogganing|20:00|

|last descent for Night Tobogganing|22:00|

Ski & Snowboard

The area around Tschentenalp offers 7.5 kilometers of slopes perfect for skiing and snowboarding, inviting you to carve due to their width.

• Ski and Snowboard Day Ticket Tschentenalp

The slopes consist of 1.5 kilometers of blue runs and 6 kilometers of red runs, along with about 2.5 kilometers for freeriding. Blue runs are suitable for beginners as they have a gentle incline, while red runs are intended for advanced skiers.

A ski lift for children is available, and the little ones can practice in the Tschenten practice fun park.

Operating Hours of the Lifts in Winter Season

Operating Hours	from - to	Days of the Week
Chairlift	09:00 to 16:30	daily
Ski Lift	09:00 to 16:30	on weekends
Ski Lift during School Holidays	09:00 to 16:30	daily

Snowfarming

Snowfarming has been a tradition at Tschentenalp for several years. At the end of winter, snow is collected from the slopes, well-packed with ten-centimeter-thick insulation boards, fleece, and plastic sheeting.

The snow is stored to be reused as the first snow of the season in October. It primarily serves young racers for practice starting mid-October, but private individuals can also ski the racecourse from Friday to Sunday starting in November.

Snowbiking

Snowbiking, or snow biking, is a young sport that is increasingly practiced in Switzerland. A snowbike is a mixture of a motocross and a snowmobile. There is a standard dirtbike frame and the engine and suspension are also retained. Instead of wheels, skis are attached and often there is even a track mounted on the back like on a snowmobile.

Snow biking is allowed on the slopes at certain times. The route used is the slopes up to the valley station of the chairlift. The ride continues via Ausserschwand and the main road back to the valley station of the Tschenten gondola.

Events on the Tschentenalp

Motorskicross is as Tschentencross a fun event on the TschentenAlp. Both ski cup races and motocross races have always been held here. From both sports, a race has now been created in which a skier and a motorcyclist form a team.

Every year at the beginning of March, the Swiss Championships in Skibock driving take place at TschentenAlp. A skibock is an intermediate between a ski and a toboggan.

Dr Gälb Cup with JO animation giant slalom traditionally takes place at the end of March in the training center on the snowfarming slope of Tschentenalp.

For the New Year's Eve with 5 courses in the mountain restaurant TschentenAlp from 18:30 - 23:55, seats must be reserved in advance. Mountain rides 0:30 o'clock, 1:00 o'clock and 1:30 o'clock.

In July there is the Tschentenjutz on the Schnarihubl with the Yodel Club Adelboden and the Örgeli-Trio Furggiblick, followed by the Chilbi in the TschentenAlp restaurant.

In summer there are occasional concerts on the terrace of the mountain restaurant, for example with Nils Burri. On Sundays, either TschentenGrill or brunch takes place at the mountain restaurant.

Mountain Restaurant, Tschenten Chalet and Tschenten Drom on Tschentenalp

In total there are three houses on Tschenten, the mountain restaurant, the Tschenten Chalet and the Tschenten Drom.

Mountain restaurant on Tschentenalp

As a self-service restaurant, the mountain restaurant on TschentenAlp offers warm cuisine with soups of the day and fried sausages until 3 pm. Cold snacks, salads and cakes are also available.

The restaurant can be booked for celebrations with family, company or club. For this purpose, banquet proposals are available, which are customized. Raclette evenings are regularly held here between 18:00 and 22:00. The last gondola descends on these evenings at 22:00.

Wedding aperitifs for wedding guests and their guests at the top of the mountain are an exceptional crowning of the most beautiful day and, with the mountains in the background, provide the backdrop for unforgettable experiences and beautiful wedding photos.

The Enjoyment Plus promotion offers inexpensive mountain or uphill and downhill rides combined with a CHF 20 voucher in the mountain restaurant.

The opening hours of the mountain restaurant are coordinated with the operating hours of the gondola lift.

Tschentendrom

The Tschentendrom is an après-ski bar inside a glass sphere right at the top station of the cable car. It is heated and offers hunter's tea, mulled wine and other drinks with pleasant music. Around the Drom are benches, tables and loungers

During the night sledging the Tschentendrom is also open. The opening hours of the Tschentendrom are coordinated with the operating hours of the gondola.

Tschentenchalet

The Tschentenchalet is a hostel for up to 20 people. It can be rented completely by groups, companies or families. Besides a double room there is an eight-bed room and a ten-bed room. In addition to a bathroom with shower and toilet, there is WLAN. Overnight guests receive breakfast and 6 pm dinner: Cheese fondue, 2-course or 3-course dinner.

BreakFree is a promotion in the summer (around mid-June to the end of October), where overnight guests are allowed to use the mountain railroads free of charge. In addition to the cable car to TschentenAlp, this also includes the cable cars to Engstligenalp, Silleren-Hahnenmoos and Elsigenalp.

Climate and weather on Tschentenalp

Tschentenalp is situated at an altitude of just under 2000 m. The weather here tends to be cool, similar to the Tundren climate. This means that also the summer months are rather cool with 7 to 17°Celsius in July and August. The average annual temperature is 7°Celsius. The greatest amounts of precipitation fall between May and August and December and January. Since snow cannot be safely expected in the months of October and November, snow is provided by means of snowfarming

For hiking you should be prepared for heavy downpours. The weather in the mountains is often unpredictable and can change in a very short time.

Tschentenalp: Location and Getting There

Tschentenalp is situated above Adelboden in the Bernese Oberland. You can reach it via the Adelboden – Tschentenalp gondola lift.

The valley station of the rotating gondola is located in the center of Adelboden. From Bern, you can get to Adelboden in about 90 minutes using public transport:

• Bern – Spiez IC 6 SBB and Spiez – Frutigen BLS or directly Bern – Frutigen (RE towards Domodossola)
• Frutigen – Adelboden by Post Bus B 230

If you're driving, you can reach Adelboden via the A6 in about an hour. It's about a five-minute walk from the parking garage to the Tschentenbahn station in Adelboden.