Mountain Drive: Short wheelchair beginners' tour Grimmialp

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1.74 km long
round trip
Difficulty: easy
condition:
Hiking Trail
  • 00:30 h
  • 32 m
  • 43 m
  • 1,199 m
  • 1,231 m
  • 32 m
  • 1.74 km
  • Start: Camping Eggmatte, Grimmialp
  • Destination: Camping Eggmatte, Grimmialp
The short beginner's tour on the Grimmialp is just the right thing to test the unfamiliar Mountain Drive vehicle and get a feel for riding off-road. 

Mountain Drive is an all-terrain wheelchair specially designed for natural mountain hiking trails, rough gravel and steps. Since September 2021, you can rent a Mountain Drive wheelchair at Camping Eggmatte on Grimmialp.

During the short beginner's tour, you will encounter all types of terrain on your round and test how your vehicle works: it goes up and down, has sections with tarred surfaces and wider and narrower natural roads/trails.

The highlight of the loop is the Schwenden Chapel in the park of the Hotel Kurhaus Grimmialp. A beautiful place to pause and enjoy the tranquillity of nature. It is also worth taking a look inside the chapel. Wheelchair access is possible. On the way from the chapel you will also come across signs on the Albert Schweitzer trail. They tell about the life of the most famous guest on Grimmialp (only in German).

Note: This tour has only been tested for all-terrain wheelchairs of the "Mountain Drive" brand.

Good to know

Best to visit

suitable
Depends on weather

Directions

You leave Camping Eggmatte on the access road and turn left at the end. Please stay on the left side of the road, otherwise oncoming traffic will not see you. After the big bend, turn right and follow the arrow "Hotel Kurhaus Grimmialp". Turn left at the next opportunity. The path leads you through the park of the Hotel Kurhaus Grimmialp to the Schwenden Chapel. A wonderful place to pause and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. Follow the same path back for a short distance, but turn left at the first opportunity. The path leads you past the former drinking hall to the Hotel Kurhaus Grimmialp. You now follow the "Albert Schweitzer theme trail" for a short distance, which leads you back to the road. Turn right here until you reach the entrance to the Eggmatte campsite. 

Equipment

Clothing suitable for the weather

You can hire your Multi Drive wheelchair from Camping Eggmatte on request (contact see "Additional information").

Directions & Parking facilities

Motorway A6 Bern direction Zweisimmen, 1 km after the Simmenfluhtunnel turn left direction Diemtigtal. Follow the Diemtigtal road into the valley for 18 km in the direction of Grimmialp, Schwenden. Shortly before Grimmialp, the road climbs and turns sharp left. Shortly afterwards, follow the signpost "Camping Eggmatte" on the right.
Take the train to Spiez and continue to Oey-Diemtigen station. Here you have to change to the PostBus to the stop "Schwenden, Winteregg". You will reach Camping Eggmatte in a few hundred metres. 

Additional information

Wheelchair rental Mountain Drive
Camping Eggmatte
Edi Wüthrich
Eggmatte 8
3757 Schwenden
Phone 0041 79 311 16 51

Costs
Rent 1/2 day: Fr. 30 incl. parking fee

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

The "jungle doctor" Albert Schweitzer spent his holidays at the Hotel Kurhaus Grimmialp every year between 1901 and 1909, with one exception. At the historic drinking hall there is a display window that gives you impressions of probably the most famous guest in the Diemtigtal.  

Safety guidelines

On the short stretch of road from the campsite to the turn-off "Hotel Kurhaus Grimmialp" and on the last stretch, you will be on a road with cars. Please ride on the side of the road and make sure that you are seen by the traffic.

Nearby

Getting there
Mountain Drive: Short wheelchair beginners' tour Grimmialp
3757 Diemtigen