Fail Map

Thumbnail for the map of the modified Schweizmobil 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' (381) hiking trail, opens link to interactive web map.
Source1

Original Map

Thumbnail for the map of the original Schweizmobil 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' (381) hiking trail, opens link to interactive web map.
Source1

Elevation Profile

Elevation Profile of the modified Schweizmobil 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' (381) hiking trail.
(For the original route)
Source1: Bundesamt für Landestopografie; Drawn with schweizmobilplus.ch

Useful Links

Route Source
Train Station
Paid Parking
Weather

Short Description

The ‘Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg’ hiking trail in Bern, Switzerland, crosses or follows the two rivers Schwarzwasser and Sense along and through a multitude of ravines along the way, interspersed with hills offering views of the Bernese rural landscape and more than one castle ruin.

Our version of the hike was unfortunately accidental, and the original route is definitely recommended.

Notes

  • Not visible in the Fail Map is the bus we took from Flamatt to Alblingen, making our total distance similar to the official route, just much less scenic for that portion.
  • Schweizmobil has the hike as 2 stages intended for two days, which we thought was silly as both are only 3.5 hours each.

Impressions

Jenny was indisposed on this otherwise perfect day for a group hike in the lowlands, so it was just me and my good friends Krieger and Manny.

The hike started out well enough, but while we were immersed in conversation and following the pleasant riverbanks, we missed a left turn early on and ended up in the village of Flamatt. We had noticed our error a few minutes prior and decided to take the bus to Alblingen to not elongate our route to over 30 kilometers and continue from there.

Bridge over Schwarzwasser River, as seen during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
Not long after this bridge we were supposed to turn left, but didn’t notice the sign.

Spirits remained high, and we soon reached the Grasburg castle ruin, where we might have wanted to have lunch, had it not been filled to the brim with screaming children. So it wasn’t the worst thing that we had our sandwiches while waiting for the bus earlier.

Burgruine Grasburg, as seen during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
Burgruine Grasburg (castle ruin Grasburg (“Grass Castle”)).

From there, it was an up and down, alternating hilltops with fantastic post card views of the charming Bernese countryside, and crossing one of the rivers in a ravine.

View of the Bernese rural landscape during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
Bernese rural landscape.

Overall a very enjoyable hike, well suited for a mild spring or autumn day. You can do it in two stages as suggested by Schweizmobil if it seems too long, but I think it’s very doable in one day. Not harder than other 7-8 hour hikes they have as one stage too, anyway.

Would you like to share your own experiences with this hike? Do you have any questions? Something to add? Feel free to leave a comment below 🙂

Route Report / Gallery

Full size images without watermarks are available for licensing to interested parties. Check romans.pictures for a selection of my favorites, or contact me for details.

  • Schwarzwasser River, as seen during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    Schwarzwasser River. Though the water doesn’t exactly look black.
  • Bridge over Schwarzwasser River, as seen during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • View along the way during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • A Bernese Horse and Wheat Farm, as seen during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • View along the way during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • Trail leading down a tunnel of trees, the entrance to which looks picth black in the otherwise brightly lit landscape, as seen during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    Spooky scary tree tunnel.
  • Burgruine Grasburg, as seen during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    Burgruine Grasburg (castle ruin Grasburg (“Grass Castle”)).
  • View of fields and farms along the way during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • View along the way during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • View along the way during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • View of the Bernese rural landscape during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • View of the Bernese rural landscape during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • View of the Bernese rural landscape during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • View of the Bernese rural landscape during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • A river, as seen during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • View of the Bernese rural landscape during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • A Rabbit, as seen during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    Rabbit 🙂
  • View of the Bernese rural landscape during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • View of the Bernese rural landscape during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • View of the Bernese rural landscape during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • View of the Bernese rural landscape during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    View along the way.
  • Schwarzwasser river, as seen during the 'Schwarzwasser-Sense-Schluchtenweg' hike in Switzerland.
    Aaand back to Schwarzwasser.

NEWSLETTER

Don’t miss a hike 🙂

Why should I?

Basic Data

Date of Hike:2020-06-21
Participants:Roman, Krieger, Manny
Technical Difficulty:T1: Easy

Stats

Original Version

Km23
Net Hours (Est.)7
Ascent (m)945
Descent (m)945
Max. Alt. (m)839
Loop?Yes
Cable Car?No
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