Via Alpina Stage 73: Lenk - Lauenen
HARD (4.3/10)Lauenen → Lenk
A demanding mountain route — the Via Alpina Stage 73: Lenk - Lauenen packs 32.7 km and 1,017 m of climbing into a 9h 07min day. Running from Lauenen to Lenk, the trail spans an elevation range of 1,066 m to 2,053 m.
The route breaks into 8 segments. The toughest stretch is the 1.4 km from Tossestand to Lauenenhore, climbing 255 m — an unrelenting 182 m/km grade.
With 84% of the route below 15% gradient, strong trail runners can maintain a good rhythm for much of the distance. Some pitches hit 60% gradient, so trekking poles are strongly recommended.
Budget roughly 5,131 kcal of energy expenditure and 5.5 L of water. Aim for 60–90 g of carbs per hour to avoid bonking on the longer climbs. No confirmed water sources along the route — carry all the water you need.
Mountain route. Accessible from May to October. Winter conditions possible on exposed sections.
Elevation Profile
Route Map
Trail Splits
Waypoint-to-waypoint breakdown with estimated hiking times (Naismith's Rule).
| Segment | Dist | ↑ Ascent | ↓ Descent | Time | Cum. km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 📍 Lauenen → Höji Schache | 0.0 km | +0m | -0m | 0 min | 0.0 |
| ⛰️ Höji Schache → Tossestand | 3.5 km | +470m | -3m | 1h 28m | 3.5 |
| ⛰️ Tossestand → Lauenenhore | 1.4 km | +255m | -0m | 41 min | 4.9 |
| ⛰️ Lauenenhore → Trütlisberg | 1.0 km | +79m | -19m | 21 min | 5.9 |
| ⛰️ Trütlisberg → Leiterli | 1.3 km | +1m | -82m | 19 min | 7.1 |
| ⛰️ Leiterli → Laaglehore | 1.7 km | +2m | -214m | 30 min | 8.8 |
| ⛰️ Laaglehore → Flöschhore | 2.3 km | +5m | -317m | 44 min | 11.1 |
| ⛰️ Flöschhore → Lenk | 21.1 km | +205m | -434m | 4h 55m | 32.3 |
| Total | 32.7 km | +1,017m | -1,068m | 9h 07m | 32.7 |
Terrain Analysis
Nutrition & Hydration
Estimates based on metabolic equivalent (MET) for hiking with significant elevation gain. Actual needs vary by body weight, fitness, weather, and pack weight.
Pace Estimates
Based on Naismith's Rule adjusted for distance, elevation, and technical difficulty. Click a pace to update split times above.
Current Conditions
Best Season
Mountain route. Accessible from May to October. Winter conditions possible on exposed sections.
Logistics
💧 Water Advisory
No confirmed water sources along this 33 km route. Carry all water needed — plan for 5.5 L minimum.
Nearby Points of Interest
⛰️ Peaks
- Tube 78m · km 5.6
- Trütlisberg 236m · km 5.9
- Laaglehore 1.0 km · km 8.7
- Stübleni 1.2 km · km 5.9
- Lauenenhore 1.4 km · km 4.9
📍 Nearby Places
- Unders Bärgli 29m
- Obers Bärgli 64m
- Obere Lochberg 176m
- Uf de Pfaffe 310m
- Glattmad 362m
Route Details
- Network
- National Trail Network
- Sport
- hiking
- Start
- Lauenen
- End
- Lenk
- Operator
- via-alpina.org
- Start Coordinates
- 46.42420, 7.32278
- OpenStreetMap
- View on OSM →
- Official Website
- Visit →
Similar Trails
Plan this route
This hard route demands careful planning. Use the TrailSplits planner to set custom waypoints, get turn-by-turn navigation, and export to your GPS.