Ferme Sterchi

Ferme Sterchi sits at 1,620m in the Bernese Oberland, on the pastoral slopes between Grindelwald and Meiringen. Walk from Grindelwald village in 2.5 hours via the Eiger Trail, or approach from Meiringen side in similar time. The farmstead setting means you're on grazing meadows with direct access to high routes above — most hikers use this as a base for traversing into the Säntis or Alpstein ranges to the east, or as a stopping point on longer valley-to-valley crossings.
The hut operates as a simple mountain farm with 35 beds in shared rooms. Meals are home-cooked and straightforward: expect cheese, bread, soup, and local specialities. A basic drying room and water access are available. The season runs late spring through early autumn — confirm exact dates when booking as these vary with weather and farm operations. This is unguarded accommodation, not a staffed SAC hut, so there's less formality than alpine clubhouses.
Book direct by email or phone well in advance for July and August; summer weekends fill quickly. Outside peak season, a few days' notice is usually sufficient. Confirm current contact details and opening dates before your trip, as smaller farm huts occasionally adjust their calendar around harvest or weather.