The Niedersimmental is a sunny valley opening up to the west of Lake Thun. Erlenbach is home to the lower terminus of the cableway leading to the popular excursion and hiking peak Stockhorn, with its panorama view of over 200 mountain peaks.

The Simmental with its lush green meadows stretches in a long arch to Lenk. The lower Simmental is the main railway and road link to Saanen and the Saanenland region. The small but lively Simme River is ideally suited to pursuits such as canoeing and white water rafting. The particularly richly embellished old Simmental farmhouses bear witness to wood craftsmanship past and present. These buildings can be seen along the «Simmentaler Hausweg», a theme hiking trail.

A highlight of wood craftsmanship is the Agensteinhaus, built after the great village fire of 1766. It houses the exhibits of the «Museum der alten Landschaft Niedersimmental» (Lower Simmental Valley Heritage Museum).

The around 1000-year-old church with its 15th century fresco cycle lies on a hill above the centre of Erlenbach. Church, adjacent parsonage and wooden steps are graded buildings of national significance.

A 20-minute ride with the cableway leads from Erlenbach to the Stockhorn peak at 2190m altitude. From here you can see a magnificent panorama view taking in the Aare Valley, Lake Thun, fore Alps, Emmental and over 200 Jura and Alpine peaks. The view can also be enjoyed from the terrace of the mountain restaurant. Hiking trails lead from the peak down to the valley, to the middle station of the cableway and into the neighbouring Gantrisch Region.

Paragliders find ideal thermal conditions, families enjoy the interactive nature trail «Lebensräume am Stockhorn» and alpine flower trail «Alpenblumen-Lehrpfad» and climbers can choose from over 100 routes starting near the middle cableway station. Hard core thrill seekers can bungee jump out of a stationary cable car.

The Stockhorn Cableway operates a limited service in winter (usually Wednesdays to Sundays). Although there are no ski lifts on the Stockhorn, several winter hiking trails, ski tours and snowshoe trails start at the Chrindli middle station. Skiers can enjoy the powder at nearby resorts, for instance at the Wiriehorn resort in Diemtigtal.

Highlights

• Stockhorn – Hiking and excursion peak (2190m) with magnificent panorama view of around 200 peaks in the Jura Mountains and the Alps.
• Bungee Jumping at Stockhorn – adrenaline junkies can get their fix with a bungee jump out of a stationary cable car.
• Simmentaler Hausweg – a theme trail leading past richly embellished old farmhouses between Wimmis and the Upper Simmental.