Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge - Bernese Oberland

Magnificent gorge in the Reichenbach Valley

Available: late June-October

Example travel costs

Swiss Travel Pass: FREE travel

Bernese Oberland Regional Pass: FREE travel to Grindelwald and then 5 Sfr to the Gletscherschlucht

Half Fare Card: 17 Sfr return from Interlaken

Entrance payable locally: 10 Sfr per adult and 6 Sfr per child (6-16 years). Special price with the Bernese Oberland Regional Pass.

Visitors have been awed by the natural energy at the Gletscherschlucht (Glacier Gorge) for over 100 years. The footpath was blasted through the rock in 1902 and offers the chance to see fantastic sculptures created by water over thousands of years.  This is a refreshing natural experience, set in the middle of magnificent mountain scenery.

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Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com

Gletscherhüttli

This is the entrance point to the gorge and features a cosy café serving refreshing drinks. 

The Path

The Path through the Gletscherschlucht is a gradual ascent along paths which are anchored into the cliff walls. Your first point of interest is a powerful waterfall, with water crashing down into the abyss at a rate of 2-4m³ per second. As you pass through the gorge, you can see the changing rock strata on your right and small holes in the rock created by the glacier's movements on the left. There are fantastic rock sculptures carved by ancient water, including some reminiscent of vast cathedral ceilings and one which resembles an elephant's head! At their highest point, the walls reach a dizzying 80m. At the end of the gorge, a forest trail leads you back down to the entry point.

The Rosenlaui hiking route

The Rosenlaui Hiking Route takes you from Meiringen to the gorge and on to the quiet mountain hamlet of Schwarzwaldalp. As you leave behind the pretty town of Meiringen, you will enjoy the scenic Rosenlaui pastures before reaching the Gletscherschlucht. You could pause at the Belle Epoque style Hotel Rosenlaui for refreshments and continue on to the water-powered sawmill at Schwarzwaldalp. The PostBus runs the length of this route, so you can admire the view from the bus if you prefer.

From Schwarzwaldalp you can hike to Grosse Scheidegg by way of Alpigen where a high trail continues to the First mountain station. In summer, a bus connects Schwarzwaldalp via Grosse Scheidegg with the scenic resort of Grindelwald. You can also enjoy the hike in the other direction, from Grindelwald via Rosenlaui to Meiringen. 

The Rosenlaui Gletscherschlucht can be reached by taking the train to Grindelwald. Change here to a bus which stops just at the entrance to the gorge. Opening times are 09.00-18.00.  

Alternatively, you can take the train or bus to Meiringen and hike from there to the gorge.

Please check before travel for maintenance closures. 

Request your holiday quotation

Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com