Gletscherschlucht Grindelwald

Useful Information

Location:	Gletscherschlucht 1, 3818 Grindelwald. Near Grindelwald, signposted. (46.6133485, 8.0464614)
Open:	MAY to NOV daily 9:30-18. Last entry 1 h before closing. [2026]
Fee:	Adults CHF 21, Children (6-15) CHF 11. Gästekarte (Guest card) CHF -3. Groups (10+): Adults CHF 19, Children (6-15) CHF 9. [2026]
Classification:	Gorge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	T=10 °C.
Guided tours:	self guided, L=1,000 m, D=45 min.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Grindelwald Tourismus, Postfach 124, 3818 Grindelwald, Tel: +41-33-8541212. E-mail: Outdoor Switzerland AG, Industriestrasse 17, 3812 Wilderswil, Tel: +41-33-224-07-01. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

Starting at the Restaurant Gletscherschlucht, elevated trails and bridges lead along the 100 m deep into the so-called Gletscherschlucht. Gletscherschlucht means literally translated "glacier gorge", not exactly a name, more a description. And unfortunately there are other gorges with the same name, e.g. at Rosenlaui. Hence the name Gletscherschlucht Grindelwald became more common in the last years. The melting water from the glaciers formed this narrow gorge, it is not a gorge in glacier ice, it’s in massive rock. On a length of 1 km there are up to 300 m high vertical walls. At the entrance to the gorge is the Kristallmuseum (crystal museum), which exhibits typical minerals of the Bernese Alps.

The gorge is quite spectacular, nevertheless the local tourism operator who manages the gorge, has created a sort of artificial climbing structure named Spiderweb. With a size of 170 m² it spans the gorge and offers different views on the gorge and some thrill. It is included in the regular tour. Additionally, they offer the Canyon Swing, a 90 m deep jump which must be booked additionally. Normal visitors can walk on comfortable trails with tunnels and bridges, nevertheless good walking shoes with grip and a fleece jacket are recommended. There are educational signs along the trail which explain geology, glaciology, and the historical and mystical background of the gorge.

There is a second connected site which is also of geologic importance. The Marmorbruchstrße leads uphill to a marble quarry, as the name suggests. It has three sights, the Marmorhöhle (marble cave), the view fown into the gorge, and a restaurant, which offers local food.

This place has a certain fame because of the glacier behind the gorge. The glacier is rapidly melting, a fact which is interpreted as a circumstantial evidence for the global warming. A strange thing is the formation of a so called Gletschersee on top of the lower glacier. The lake is formed by melting water collecting in a depression on top of the ice. It has no drainage, but as soon as the water finds a way through a crack, the crack is very fast widened by the flowing water and the water flows in a great flood through the channel at the bottom of the glacier, down the Gletscherschlucht to Grindelwald. This flood could potentially destroy anything in its way and the lake is becoming bigger and bigger every year. To avoid this danger, the city of Grindelwald constructed a tunnel which drains melting water during the spring and hence impede the formation of a lake.