Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge – One of Switzerland’s Most Beautiful Gorges

The Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge (Gletscherschlucht Rosenlaui in German) is a deep, narrow, and impressive gorge located in Rosenlaui, a settlement in Reichenbachtal, canton Bern, Switzerland.

Image of Rosenlaui Gorge by TouringSwitzerland.com

The Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge is definitely one of the most impressive gorges I’ve ever seen. About 11.5 kilometers from Meiringen and 17 kilometers from Grindelwald, Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge is a real natural gem. Also, it’s about an hour from Interlaken

Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge

Image of Rosenlaui Gorge by TouringSwitzerland.com

Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge has scenic rock and water formations, whirlpools, and waterfalls. This gorge is accessible from mid-May to October. It’s a 30-minute walk (about 500 meters trail) from the ticket office and hut.  It is part of the Jungfrau Aletsch Alpine Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge is where glaciers melt and flow. Its water comes from the Rosenlaui Glacier, a 4.5-km-long glacier in the Bernese Alps. Slate and limestone here were carved by the Weissenbach River.

Rosenlaui Circular Path

Image of Rosenlaui Gorge by TouringSwitzerland.com

Impressive and stunning, the Rosenlaui Gorge is a 30-minute circular walk (around 500 meters trail) from the time you enter the gorge from the ticket office and hut.

For more than a century, Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge has attracted romantics with its thundering waterfalls and amazing rock formations. The path in this gorge was developed with help from Johann Berti from Tyrol. Basically, rock was blasted into a 573-meter-long path with several tunnels and a 155-meter height difference. It took 9,000 blasts and 180 packs of dynamite to make the path.  The process took more than a year.

Nowadays, you’ll still find a well-built path along the river upstream. The whole path has rails to keep you safe. Throughout the gorge, there are rock formations and waterfalls that are fantastic to watch.

You can’t deny the power of water in Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge. It fascinates, stimulates, and delights.

Rosenlaui Valley

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You can find Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge in Rosenlaui Valley. The Rosenlaui Valley is an incredibly beautiful and romantic valley with old trees, rocky cliffs, and snowy peaks. It is at the foot of the Engelhörner, Dossen, Wellhorn, and Wetterhorn mountains.

Located 1,328 meters above sea level, Rosenlaui village is the highest settlement in the valley. It’s a popular starting point for many excursions. Post buses go over the Grosse Scheidegg from Rosenlaui to Grindelwald (via Schwarzwaldalp).

In Rosenlaui Valley, you will find the Belle Epoque hotel called Hotel Rosenlaui. In time, this hotel became the perfect place to get away from it all. With old-world elegance, parquet floors, silk carpets, and wood-paneled walls, staying here is a true escape from modern life. It’s the perfect place to relax and take in the Swiss Alps’ beauty.

How to Get to Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge

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The gorge is open daily from June to September between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM. It’s open daily between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM in the last two weeks of May and the first three weeks of October. 

From Meiringen, you can drive to Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge. You can get there by bus from Meiringen or Grindelwald. Just get off at Gletscherschlucht Rosenlaui. You can usually catch buses between the end of May and the third week of October.

By Car (from Meiringen)Rosenlaui
3860 Meiringen
By Bus Gletscherschlucht Rosenlaui (Bus)

Final Thoughts: Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge

Image of Rosenlaui Gorge by TouringSwitzerland.com

In the Bernese Oberland, nestled between high mountains and glaciers, is Rosenlaui. It’s got the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge you shouldn’t miss. Thunderous rapids and waterfalls set it apart from most other gorges, which have clear water surrounded by powerful rock formations. This gorge drops cubic meters of water each second through its rock walls.

This glacier gorge is close to Meiringen and within an hour of Interlaken, so you should definitely check it out. You might want to hike if you’ve got more time. Here’s hoping you like it.

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