Glacier Gorge Grindelwald

The starting point of the hike, the Pfingstegg mountain station, offers a particularly impressive view directly into the steep flank of the Eiger with its razor-sharp Mittellegi ridge. From there, you follow the scenic high trail to the Wysseflüö trail junction. Zigzagging, you now follow the white-red-white marked trail down through the forest to the former mountain guesthouse Marmorbruch. The mountain hiking trail soon leads to a small bridge over the Weisse Lütschine, located 100 meters below. The viewpoint on the other side of the bridge grants an impressive view into the Glacier Gorge. A short ascent follows until you descend through the forest to the Glacier Gorge Café. Here is also the entrance to the gorge, which bears witness to the tremendous power of the Lower Grindelwald Glacier. From the café, follow the now yellow-marked hiking trail along the left side of the Weisse Lütschine, which soon flows into the Schwarze Lütschine. At the road near Sand, you change the riverbank. Afterwards, continue along the water to Grund to the terminal in Grindelwald.

Background: Around 250 years ago, the Lower Grindelwald Glacier still extended as far as the area of today’s Glacier Gorge Hotel in the valley floor. It was the only Alpine glacier that flowed down below 1000 m above sea level. Over 400 years ago, part of the village Grindelwald had to be relocated because the glacier had "overrun" house after house. Due to the strong retreat of the glacier, the surrounding mountain slopes became unstable, so that in summer 2006, 500,000 cubic meters of rock fell down from the mountain slope at the valley entrance within moments – about as much as 500 single-family houses.