Grimselwelt

6 Highlights of the Grimselwelt

• There are two spectacular suspension rope bridges:
  • 170 m long Trift bridge
  • 70 m long Handeck drop bridge
• Grimselwelt is located on the Susten and Grimsel alpine passes
• Eight turquoise dams/reservoirs are managed by Kraftwerke Oberhasli (KWO)
  • Gellmer
  • Handeck
  • Mattenalp
  • Oberaar
  • Räterichsboden
  • Seeuferegg
  • Spitallamm
  • Lake of the Dead
• Kilometer-long footbridges into the underground crystal crevasses with crystals of different species up to 20 m in size
• Four glaciers you can reach in the Grimselwelt:
  • Trift Glacier
  • Rhone glacier
  • Unteraar glacier
  • Gauliglacier
• nine adventurous mountain railroads, among them the Gelmerbahn

Excursion Destinations and Sights within the Grimsel World

Starting from Meiringen and Innertkirchen in the Haslital, the Grimsel World includes parts of the Haslital, the Gadmertal, the Trift Glacier, Winterberg, the Rhone Glacier up to the Aargrat, the Lower Aar Glacier, the Gauli Glacier, and the Urbachtal. The Grimsel World is managed by Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG (KWO).

The entire Grimsel World is characterized by power plants and numerous underground tunnels. The reservoirs are interconnected for power generation.

What makes the Grimsel World special is the way you can explore the Alps here. It’s all about water, the phenomenal Swiss mountain landscape with its natural treasures, and technical masterpieces.

For the surrounding area, check out Meiringen.Hasliberg.

Suspension Bridges in the Grimsel World

The spectacular suspension bridges take you over dramatic gorges where you can see beautiful waterfalls. However, it takes a bit of courage to walk these bridges. In particular, the Handeckfall suspension bridge in Guttannen is not for the faint-hearted. It is located right by the valley station of the Gelmerbahn heading towards the Grimsel Pass. This bridge is 170 m long and crosses the main pass road, the Aare, as well as several waterfalls. It provides a direct connection between the Gelmerbahn and the Handeck Hotel.

A hike from the Triftbahn mountain station leads you to the Trift Bridge. Although it’s shorter at 70 m in length, it is still spectacular. For the round trip, you’ll need: 2:40 hours, 5.7 km, and 500 m elevation gain and loss. Built in a Nepali style, it uses little material but often sways significantly. From here, you can see the Trift River and the Trift Glacier, which is shrinking as the Trift Lake grows due to melting. The Trift Bridge leads to the Trifthütte located above.

Crystal Cave Gerstenegg in the Grimsel World

The Grimsel World is rich in crystal caves. However, the underground crystal cavities formed over millions of years are only accessible at one location. The Gerstenegg Crystal Cave lies about 1.5 km inside the Grimsel massif, protected from destructive erosive forces. You walk along kilometer-long walkways to admire the enticingly sparkling crystals, some of which have grown up to 20 m large.

Nine mountain railroads open up the world of the Grimsel

The adventurous mountain railroads take you to unimagined heights.They include:

• Gelmerbahn
• Triftbahn
• Tallibahn
• Sidelhornbahn
• Gersteneggbahn
• Hospizbahn
• Oberaarbahn
• Reichenbachfallbahn
• Meiringen-Innertkirchen Railway

The Gelmerbahn - one of the steepest open funicular railroads (106 degrees) in Europe - provides plenty of thrills and spectacular photos. This marvel of technology takes you from Handegg to the Gelmer lake at 1850 m above sea level.

You won't soon forget a ride on the Triftbahn over the Trift Gorge and into the ice world of the Trift Glacier. It runs along the Sustenpass road from the Käppeli valley station (1022 m above sea level) to the Trift mountain station (1390 m above sea level).

Those who come to the Grimsel world for climbing use the Tälli cable car, which takes visitors within 10 min to an altitude of 1700 m.a.s.l., where the famous Tälli via ferrata begins. It was the first via ferrata to be opened up in Switzerland.

The Meiringen-Innertkirchen railroad is a 5 km long narrow-gauge railroad. It brings a connection between Meiringen, Innertkirchen and the Aare Gorge.

A faithfully recreated nostalgic railroad is the Reichenbachfallbahn. The narrow-gauge funicular runs from Schattenhalb (Meiringen) along the waterfall of the same name.

The Sidelhornbahn takes you to the fantastic Oberaar region. It goes from Hotel Grimsel Hospiz up to the foot of the Sidelhorn. Thereby it crosses the Grimselsee.

Guided tours through the Grimsel World

The KWO's huge hydroelectric power plants are open to visitors in summer and winter. On tours, you will see oversized tunnels with pumps, turbines and generators of unimaginable dimensions. You can also get to know the inner workings of a dam wall.

In the visitor center at the Historic Alpine Hotel Grimsel Hospiz, the permanent exhibition of the Grimsel World shows everything worth knowing about the generation of electricity through hydropower. Lake Grimsel, Lake Oberaar and Lake Gelmer are used by the KWO for power generation

Guided tours all year round:

• Haudeck: Hydropower pioneers
  • from Innertkirchen with guided tour of the Handeck 1, 2, 2E power plants
  • Visit to crystal exhibition
  • Soup with sausage (winter)
  • 3 hours duration winter /1.5 hours summer
• Hospice: Grimsel Underground
  • from Innertkirchen with guided tour of Grimsel 2 power station
  • visit crystal exhibition
  • 4 hours duration winter / 2 hours summer

Guided tours in summer:

• Hospice: guided tour of construction site Spitallamm
• Day tour from the glacier to the stream Guided tours in winter:
• Innertkirchen with school classes
• Experience hydropower

Only one of the reservoirs, Lake Engstlen, is a natural lake that serves as a reservoir due to an underground lake intake; all the others were created artificially. The highest reservoir in the Grimsel world is the Trübtensee at 2365 meters above sea level.

In 2010, the operators of Grimselwelt were awarded the most important Swiss tourism prize, the Milestone

Swiss Activities Tips for Grimselwelt

For your visit to Grimselwelt we have found some special tips for you:

Great photos with Grimselbahn The Grimselbahn is not only an extraordinary mountain railroad, you can also take extraordinary photos on the ride. No annoying (and usually dirty) glass separates you and your camera from the photo objects.

Group activity If you are traveling with friends, you might be looking for a shared experience: abseiling from the 92 m high Räterichsboden dam on the Grimsel Pass is well suited for groups. Organization and supervision is provided by the Rosenlaui mountaineering school.

Ski tour with beautiful descent A ski tour in the Grimsel world is offered at the Alplistock, which lies at 2758 m above sea level. It is moderately difficult and offers particularly beautiful descents in places.

Climbing tip If you like climbing, you should take the two-hour trail from the Räterichsboden dam to the Bächlitalhütte of the SAC. Already the way is an experience. Once at the top, you'll find a climbing garden and a pretty mountain lake next to the hut. After spending the night (for SAC members) at the hut you go back. You can reach the dam Räterichsboden by post bus (stop Guttannen, Gerstenegg).

Activities in the Grimsel World

The activities include primarily easy and difficult mountain hikes, climbing tours and playgrounds.

Hiking in the Grimselwelt

Some of the most beautiful hikes through Grimselwelt are presented here:

• Round hike Gelmersee: arrival with the Gelmerbahn, 4.7 km round hike, 2 hrs, 170 hm up and down. The circular trail goes over huge rock slabs and original creeks, surefootedness and a head for heights are important.
• Sämis Säumerpfad: Innertkirchen, 4.3 km, 1:20 hrs, 165 hm up and down. At 20 stations you will learn interesting facts about the muleteers or answer questions. Barbecue sites are available.
• Tälli-Gadmen high-altitude hike: 6 km, 2 hrs, 141 hm up, 691 hm down. Arrival with the Tälli cable car to Berghaus Tälli. The high-altitude hike goes via Alp Raflue to Gadmen. The path runs below the mighty Gadmerfluh. Via the forest road you come back to the Tällibahn.
• SBrinz Route Handeck-Grimsel Hospiz: 7.2 km, 2:45 hrs, 701 hm ascent, 149 hm descent. The trail leads along a particularly beautiful part of an old mule track.
• Hike to Grosse Scheidegg: 12 km, 4:30 hrs, 1187 hm ascent, 71 hm descent. The first part of the trail can be shortened with the Reichenbachfall cable car from Meiringen.
• Alpine hike (T2) from the dam Räterichsboden to the Bächlitalhütte of the SAC ( 2328 m a.s.l.): 2:15 hrs, 4.3 km, 620 hm ascent, 60 hm descent.The hut trail leads upwards over well-built steps. On this path you cross the large imposing sandy plain of the Bächli valley. This is a nationally significant alluvial landscape.

Tälli Via Ferrata

The Tälli Via Ferrata is about 600 m long, making it one of the longest in Switzerland. You can take the Tälli cable car to the top, and after finishing the via ferrata, you can hike back to the Tälli mountain lodge via Sätteli or head down to Engstlenalp.

• Accessible from July to October
• 78 m of ladders
• Secured fixed ropes
• 550 concreted pegs

Climbing Gardens in the Grimsel World

Smaller and larger climbing gardens offer variety in the Grimsel World. There's a great climbing garden for kids at the Hotel Handeck. You’ll also find a climbing garden at the Bächlitalhütte of the SAC. Several climbing routes have been set up for experienced climbers at the Grimsel Pass. At the Räterichsbodensee, professional climbers frequently use the climbing routes on the rock slabs above the dam. As a hobby climber, you should definitely get some guidance from an instructor at the Bergsteigerschule Rosenlaui. They also offer beginner courses and climbing tours in the area.

• Canyoning at Grimsel Pass

Rappelling from the Räterichsboden Dam

The dam is 92 m deep and is perfect for practicing rappelling. The organizer is the Bergsteigerschule Rosenlaui, which also takes care of safety. You can reach the dam by post bus (stop Guttannen, Gerstenegg).

Ski tours

The Grimsel world is well suited for ski tours

Alplistock 2758 m above sea level

The tour takes about 5 hours, of which about 3 hours should be planned for the ascent. The terrain is not too steep. The moderately difficult ski tour offers some nice descents.

Gerstenlücke 3078 m above sea level

This difficult tour takes a total of about 7 hours. Of this, you should plan up to 5 hours for the ascent. Partly very steep ascents are included.

Hotels in the Grimselwelt

In Grimselwelt there are hotels and mountain huts where you can stay overnight. These include:

• Hotel Handeck 3 stars, 39 rooms
• Grimsel Ruheoase Hospiz Winter, 28 rooms
• Grimsel Hospice Summer, 28 rooms
• Berghaus Oberaar, 6 rooms, 2 mattress dormitories (8 and 10 persons respectively)
• Alpine hut Bäregg, 1 room, 2 mattress dormitories (10 resp. 20 persons)
• Bächlitalhütte of the SAC, 75 sleeping places for SAC members (mid March to mid May and mid June to mid October)

Restaurants in the Grimselwelt

As a rule, the restaurants belong to the hotels of Grimselwelt.

A selection of restaurants in this area:

• Restaurant Oberaar with a view of the Oberaar lake and glacier
• Restaurant Hospiz with original furniture dating back to the 1930s
• Restaurant Handeck with chef Roman Crkon, who has repeatedly been awarded 15 Gault Millau points
• Alpine hut Bäregg

Directions to Grimselwelt

If you're driving, you can easily get to Grimselwelt from Basel, Zürich, or Lucerne via the Brünig Pass. Alternatively, you can take the route through Bern – Interlaken to Innertkirchen. In summer, you can also access Innertkirchen via the alpine passes of Grimsel and Susten, which are open from early June to the end of October.

For public transport, you can catch a direct train from Lucerne and Interlaken to Meiringen. The Meiringen-Innertkirchen Railway (MIB) is a narrow-gauge railway 5 km long. From Innertkirchen, you can reach various villages and excursion destinations by post bus.