Trümmelbach Falls - the largest underground waterfalls in Europe

7 Highlights of the Trümmelbach Falls

• The Trümmelbach Falls are the largest underground waterfalls in Europe
• 20,000 liters of water fall through the Trümmelbach Falls every second.
• In 10 cascades, the enormous water masses move down into the depths.
• The Trümmelbach Falls flow through a narrow gorge that is open to visitors.
• You can reach the illuminated underground waterfalls via a tunnel lift that climbs 100 meters in altitude.
• The waterfalls drop a total of 140 meters.
• Secured wooden paths and trails lead you through the gorge, where you can easily observe the thundering waterfalls.

7 Highlights of the Trümmelbach Falls

• The Trümmelbach Falls are the largest underground waterfalls in Europe.
• Every second, 20,000 liters of water cascade through the Trümmelbach Falls.
• The massive water volume flows down in 10 cascades.
• The Trümmelbach Falls flow through a narrow gorge that is accessible to visitors.
• You can reach the illuminated underground waterfalls via a tunnel lift that overcomes 100 vertical meters.
• The waterfalls descend a total of 140 meters.
• Secured wooden paths and trails lead you through the gorge where you can observe the roaring waterfalls up close.

What to Expect at the Trümmelbach Falls

The Trümmelbach Falls are impressive and powerful waterfalls located between Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg. During the melting of snow or glaciers, they can carry up to 20,000 liters of water per second. This spectacle can be experienced between April and September.

The water flows through ten cascades in a narrow gorge that is partly devoid of daylight. This is why the Trümmelbach Falls are also referred to as underground waterfalls. In total, the water descends about 140 meters.

The catchment area of the Trümmelbach covers approximately 24 km². Besides water, it brings down over 20,000 tons of debris from the glaciers every year. The massive glacier walls of Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau, and Lauberhorn are drained by this system.

The water has carved the gorge through the rock over the past 15,000 years.

The Trümmelbach is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch. It is one of the 72 waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen valley.

Facts about the Development

After the discovery of the Trümmelbach Falls in the 19th century, they were gradually opened up for visitors.

• 1886: Inauguration of the stairs and bridges at the lowest falls
• 1916: Construction of the tunnel lift as a funicular with counterweights for access to the top three waterfalls
• 1986: Completion of the upper tunnel staircase with gallery and lookout tunnel
• 1990: Connection of the lower part with the upper part of the gorge and development of three additional falls and wild rock formations

In total, the Trümmelbach Falls are developed over a distance of 600 meters.

Activities at the Trümmelbach Falls

You can visit the Trümmelbach Falls, because the gorge is walkable. You reach the top three waterfalls via a tunnel lift. The lack of daylight is replaced by lighting. The Trümmelbach Falls are the only walkable underground waterfalls in Europe.

You walk on secured wooden paths and footbridges over rock galleries or along them. Tunnels and bridges have also been integrated into the path. At viewing platforms you can observe the thundering waterfalls. Large information boards give you a good overview of the individual cascades.

The tunnel lift has an inclination of 45 degrees and needs about one minute for the 105 m length. With it you can climb 100 meters inside the gorge. A maximum of 40 people can fit into its cabin.

For the visit of the Trümmelbach Falls you should allow two to four hours. Afterwards you can visit the self-service restaurant and the souvenir store. The restaurant offers homemade food and has a large panoramic terrace.

Please note:

• Access is not allowed for dogs and children under 4 years old.
• The paths are not suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.
• Be sure to wear sturdy shoes (risk of slipping).

Hiking to the Trümmelbach Falls

If you would like to visit the Trümmelbach Falls before or after a hike, you can do so wonderfully in the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

From Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen:

• Duration: 2:00 hrs (plus time to visit the falls)
• Length: 8.5 km
• Difficulty: easy (almost flat)

You can combine your hike with a visit to the Staubbach Falls. It is practically on the way. The equally impressive waterfall falls from a height of almost 300 m directly into the valley. The water is sprayed in all directions after the impact and is a landmark of Lauterbrunnen.

Entrance and opening hours of the Trümmelbach Falls

The Trümmelbach Falls are accessible from April to October. They are usually open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and a little longer in high summer. Please inquire exactly before your arrival.

You will need a paid ticket to enter. Children under the age of 6 are admitted free of charge, but you are not allowed to take children under the age of 4.

Getting to the Trümmelbach Falls

You can reach the Trümmelbach Falls from Interlaken by public transport in about 40 minutes. By car, it takes around 25 to 30 minutes in normal traffic.

By Car

If you’re coming from the north, take the A6 from Bern to Interlaken. From there, drive on the A8 to Wilderswil and then follow the road to Lauterbrunnen. You’ll reach the Trümmelbach Falls about 3 km past the town exit of Lauterbrunnen towards Stechelberg. It takes about an hour from Bern. A shorter route is via Thun and the lakeside road, but this is not a motorway, so it will take you about 15-20 minutes longer.

From Zurich, it’s best to go via the A8 through Lucerne and Interlaken, which takes about 2 hours. If you’re coming from Geneva, take the route via Bern, which will take you nearly 3 hours.

At the Trümmelbach Falls, there is a large free parking area available.

By Public Transport

To get there by train, start by heading to Interlaken. From Interlaken, you can take the Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) to Lauterbrunnen. The trains connect to a post bus (line 141) that goes to the Trümmelbach Falls stop. It takes about 40 minutes from Interlaken.