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Bern Haslital and Grimsel Gorges and waterfalls Attraction
Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht): walking the gorge near Meiringen
- Duration
- ~1 h
- Price from
- from CHF 13
- Season
- April to October
- Effort
- Easy
A 1.4 km walk on boardwalks and through tunnels above the Aare, short enough to combine with other stops near Meiringen.
By Mihaela CanjaLast checked 7 October 2026
The Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht in German) is the kind of attraction that I see as “low effort – high impact”. It is a 1.4 km walk through a narrow limestone gorge built by glacier water between Meiringen and Innertkirchen, in the Bernese Oberland. You walk on wooden boardwalks fixed to the rock and through short tunnels, with the turquoise Aare below.
The gorge cuts through the Kirchet, a ridge of hard limestone between Meiringen and Innertkirchen that formed as marine sediment around 130 to 60 million years ago. Over tens of thousands of years, the Aare eroded its way through the rock, leaving walls up to 200 m high. The temperature inside stays cool, which makes it a good choice on a hot, sunny day; on rainy days, according to the operator, the gorge looks moodier and some stretches carry more water.
It is an impressive gorge, but the visit itself is short, so I see it as one stop in a day out in the area, not a day trip on its own.
Getting there
- Region
- Bern › Haslital and Grimsel
- Start
- Aareschlucht West entrance, Meiringen
- By train and bus
- Train to Meiringen (hourly direct from Interlaken and Lucerne), then the Meiringen-Innertkirchen-Bahn to Aareschlucht West or Aareschlucht Ost
From Interlaken Ost from 49 min · Lucerne from 1 h 17 min - Stations and stops
- Aareschlucht West (MIB)
Aareschlucht Ost (MIB) - By car
- About 30 min from Interlaken, or about 30 min from Sarnen over the Brünig Pass
- Parking
- Free car park at the West entrance, 2 EV chargers
Practical
- Cost (2026)
- Adults CHF 13, children 6 to 15 CHF 8, under 6 free. With Reichenbachfall-Bahn: adults CHF 25, children CHF 16
- Discounts
- 20% with the Jungfrau, Interlaken, Brienz or Obwalden guest cards
- Services
- Restaurant, kiosk and playground at the West entrance; bistro at the East entrance
- More info
- Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht)
On this page
In short
- 1.4 km one way, between the West entrance (Meiringen) and the East entrance (Innertkirchen). The official walking time is around 45 minutes.
- A train stop at each end, so you can walk one way and ride back.
- A short visit: pair it with Reichenbach Falls or other stops nearby.
Getting there
We came by car and parked at the West entrance, where the car park is free. It is about 30 minutes by car from Interlaken.
Without a car, take the train to Meiringen, which has hourly direct trains from Interlaken and Lucerne. From Meiringen, the small Meiringen-Innertkirchen-Bahn (MIB) stops at both ends of the gorge: Aareschlucht West and Aareschlucht Ost.
The walk
The walk is easy: 1.4 km one way, on secured boardwalks with railings and through short tunnels, with no steep climbs.
We walked from the West entrance to the East entrance, upstream. The river flows from Innertkirchen towards Meiringen, so this way you walk against the current, slightly uphill.
The first part is open, with a wide gravel riverbed and high grey cliffs. Then the walls close in: the boardwalk runs along the rock face, a side waterfall drops into the river, and the path goes through several short tunnels. In places the gorge is only 1 to 2 m wide.
The walk took us a bit over an hour. With a child of almost six and many photo stops, that was a relaxed pace.
Back by train
At the East entrance we took the train back to Aareschlucht West, where the car was. The East stop sits inside a tunnel.
The train ticket between the two entrances costs CHF 4.40, or CHF 2.20 with a Half Fare card.
When to go
The 2026 season runs from 3 April to 1 November at the West entrance, and from 9 May at the East entrance. From 3 April to 8 May only the West entrance is open, so you cannot walk through the whole gorge; you return to the West entrance.
| Period (2026) | Hours |
|---|---|
| 3 April to 12 June | 08:30 to 17:30 |
| 13 June to 20 September | 08:30 to 18:30 |
| 21 September to 1 November | 08:30 to 17:30 |
In July and August the gorge is lit in the evening on Fridays and Saturdays, from 18:30 to 22:00. This is part of the route only, from the West entrance.
We arrived at noon. The gorge was not crowded at the start, but it got busy towards the end. That is why we took the train back instead of walking back through the gorge.
In July and August everything in this area is crowded, the gorge included.
The river changes through the season. At the measuring station on the Aare at Brienzwiler, a little downstream of the gorge, the long-term average is about 27 m³/s in April and October and 62 to 66 m³/s from June to August. Part of the catchment is glacier, and glacier meltwater carries fine rock particles, so the colour can change too: on warm summer days the water may look greyer and cloudier than the turquoise in our May photos. I could not find enough data to say when exactly this happens, so take our photos as one moment in the season, not a promise.
Tickets and prices
| Ticket (2026) | Adults (16+) | Children 6 to 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Aare Gorge | CHF 13 | CHF 8 |
| Aare Gorge and Reichenbachfall-Bahn | CHF 25 | CHF 16 |
| Season pass | CHF 26 |
Children under 6 go in free. The Jungfrau, Interlaken, Brienz and Obwalden guest cards give 20% off. Dogs on a leash go in free.
As of October 2026, I could not find online tickets for the gorge alone. Only the combined ticket with the Reichenbachfall-Bahn (adults CHF 25, children 6 to 15 CHF 16) can be bought online.
Nearby: Reichenbach Falls
The gorge took us about an hour, so we added Reichenbachfall (Reichenbach Falls) the same day. A funicular from Meiringen, running since 1899, goes up to the 110 m falls. The combined ticket covers the gorge and the funicular. Full details are in my Reichenbach Falls guide.
Who it suits
- Families with children. Our daughter, almost six, walked it all. There is a theme trail for ages 4 to 10 and a playground at the West entrance.
- People who want a short stop in nature between other sights, with no steep climbing. I see it as one of those attractions in the category “low effort, high impact”.
It suits less:
- Wheelchair users and wide prams. Only narrow, light models can go from the West entrance to the main sights, and access may be limited when it is busy.
- Hikers looking for a full day out. It is 1.4 km; you need other stops to fill the day.
- People who dislike busy, narrow walkways. It got busy towards the end of our visit.
- People with vertigo or a strong fear of heights. The walk is easy and secured, with railings throughout, but parts of the boardwalk hang on the rock face above the river, which may still feel uncomfortable.
Tips
- Walk from West to East and take the train back. You see the gorge once, in one direction, and avoid walking back through the gorge when it gets busier later in the day.
- Check the train back in the SBB timetable before you set off.
- If you plan to visit Reichenbach Falls too, the combined ticket costs less than two separate tickets.
- Ask at your hotel for a guest card: it gives 20% off.
Useful links
- Aare Gorge (Aareschlucht): opening hours, prices, getting there
- SBB timetable
Questions (FAQ)
How long does it take to walk the Aare Gorge?
The walk is 1.4 km one way, and the official walking time is around 45 minutes; the operator gives 1 to 1.5 h for the Tatzi theme trail with children. It took us a bit over an hour, with a child and many photo stops. Add time for the train back or for the walk back through the gorge.
Do I have to walk back through the gorge?
No. From 9 May, when the East entrance opens, you can take the Meiringen-Innertkirchen-Bahn from Aareschlucht Ost back to Aareschlucht West or Meiringen. From 3 April to 8 May only the West entrance is open, so you cannot walk through the whole gorge; you return to the West entrance.
Is the Aare Gorge suitable for children?
Yes. The path is secured with railings, and our daughter, almost six, walked all of it. Children under 6 go in free, and there is a theme trail for ages 4 to 10 and a playground at the West entrance.
Can I visit with a pram or a wheelchair?
Only in part. Narrow, light models can go from the West entrance to the main sights, and access may be limited when it is busy.
Is the Aare Gorge open in winter?
No. The 2026 season runs from 3 April to 1 November.
Sources
Specific pages are linked in the text where they are used. Last checked 7 October 2026.
Good for Families with children·Senior visitors·Short visits
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