Intro

Not far from the vibrant hustle and bustle of the city of Bern you’ll find the Sense-Schwarzwasser nature reserve. Here, large glacial meltwater rivers have dug impressive gorges into the molasse rock.

With its free-flowing waters, shady spots in the forest and numerous sand and gravel banks, the Sense and Schwarzwasser gorge is a popular recreation spot for the people of Bern and Fribourg.

The gorge is reminiscent of a canyon river landscape. In many places, the valley floor is up to 100 metres wide, and the sandstone cliffs up to 200 metres high. The Schwarzwasser, one of the last Swiss rivers, flows here, taking a natural course with deserted shores and typical floodplain forests. The Schwarzwasser flows into the Sense, which then winds through the 15km-long Sense Gorge.

In summer, the gravel banks at the confluence of the two rivers are alive with swimmers and picnickers, and canoeists are also out and about. Swimming, sunbathing, collecting stones – the Schwarzwasser and the Sense offer great natural and recreational value.

Getting there: By train to the Schwarzwasserbrücke stop (to access the meeting of the rivers) or to Schwarzenburg station as the starting point for a hike through the gorge.

General information

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Season
May - October
Time required
2 to 4 hours (half day)
Suitable for children with age
6 to 9 years, 10 to 13 years, 14+ years
Suitable for
Children, Families, Groups, Individual, Couples
Accessible
Not Wheelchair accessible
Difficulty
Low
Weather
Outdoor
Category
Active, Adventure, Nature

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Overview

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Overview
Gantrisch Nature Park
Bern Region
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Travel information: Gantrisch Nature Park

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