Gimmelen Trail
Overview
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Distance 5 km
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Duration 2 h 30 min
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Ascent 200 m
Intro
With its steep rock faces and waterfalls plunging hundreds of metres, the Lauterbrunnen Valley leads you into a magical world that already captivated famous writers and filmmakers. The snowshoe trek on the hills surrounding the valley will delight you with views of the mighty peaks of the Bernese Alps, contrasted by charming alpine huts on the sunny slopes.
Description
The Schilthorn cable car takes you up to the starting point of the Gimmelen Trail in Mürren in just a few minutes. The mountain village located at the foot of the Schilthorn is not only known for winter sports beyond the country's borders. At the end of the 1960s, the futuristic revolving restaurant on the Schilthorn inspired the creators of the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and was front and centre during the shooting as the villain Blofeld's home base.
From the cable car station, the snowshoe trail first follows the toboggan run. At the little hamlet of Obri Brich, you leave the groomed route and turn left. The trail continues across snow-covered meadows and sparse forest towards Schiltbach. Again and again, you come across sun-baked wooden huts and chalets scattered on the slope and enjoy views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Schwarzmönch, framed by roaring waterfalls.
Flanked by gigantic rock faces from which several waterfalls plunge hundreds of metres, the Lauterbrunnen Valley offers a unique natural spectacle. The roaring waters inspired Johann Wolfgang von Goethe during a visit in 1779 to write the poem "Song of the Spirits over the Water". And those familiar with the books and film versions of "Lord of the Rings" can also immerse themselves in the magical Lauterbrunnen Valley. It captivated 19-year-old author J.R.R. Tolkien in 1911 during his hike through the Swiss Alps and served as a model for the landscapes of Middle Earth.
Past the Gimmelen mountain restaurant, the trail leads to Gimmelenweid, where it reaches the snowshoe tour's highest point. With a 180-degree turn, the trail winds leisurely downhill, accompanied by the gentle murmur of the Schiltbach stream. The next 200 metres of descent can be negotiated in a few hairpin bends through the forest before you reach the alpine road and follow it to Gimmelwald. The former Walser settlement at 1,367 metres above sea level has preserved its original character with its old ornate wooden houses and is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. Here, you can enjoy the mountain panorama once more before taking the cable car down to the valley or back to Mürren.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Mürren
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Gimmelwald
|
| Ascent |
200 m
|
| Descent |
480 m
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| Distance |
5 km
|
| Duration |
2 h 30 min
|
| Physical requirements |
Difficult
|
| Signalization |
Signalisation in both directions
|
| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/snowshoe-trekking/route... |
Mürren Tourismus
Höhematte
3825
Mürren
Quick Facts
Route number
