Gürbe-Wildwasserweg
Overview
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Distance 11 km
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Duration 2 h 55 min
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Ascent 50 m
Intro
Right at the start, the view opens up towards the Gantrisch chain and the Bernese alps as the adventurous trail follows the wild Gürbe gorge. More than a hundred wooden and concrete barriers slow down the power of the torrent during the first 10 km. In the flatter lower part, where the debris is deposited, lovely bathing and barbecue areas await the visitors.
Detour / Closure
There are detours or closures along this route, for more information see https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-382
Description
The starting point of the hike is the Gurnigel mountain inn and the postbus station of the same name, accessible twice daily from Riggisberg. It is worth taking a break on the terrace of the inn: in clear weather, the view extends as far as the Bernese alps, the lake of Thun and the nearby Gantrisch chain. First the route leads over alpine roads and pastures in the headwaters of the Gürbe down to the entrance of the gorge. The path now becomes narrow and quite demanding, but some steps make the descent easier. In case of high water and impending thunderstorms, it is not advisable to walk this part of the route.
At the confluence of the Schwandbach, we encounter the first of more than a hundred barriers that slow down the course of the torrent, hold back debris and prevent too much erosion. Time and again, we have to cross wild side streams and landslides in the upper reaches of the river. Upon arriving at Weierboden, the path widens and leaves the narrow drainage funnel of the Gürbe. Here, the somewhat flatter part of the hike begins. Over centuries, the Gürbe has piled up a wide fan of debris in this area. Protected by the embankments along the course of the river, there are many lovely spots for bathing, barbecuing or resting.
The last section of the route continues along wide hiking paths on the Gürbe dam. In the lower reaches, the valley floor, which is intensively used for agriculture, and the settlements are protected from the occasional flood by the lateral dams. From the village of Wattenwil, a postbus connection enables the return journey to Riggisberg, the starting point of the postbus route up to Gurnigel.
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 |
Gurnigel, Berghaus
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Wattenwil
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| Ascent |
50 m
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| Descent |
1050 m
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| Distance |
11 km
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| Duration |
2 h 55 min
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| Duration back |
4 h
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| Technical requirements |
Medium
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| Physical requirements |
Difficult
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| Signalization |
Signalisation in both directions
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| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/r... |
Quick Facts
Route number
