Stage 10: Meiringen → Grindelwald

Via Alpina · Day 10 of 20 · km 195 of 392

Distance

22.9 km

Ascent

+1,535 m

Descent

−1,098 m

Estimated average time

8 h

Highest 1,963 m · lowest 598 m

22.9 kilometres, 1,535 metres of ascent, 1,098 metres of descent, 8 hours of walking, an estimated average; highest point at 1,963 metres, lowest at 598 metres.

Technique: medium · fitness: hard

What Clotilde says

Vaduz → Montreux

This morning you pass close to the Reichenbach Falls, where, in a Conan Doyle story, Sherlock Holmes faces Professor Moriarty. Don't worry, today's case is simple: follow the path to the Grosse Scheidegg, then on to Grindelwald. In the open woods, look for the martagon lily and its petals curled back like a turban. It saves its scent for the evening.

Montreux → Vaduz

From Grindelwald, you cross the Grosse Scheidegg, then follow the Rychenbach to Meiringen. At Rosenlaui, glacier water tumbles down a narrow gorge, from waterfall to waterfall. Just before the finish, the Reichenbach Falls: this is where Conan Doyle sent Sherlock Holmes over the edge, in a story. Save your own fall for the sofa, after 7 h 30 min of walking.

Along the way

• Reichenbach Falls It was into these falls, near Meiringen, that Arthur Conan Doyle sent Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty tumbling, in the story "The Final Problem".
• Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge At Rosenlaui, water from the glacier has carved a narrow gorge, which it rushes down from waterfall to waterfall.

In the nature guide

Martagon lily

Sources: Wikipedia, "Chutes du Reichenbach" (French) and "Rosenlauischlucht" (German); swissinfo, "Sherlock Holmes success no mystery in Meiringen"; Gletscherschlucht Rosenlaui (rosenlauischlucht.ch).

See on SwitzerlandMobility (new tab)

Distances, ascents, walking times and route: Federal Roads Office FEDRO, cantons, SwitzerlandMobility Foundation — Hiking in Switzerland (ch.astra.wanderland), open data OPEN BY.