Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge | Journeys of Grace

8.8 kmDistance

3h 28mTotal time incl. stops

~440 mAscent

~200 mDescent

Easy–ModerateT1

📍 Route

Kaltenbrunnen → Gschwantenmad → Hotel Rosenlaui → Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge → Broch → Schwarzwaldalp

⏰ Day at a Glance

07:10–09:43

🚆 Zürich HB → Kaltenbrunnen

10:00–13:30

🥾 Hiking + Glacier Gorge + breaks

13:30–14:15

🍦 Schwarzwaldalp / picnic / relax / bus buffer

14:15–17:51

🚍🚆 Schwarzwaldalp → Zürich HB

🥾 Hiking Schedule

10:00

Start at Kaltenbrunnen; follow the glacier-fed Rychenbach through mostly shady forest.

~10:30

Short visit to historic Hotel Rosenlaui.

~10:45–12:00

Explore Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge.

~12:00

Return to the gorge entrance and continue toward Schwarzwaldalp.

~13:00

Picnic beside the river near Schwarzwaldalp.

~13:30

Ice cream / break at Schwarzwaldalp.

14:15

PostBus from Schwarzwaldalp.

🏞 The Experience

The first part of the walk was especially pleasant in summer: mostly shaded and following the glacier-fed river. After a short stop at Hotel Rosenlaui, I continued to the gorge.

The Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge is the highlight. The path climbs through the narrow gorge beside powerful glacial water, with waterfalls, rock walls, spray, and quite a few steps. Some surfaces are wet, so shoes with good grip are useful. On a hot August day, the cool, damp air inside felt wonderfully comfortable.

After exiting, I walked back outside to the gorge entrance and resumed the trail toward Schwarzwaldalp. This second section felt different: more open and sunny, with less river access until getting closer to Schwarzwaldalp.

Glacier Gorge entrance
CHF 12 · no GA / Half-Fare discount

Allow for the gorge
About 45–60 minutes

📷 Hike Highlights

Shaded glacier-river trail.

Inside Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge.

Historic Hotel Rosenlaui.

Wider alpine landscape near the end of the walk.

Historic water-powered sawmill at Schwarzwaldalp.

The more open, sunny section toward Schwarzwaldalp.

💡 Practical Tips

Start early in summer. The first section is wonderfully shaded and cool, while the trail after the gorge is considerably sunnier.

Allow about one hour for the gorge and wear shoes with good grip because the steps and paths can be wet.

The 14:15 PostBus works well. It leaves enough time for the gorge, a relaxed walk, picnic and a break at Schwarzwaldalp.

📷 Hike at a Glance

Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge · Schwarzwaldalp · Meiringen · 11 August 2026