Canyoning Grimsel Gorge

Canyoning in the Grimsel Gorge is a guided trip through a granite canyon in the Grimsel Pass area of the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, about 1 hour 15 minutes by transfer from Interlaken. It is one of the most dramatic canyoning outings in the region, known for smooth polished granite walls, deep green pools, water jumps and a long rappel of up to about 50 m. The trip lasts about 5.5 hours in total and is operated by Outdoor Interlaken (outdoor.ch), which meets groups at Hauptstrasse 15 in Matten bei Interlaken or at its main base at Industriestrasse 17 in Wilderswil. The grade is moderate: no prior canyoning experience is strictly required, but participants should be confident swimmers, comfortable with heights and exposure on the long abseil, and in good general fitness. Minimum age and weight limits are set by the operator and should be confirmed at booking. A wetsuit, helmet and harness are supplied, and visitors bring a swimsuit and towel. Because the water comes from high alpine catchments it is very cold, so the wetsuit and a warm change of clothes matter. Guides lead each group, brief participants on rope handling and jumping technique before entering the canyon, and set the ropes and safety lines at each obstacle; the narrow gorge limits escape points, so guides use standard canyon rescue procedures and may skip jumps when conditions require. The season is short because of altitude, running roughly from 3 August to 18 October in 2026, with August and September the best months when water levels have dropped from the early-summer snowmelt. Heavy rain or thunderstorms raise the risk of flash flooding and can lead to cancellation. The price is around CHF 179 (about $220) per person. The transfer includes mountain roads, so those prone to travel sickness may want to plan accordingly.