Canyoning Saxeten Gorge

Canyoning in the Saxeten Gorge is a guided descent of a narrow water-carved canyon in the Saxeten valley near Wilderswil, a short transfer of about 10 minutes from Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland. It is the most approachable canyon in the Outdoor Interlaken programme and is regarded as a good first canyoning trip. The route combines walking and scrambling in the streambed with abseils of up to about 12 m, natural rock slides and optional jumps of up to about 5 m, so participants can choose how far to push themselves. The trip lasts roughly 3.5 to 4 hours and is run by Outdoor Interlaken (outdoor.ch), which operates from Hauptstrasse 15 in Matten bei Interlaken and a main base at Industriestrasse 17 in Wilderswil. No previous canyoning experience is needed, but participants should be comfortable in cold, moving water, able to swim, and in reasonable general fitness. Minimum age and weight limits are set by the operator and should be checked when booking. The operator supplies wetsuit, helmet, harness and canyoning shoes, so visitors need only bring a swimsuit and towel. Guides give a safety briefing and demonstrate the rope techniques before the first abseil, and the group stays under guide supervision throughout, with ropes and standard canyon rescue procedures in use. The main season is June to September, with trips running from May to October. Snowmelt and rain raise water levels and can make conditions cold or unsafe, so departures may be moved or cancelled after heavy rain or thunderstorms. Prices are around CHF 154 to 159 (about $189 to $196) per person. Because the canyon is shaded and the water is glacier-fed, the wetsuit is important even on hot days, and a warm layer for the transfer back is useful.