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10 Most Beautiful River Gorges in Switzerland

Switzerland has many impressive gorges cut by rivers and glaciers over millennia, some that are tourist attractions you must pay to visit and other others wild in nature and require a hike to visit. Here are ten that we recommend.

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Switzerland has many impressive gorges cut by rivers and glaciers over millennia. Some gorges are tourist attractions were you must pay to enter. Others are just wild in nature and require a hike to visit. Here are some that we have enjoyed over the years.

Narrow gorges with elevated walkways

These gorges are tourist attractions with an entrance fee to enter the gorge and a walkway built on the canyon walls.

Viamala Gorge Viewpoint & Treasure Hunt
  • Easy
  • .5 h
  • .3 k
Viewpoint over this narrow gorge with short walkways in the rock wall to get a closer look. Kids can do a treasure hunt using binoculars to spy hidden clues in the canyon.
  • Graubünden
Grindelwald Glacier Gorge
Walk through a narrow river gorge on an elevated walkway. Plus a few amusements include walking on a net over the river and an exciting canyon swing.
  • Jungfrau Region
Aare Gorge • Tips for your visit
  • Easy
  • 1 h
  • 1.6 k
Explore this narrow river gorge on elevated walkways built into the rock walls, admiring the interesting curved formations and icy blue water running through the middle.
  • Haslital
Tamina River Gorge
  • Easy
  • 1 h
  • 1 k
Explore this narrow river gorge on a safe walkway above the roaring river below. For a longer outing, add on a canyon walk and swim at nearby thermal baths.
  • Heidiland
Zermatt Gorner Gorge
  • Easy
  • 1 h
  • 2.75 k
  • 100m
  • 100m
Explore the breathtaking beauty of this narrow river gorge on an wooden walkway suspended over stunning rock formations and turquoise waters.
  • Zermatt
Leukerbad Dala Gorge & Thermalquellen-Weg
  • Moderate
  • 1 h
  • 3.3 k
  • 150m
  • 150m
Elevated metal walkways built into the canyon walls allow you to explore this gorgeous narrow river gorge, free to visit unlike most gorges like this one.
  • Leukerbad, Valais

Hikes through river gorges

These gorges are free to visit with hikes that follow along the river in the middle of a V-shaped ravine. Usually there are a few narrow sections that have high rock walls, waterfalls, and sometimes bridges and elevated walkways to navigate those sections.

Wolfsschlucht” river gorge & bear cave hike
  • Moderate
  • 2 h
  • 4 k
  • 220m
  • 260m
Hike up to an enormous cave in the side of a cliff wall with a view, then ramble down a beautiful forested gorge. Not too long, so a good choice for families that want a little adventure.
  • Jura & Three Lakes
Tüfelsschlucht • Hike through Devil’s Gorge
  • Easy
  • 1.75 h
  • 4.2 k
  • 10m
  • 420m
Hike through beautiful river gorge, following a stream through a lush forest, with many small and big waterfalls and interesting rock formations. There are lots of places to picnic and build fires along the way.
  • Jura & Three Lakes
Rhein Gorge • Forest Hike to “Swiss Grand Canyon” Viewpoint
  • Easy
  • 2 h
  • 6.7 k
  • 240m
  • 240m
Beautiful forest walk to lookout over the Rhein Gorge, with interesting cliff formations dropping into a river below. Good choice for spring. Easy 7 km round trip, possible with strollers.
  • Chur and Rhine Valley, Flims Laax Falera
Areuse Gorge • Hike along river
  • Easy
  • 3.5 h
  • 11.5 k
  • 120m
  • 350m
Beautiful walk along a rushing river, through fields and forests, with several narrow sections with dramatic cliff walls, waterfalls and stone bridges. It’s a long hike at 11km, but mostly downhill and not difficult.
  • Jura & Three Lakes

Even more gorges

We haven’t visited all the gorges in Switzerland, yet! Durnand Gorge in the Valais is on the top of our list. See a more extensive gorge list on MySwitzerland.com.

Picture of Tanya, Swiss Family Fun
Tanya is the founder and editor of Swiss Family Fun. She has lived in Zurich Switzerland since 2005, spending most of her free time hiking in the Swiss alps.

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2 responses

  1. I would like to know why you moved to Switzerland? I am Swiss by my father who was born in Bern, and German by my mother who was actually born in Ukraine in a German village.

    Reply

    1. My husband found a job here and we thought it might be a fun adventure. After a few years, we didn’t want to leave.

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Welcome

Hi! I’m Tanya and our family has been living & hiking in Switzerland since 2005, collecting dozens of fun hikes and activities for all ages and abilities. More about us…

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