Trümmelbach Falls, Subterranean waterfall system in Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland
Trümmelbach Falls is a series of ten waterfalls inside the mountain in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, fed by meltwater from glaciers on the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The stream drops about 140 metres through a narrow gorge that barely widens upward; the upper falls receive no daylight and are called underground waterfalls. A 600-metre route of stairs, tunnels and galleries, plus a 100-metre inclined lift, gives access.
These waterfalls formed over thousands of years from glacial meltwater flowing from the surrounding mountain range. The site opened to the public in 1877 after early access routes were carved into the rock.
The falls have been open to visitors since 1877, when the first walkways and bridges were built; the tunnel route through the mountain is about 600 metres long. In spring the meltwater carries so much rock and sediment that the stream turns cloudy, while by autumn the lower flow leaves the water clearer.
You reach the waterfalls by walking through tunnel systems and platforms built into the mountain. Be prepared for wet and slippery surfaces, and wear sturdy shoes for safe footing.
The upper falls lie so deep in the winding gorge that no daylight reaches them, and they are called underground waterfalls. A 100-metre inclined lift inside the mountain carries visitors up part of the way.
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