Trift Bridge

Trift Bridge is a wooden suspension footbridge that crosses a deep gorge in the Bernese Alps, carrying hikers across a dramatic mountain valley. The structure combines timber and steel cables to create a stable passage at significant elevation above the ravine below.

An earlier footbridge was built in 2004, but shifting glaciers in the region made it unsafe for continued use. The current structure was completed in 2009 and has since served as the main crossing for mountain travelers in this area.

The bridge has become a well-known gathering place for hikers from across the region, where visitors from different backgrounds meet while crossing the gorge. It represents how modern alpine communities embrace mountain tourism as part of their daily landscape.

Visitors can take a cable car from Meiringen to Trift Station and then hike uphill for several hours to reach the bridge. The crossing itself takes just a few minutes, but planning for the full journey with plenty of daylight helps ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.

From the bridge, visitors can observe visible signs of glacier movement in the surrounding landscape, including newly formed waterfalls and shifting ice formations. This direct view of active geological change makes crossing it more than simply a hiking experience.

Location: Bern

Inception: June 12, 2009

Height: 90 m

Length: 170 m

Made from material: wood

Part of: mountain trail

Website: https://myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/route/trift-bridge-a-spectacular-pedestrian-bridge

GPS coordinates: 46.69417,8.35750

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02