Trummelbach Falls

Trummelbach Falls (also Trümmelbachfall or Trümmelbachfälle in German; pronounced "TRHEUH-mull-bahkh-fell-uh") is one of the more unique waterfalling experiences to be had. What makes this waterfall stand out is that it's nestled deep in a slot canyon carved out by the powerful waterfall itself, and the only way to even see the falls is to go on the subterranean walk bringing you face-to-face with its various chutes. When Julie and I walked part of the road between this waterfall and Stechelberg, all we could see was the dark slot canyon. So we're not kidding when we say you've gotta get close to even see parts of the waterfall in action.

The power of the falls comes from meltwaters that were once either snow or glaciers nestled above and below the Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger peaks as well as the glaciers in between them. And considering that they're generally covered in snow and ice year-round (which you can appreciate if you take the Jungfraujoch [the Top of Europe] excursion) there's an awful lot of water in there!

The tight confines of the slot canyon results in some interesting sculpted walls as the rushing waters plunge, slide, jump, pirouette, and corkscrew their way down to Lauterbrunnen Valley. In some parts of the slot canyon, there seems to be a damp mistiness to the air you're in, which is something I think I've only experienced where there were waterfalls within a cave.

The slot canyon adventure also has an advantage in that if the weather's crummy, you can still do this excursion with no real impact to the overall experience (except maybe your views of Lauterbrunnen Valley in a couple of spots along the walkway might be clouded over). That was why we visited this waterfall in the afternoon when we knew the mostly fair skies of the morning give way to afternoon thundershowers.

We paid about 11 Swiss Francs per person to get through the gate. Just beyond it, there's a funicular that rises up a dark tunnel until you're somewhere between the 5th and 6th chutes. From there, you have a choice of going up or going down as well as be treated to very nice views of Lauterbrunnen Valley and Staubbach Falls if you look northwards as well as the Aegertenbach Falls and Murrenbach Falls if you look across the valley.

If you go up, you're on an out-and-back walkway ascending up several stairs and slippery corridors to a dead-end near the 10th chute. Along the way, you'll be seeing chutes 6 through 10. Chute 6 is probably the most photographed one because the walkway circles the waterfall before you go right past its top. Thus, you can peer right into the twisty abyss as the chute plunges and disappears loudly into the darkness.

Once you're beyond chute 6, you're immediately within the artificially lit confines of the upper slot canyon itself as the path precariously follows along the rushing stream right below you towards chute 7. The path then ascends past chute 7 towards the very misty chute 8. You can see this chute from a few positions, including a very wet one as the crashing waters inundate the area with its mist (making photography extremely difficult).

Beyond chute 8, you go up a flight of stairs until the walkway opens up again, and you can gaze down upon chute 8 as well as get a glimpse of chute 9. From this "chamber," you can start to see a little bit of daylight above you. In fact, I managed to see a faint (almost lunar-like) rainbow in the mist of chute 8 thanks to the sliver of daylight that managed to penetrate and reflect amongst the slot canyon walls.

A few paces higher up the walkway brings you to the dead-end right next to the compact chute 10 thunder and crash into the plunge pool before it drains over chute 9 (which you can't see all that well) in the darkness. Return via the way you came to the funicular exit.

From the funicular exit, you then descend a few flights of stairs providing a brief bit of recovery time before you're plunged back into the darkness and echoing loudness of crashing waters. That's where you'll be looking down at chutes 5 and 4. There's even a signpost somewhere in this area indicating "Corkscrew Falls" right below you, which is really nothing more than a part of the watercourse where there's a tight swirl before the water continues further downstream.

After descending a few more stairs alongside chute 3, the path opens up into daylight again, where you can see the last 2 chutes below separated by a footbridge between them. Before long, you'll be back at the funicular entrance.

But wait! You're not done yet...

There's a side path that gently ascends to the right of the funicular entrance along the cliff before putting you on that bridge between chutes 2 and 1. When I was there, the waterwheel shooting out from chute 2 sometimes spilled directly onto the bridge itself! Shortly beyond the bridge, the path ends as you can get a nice view of chute 1 falling right into the remainder of the stream as it rushes downstream to join the main river running through Lauterbrunnen Valley.

The bus will drop you off right in front of the Trummelbach Cafe, where you walk a short distance past some signs and along a little meadow before reaching the gate where you pay for admission. Note that the buses were covered by our Swiss Rail Pass.

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Aegertenbach Falls from the funicular exit

Julie going up the stairs to see chutes 6 through 10

Approaching chute 7

Chute 8 seen between a narrow slot from a more distant viewpoint

The compact chute 10

Looking over the lower slot canyon towards the valley while approaching chute 5

Julie still descending the steps towards chute 5 with Murrenbach Falls in the distance

One of the chutes of the lower slot canyon

The so-called Corkscrew Falls

Looking right down at chutes 2 and 1 with a footbridge between them

When Julie and I walked towards Stechelberg, this is all of the Trummelbach Falls that you're gonna see - nada! You can definitely hear the falls, but the action is mostly hidden within the slot you see pictured here.

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Left to right then upwards sweep of the attractive 6th chute as it spills into a slot canyon and makes its way (mostly unseen) towards Lauterbrunnen Valley

Bottom up sweep of the 7th chute from within the artificially lit confines of the slot canyon carved out by the rushing falls

Bottom up sweep of what I believe to be the 8th chute

Closer look at the 8th chute to demonstrate just how close you are to some of these subterranean waterfalls

Left to right sweep of the attractive 8th chute as it disappears into the abyss below

Left to right sweep of both the 10th chute and the top of the 9th chute disappearing into darkness

Bottom up sweep of what I think is the 5th chute

Bottom up sweep starting from the slot canyon below and ending at Lauterbrunnen Valley; all while you can hear the rushing waters loudly

Top down sweep following the rushing waters down what I believe to be the 4th and 3rd chutes

Backwards L sweep from left to the top looking down at the 2nd and 1st chutes and ending at the Lauterbrunnen Valley; all seen from somewhere near the 3rd chute

V-shaped sweep from the top of the 1st chute towards its base and then down the stream towards the lush Lauterbrunnen Valley

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TRIP REPORTS

• June 9, 2010

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES

NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Staubbach Falls
• Ägertenbach Falls
• Mürrenbach Falls

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