Every investigation needs a secondary scene, and the Rosenlaui Glacier Gorge is ours. It lies a short drive or a longer walk up the valley from Reichenbach Falls, in the Rosenlaui basin beneath the Wellhorn and Engelhörner peaks. Where Reichenbach drops in one dramatic vertical statement, Rosenlaui works horizontally: a narrow limestone and marble ravine shaped over centuries by glacial meltwater, with footbridges strung along its length so you can study the evidence from above the current rather than beside it.
How to get there from Reichenbach Falls
From the Reichenbach Falls funicular base station in Meiringen, the most direct route is by postbus toward Grosse Scheidegg, alighting at the Rosenlaui stop; check the day's schedule at the Meiringen station, as departures thin out considerably outside the June to September window. The ride takes roughly 20 to 25 minutes. Drivers can follow the valley road toward Grosse Scheidegg and park near the gorge entrance; expect a small parking fee, typically a few francs per hour. Walkers with a full day free can also approach via marked trails from Schwarzwaldalp, adding about an hour each way to the itinerary.
What the gorge actually shows you
The Rosenlaui ravine is cut into pale Jurassic limestone that has been smoothed and in places streaked with marble-like veining, a detail that gave the nearby hamlet its old reputation as a source of decorative stone. Wooden walkways and galleries, some bolted directly into the rock face, lead visitors roughly 1 kilometre through the gorge, with the meltwater from the Rosenlaui glacier (now retreated well above the gorge itself) running turquoise to milky white depending on sediment load and season. The walk through takes 30 to 45 minutes at an unhurried pace, longer if you stop to read the interpretive panels on glacial erosion.
The gorge typically opens from late May to mid-October, weather and snowmelt permitting; it closes outside this window because the walkways are not maintained for ice or heavy runoff. Confirm current opening dates before planning a trip in the shoulder months.
Combining Rosenlaui with a Reichenbach day
A reasonably fit visitor can treat Reichenbach Falls and Rosenlaui Gorge as a single day's casework. Start early at the funicular, allow an hour for the falls viewing platforms and the Conan Doyle memorial plaque, then take the midday postbus up to Rosenlaui. Budget another hour for the gorge and a modest lunch at the picnic tables near the entrance, since there are no large restaurants on site, only a small kiosk with limited hours. Return buses run back toward Meiringen in the afternoon; the last convenient connection is usually mid to late afternoon, so do not linger past it.
Beyond the gorge: the Rosenlaui glacier itself
The gorge takes its name from the Rosenlaui glacier, which once reached much closer to the valley floor in the nineteenth century, a fact well documented in early alpine guidebooks and photographs from the period. Like most glaciers in this part of the Bernese Alps, it has retreated significantly, and today reaching the ice itself requires a proper mountain hike with several hours of ascent from Schwarzwaldalp, suitable only for prepared walkers with map and sturdy footwear. Most visitors content themselves with the gorge, which offers the clearest accessible record of what the meltwater has carved rather than an encounter with the ice itself.
Practical notes for the file
Entry to the gorge usually involves a modest admission fee, generally in the range of 8 to 10 francs for adults, collected at a small booth near the entrance; children and families typically receive a reduced rate. Sturdy shoes are advisable, as the walkways can be damp and slippery from spray even on dry days. Dogs on leads are generally permitted, though check current rules at the entrance. There is elementary comfort in knowing the whole circuit is short enough to manage even if the weather turns, since the galleries offer some shelter from light rain.
When to time your visit
Midsummer mornings, before the postbuses bring the day's main wave of visitors, offer the clearest light for photographing the marbled rock and the turquoise water. Late September brings cooler air and thinner crowds, though meltwater volume drops and the stream can run clearer but less dramatic. Avoid the gorge in early spring, when snowmelt can make the walkways impassable or closed outright for safety.