Source of the Aare

Through impressive gorges, past thundering waterfalls and green reservoirs, this water trail leads along the Aare to the two sources of the Aare before the Oberaar glacier and Lauteraar glacier.

The Stages

This multi-day tour starts in Meiringen at the railway station and leads along the Aare Gorge to Innertkirchen. Along the old mule track you will pass artistic stone arch bridges, stairs carved out of the rock, wild streams and endless photo subjects. On the way, you can stop in Innertkirchen, Guttannen or Handeck for food and drink and to spend the night. Now follows the ascent to the Räterichsbodensee. Or you can take the adventurous Gelmerbahn up to the Gelmersee, from where the view sweeps over the granite landscape of the upper Aare Valley and the path first leads downwards. Past the Räterichsboden, the trail leads up to the historic Grimsel Hospiz Alpine Hotel on the Grimsel Nollen. The two paths separate here. One path leads to the source of the Unteraar and the other to the source of the Oberaar.

To the source of the Unteraar

 MODERATE | 12 h | 38 km |  1850 m |  490 m

To the Source of the Oberaar

 MODERATE | 13 h | 40 km |  2107 m |  358 m

Tips

The route can be shortened at will by taking the former Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG cable cars or the PostBus! The route to the Oberaar glacier is suitable for families, while a visit to the source of the Aare at the Lauteraar glacier is worthwhile for experienced mountain hikers

accommodations