Engstligen falls

Engstligen Falls (Engstligenfälle) drop in two tiers above Adelboden, in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland. Fed by the high plateau of Engstligenalp, they are among the best-known waterfalls of the Bernese Alps and are easy to combine with a trip up to the alp.

What are the Engstligen Falls?

The cascade has two stages, Engstligen Fall I and Engstligen Fall II, measuring 97 and 165 metres. Many small streams collect on the Engstligenalp plateau and join to feed them, and the falls carry a great deal of water. They are often described as one of the highest waterfalls in Switzerland. Cantonal nature protection has covered them since 1948, and they also appear in the Swiss Inventory of Landscapes of National Significance.

Where are they and how do you get there?

The falls lie just above the village of Adelboden. By car, head for the parking area at the valley station of the Engstligenalp cable car, at a place called Unter dem Birg; the cable car passes right across the waterfall zone. Without a car, the local bus stops at Chäli, where a circuit path around the lower falls begins.

How can you see them up close?

• On foot from the valley. A steep path climbs from Unter dem Birg beneath the cable car line. Expect about an hour to the upper fall. One route description gives around three hours and nearly 800 metres of ascent for the whole climb from Adelboden to the plateau.
• By the old mule track. The trail starts at Oey, near Adelboden, and follows the water up to the plateau along a traditional pack-animal path (Saumpfad).
• By cable car. The gondola gives a view of the falls from above. From the top station you can already see the upper part of the cascade, and the spot works for prams and wheelchairs.
• Upper falls loop. A circuit around the upper fall begins at the top station.
• Guided tour. The Engstligenalp operator runs a guided waterfall walk that ends with a raclette meal.

What else is up on the plateau?

Engstligenalp is a broad, flat alpine basin ringed by limestone walls, with the Tschingellochtighorn as its backdrop. From the top station, the first huts are a short walk away, and the Chummihütte lies roughly half an hour further on. The plateau suits both short strolls and longer hikes.

When should you go?

Summer and early autumn are the best seasons, when the trails are snow-free and the cable car runs on its regular schedule. Water volume peaks during snowmelt, which is when the falls look most dramatic. Check the cable car timetable on the Engstligenalp website before you travel, as hours vary through the year.

Frequently asked questions

How tall are the Engstligen Falls? The two tiers measure 97 and 165 metres. Other sources quote different overall figures, so treat these as the heights of the individual stages.

Is there an entry fee? The paths to the falls are open to everyone. The cable car ride and the guided tour are paid.

Can I see the falls without a long hike? Yes. The cable car crosses the waterfall zone, and the upper part is visible from the top station, including for families with prams.

Where do I park? At the valley station of the cable car in Unter dem Birg, where the gondola to Engstligenalp departs.