Staubbach Falls

Staubbachfall (Staubbach Falls) is a waterfall in the Swiss canton of Bern, just west of the village of Lauterbrunnen. Listed under neighbouring Wengen in some systems, it actually plunges into the floor of the Lauterbrunnen Valley beside the village's main street. The water leaves the lip of a hanging valley and drops roughly 297 metres before reaching the Weisse Lütschine river. It is the best-known waterfall in the valley.

What is Staubbachfall and how do you spot it?

The stream spills from a hanging valley that ends in overhanging cliffs. For most of the fall it never touches the rock, so it breaks into fine spray in mid-air, which explains the name: "Staub" is German for dust. You can see it from central Lauterbrunnen by looking at the cliff wall closing off the valley to the west.

Don't confuse it with its neighbours. Trümmelbach runs through a gorge inside the mountain, and Mürrenbachfall drops from the Mürren side. Staubbach is usually billed as Switzerland's highest free-falling waterfall, while Mürrenbachfall is taller overall.

How do you get there?

Lauterbrunnen has a railway station on the line from Interlaken Ost. The falls are a few minutes' walk from the station and the main road, so no planning is needed. From Wengen, take the cog railway down to Lauterbrunnen and walk to the foot of the cliff. Viewing from below is open around the clock at no charge.

What can you see up close?

At the base of the cliff a wide curtain of mist drifts down the rock. A path leads into the cliff to a gallery cut into the rock face, where you look at the falls from behind and out through the water to the valley. The gallery is seasonal, normally open from May to October, and can shut in bad weather, after rockfall or when ice forms. In high season the falls are also lit after dark.

Why is it so famous?

Goethe visited the valley in 1779, and the experience inspired his poem "Gesang der Geister über den Wassern" ("Song of the Spirits over the Waters"). Since then the falls have been a stop for travellers touring the Bernese Alps.

When should you visit?

The falls run all year. They are strongest in spring and early summer, when snowmelt feeds them. In winter they often freeze, and the cliff takes on a very different look from summer. If you want the gallery behind the water, come between May and October and check current status with Lauterbrunnen tourism.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee for Staubbachfall? Viewing from the valley floor is free and possible day and night. Check gallery details with the tourist office before you go.

How tall is Staubbachfall? About 297 metres; some sources give 299.

Can you walk behind the waterfall? Yes, via a path to a gallery in the rock, but only in season (typically May to October) and when conditions allow.

Is Staubbachfall the same as Trümmelbach? No. Trümmelbach is a series of falls in a gorge inside the mountain, while Staubbach drops freely from a cliff above the village.