Gelmersee

#95 among destinations in Switzerland

Nature, Natural attraction, Lake

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Nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Gelmersee is a breathtaking mountain lake that offers a serene escape amidst nature's pristine beauty. With its crystal-clear turquoise waters, the lake is a hidden gem located near the Grimsel Pass in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. This glacial lake, sitting at an elevation of 1,850 meters above sea level, was formed by the construction of the Gelmer Dam in 1926 for hydroelectric power generation.

Gelmersee is not only a spectacle for its natural beauty but also for the thrilling journey visitors undertake to reach it. The Gelmerbahn, one of the steepest funiculars in Europe, takes passengers on an exhilarating ride up the steep incline with gradients up to 106% to the lake. Once at the top, visitors are rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and the glistening waters of Gelmersee.

The area around Gelmersee is a paradise for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Numerous trails offer varying degrees of difficulty, including the path around the lake that provides a relatively easy and scenic walk. More adventurous souls can tackle the challenging hikes that ascend the surrounding mountains for even more spectacular vistas.

Alternative names: Area: 24.9 mi²Maximum depth: 157 ftElevation: 6066 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 46°36'56"N, 8°19'48"E

Location

BernSwitzerland

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Day trips

Gelmersee – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Sidelhorn, Totesee, Grimselsee, Räterichsbodensee.

4.4 miS
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Sidelhorn
113 min walk • The Sidelhorn is a mountain of the Bernese Alps, located west of the Grimsel Pass. It lies at the eastern end of the mountain chain between the Unteraar Glacier and the Rhone valley, named Aargrat.
3.8 miS
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Totesee
98 min walk • Totesee is a small natural lake at the Grimsel Pass in Switzerland. The lake lies immediately to the south of the natural watershed and cantonal boundary at the pass.
3.7 miS
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Grimselsee
94 min walk • The Grimselsee or Lake Grimsel is an artificial lake near the Grimsel Pass in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. With a volume of 95 mio m³, it is larger than other hydroelectric reservoirs in the region: Oberaarsee, Räterichsbodensee and Gelmersee.
2.1 miS
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Räterichsbodensee
54 min walk • Räterichsbodensee is a lake in Guttannen, Oberhasli, Switzerland. The reservoir has a volume of 25 mio m³, a surface area is 0.67 km² and is operated by Kraftwerke Oberhasli. It is connected to the river Aare.
4.1 miE
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Galenstock
106 min walk • The Galenstock is the fourth highest mountain in the Urner Alps in Switzerland. Its summit ridge lies on the border between the cantons of Uri and the Valais.
3.7 miS
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain pass
Hotel Grimsel Passhöhe
95 min walk • The Grimsel Pass is a mountain pass in Switzerland, crossing the Bernese Alps at an elevation of 2,164 metres. The pass connects the Haslital, the upper valley of the river Aare, with the upper valley of the Rhône.
3.6 miW
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Ritzlihorn
92 min walk • The Ritzlihorn is a mountain of the Bernese Alps, overlooking Handegg in the canton of Bern. It lies on the range east of the Gauli Glacier and north of the Bächlistock.
3.5 miNE
Nature, Natural attraction, Natural feature
Trift Glacier
91 min walk • The Trift Glacier is a 5 km long glacier in the Urner Alps near Gadmen, in the extreme east of the canton Berne in Switzerland.
4.2 miSE
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Klein Furkahorn
107 min walk • The Klein Furkahorn is a mountain of the Urner Alps, overlooking the Furka Pass on the border between the Swiss cantons of Valais and Uri. It lies near the southern end of the Galenstock-Gross Furkahorn chain, east of the Rhone Glacier. From the Furka Pass a trail leads to its summit.
3.6 miN
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Steinhüshorn
92 min walk • The Steinhüshorn is a mountain of the Urner Alps, overlooking Guttannen in the Bernese Oberland. It lies north of the Diechterhorn and west of the Trift Glacier.
3.6 miW
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Steinlauihorn
92 min walk • The Steinlauihorn is a mountain of the Bernese Alps, overlooking Handegg in the Bernese Oberland. It lies south of the Ritzlihorn, on the range separating the valley of the Gauli Glacier from the main Aar valley.