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GPS: 46.679, 8.187
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Shared By: Colin Winter on Nov 2, 2008 · Updates
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Description Suggest change

Eldorado is perhaps the most famous of all climbing venues at Grimsel. The approach itself, beginning at the spectacular Grimsel Hospiz, crossing the Grimsel dam, scampering through a long tunnel, and then traversing above the shore of the Grimselsee reservoir, is an experience not to be missed.

There are well over a dozen routes, all off which are around 500 meters in length and share a walk-off descent down a grassy gully to the right of the wall.

The venue is at around 2000 meters above sea level, and is south facing.

The routes have bolted anchors and intermittent bolts on the pitches, particularly on slabs and elsewhere where it is not possible to place gear. For most of the routes, one is well advised to bring a complementary rack.

Most of the routes can be found in the Swiss guidebook Schweiz Plaisir west.

Due to its reputation, the venue tends to draw crowds in the summer, particularly on the classic routes such as Motörhead.

Getting There Suggest change

Park at the Grimsel Hospiz, traverse the dam, and take the trail towards the Lauteraar hut. The approach is 1.5-2 hours, with practically no elevation gain.

Note 2022: The dam is being rebuilt from 2019-2025 and access across the dam is closed (https://www.grimselstrom.ch/ausbauvorhaben/zukunft/ersatz-staumauer-spitallamm/). You need to park below the dam and hike up. Adds ~30min to the approach time. KWO (hydropower company) would eventually like to raise the dam height by 23m (https://www.grimselstrom.ch/ausbauvorhaben/zukunft/vergroesserung-grimselsee/), which could potentially threaten these climbs?

4 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Eldorado

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 13
Motörhead
Trad 14 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Motörhead
 13
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad 14 pitches
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