Oeschinensee
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 2.5-3 hours
Difficulty: moderate
Parking: Parking at Kandersteg car park, 5CHF for the day. You’ll then need to get the cable car at 32CHF each (as at 2024)
Refreshments: Restaurant at Kandersteg top station and restaurants by lake.
Other info: Take note of return cable car times as it’s a 1.5 hour walk back down from the top station if you miss it!
I’m going to start this post by saying that I think Oeschinensee is the most beautiful place I’ve ever experienced. I’ll never forget the first time I laid eyes on the water and the views from above the lake are quite honestly unbelievable. It’s also worth noting that it can get exceptionally busy here in the summer (it’s pretty obvious from the pictures why!)
This stunning panorama trail traverses the mountains above the super blue Oeschinensee lake. The path passes below dramatic peaks and passes by beautiful waterfalls. It’s a great way to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the lake and escape some of the crowds on the shore.
It’s worth bearing in mind that this route has a steep climb and lots of uneven terrain with loose rock, you’ll need proper walking shoes and a bit of a head for heights. Some parts are a bit exposed, with steep slopes to the side with no safety railing so make sure you are comfortable with your dog in this situation. If you’d prefer something a less exposed, you can still experience the beauty of the lake from lakeside level.
As is always the case in Switzerland, the trail is well marked. Start by heading towards Oeschinensee then about 400m, the path splits to the left up the hill. Follow signs to Heuberg/Ober Bärgli. You can’t go too wrong from here, just follow the path along until you’ll reach a stunning viewpoint of the lake below.
You’ll then traverse the mountain before eventually arriving at the Ober Bargli hut – the perfect spot for a well deserved cold drink! Then simply follow the signs down hill towards Oeschinensee. Poppy was happy to have a cool down swim but it was a little cold for us! Finally it’s a gentle uphill back to the gondola to finish an epic walk. We really hope you’ll get to experience this place at some point, it really is something special.
Thanks for reading,
Cara, Andy, Poppy & Maple x
