Lake Oeschinensee Hike – Sheer Cliffs, Clear Waters
The hike to the Oeschinensee is the first hike that Anna and I did together in Switzerland, so it holds a special place in my heart. I picked the hike out of the Lonely Planet Switzerland hiking book, and it is absolutely stunning.
There are a number of ways you can slice this hike. You can hike up from Kandersteg as we did, or take the cable car up from town and make the hike a whole lot easier.
From Kandersteg to the Oeschinen Lake
If you just want to hike up to the Oeschinensee, the hike is not at all technical, however, it does climb around 430 meters, and will take you 1.5 hours hiking time. In Switzerland, this is considered an “easy hike”.
Once you are there, you can enjoy the stunning views of the sheer, waterfall-filled cliffs surrounding the crystal clear blue lake on 3 sides. It is stunning! The turquoise blue color of the lake is also something to behold, especially if you have never been to a glacial fed lake before.
You can stop and enjoy lunch here at the Oeschinen Lake, either with a picnic like we did, or at either of the two mountain hotels at the head of the lake – Berghaus am Oeschinensee, and Berghotel Oeschinense.
You can also rent boats here, which is a fun way to explore the lake from another angle. Or you could go for a swim if you don’t mind glacial-fed waters. They are very cold!
Cable Car To The Oschinen Lake
There are signs to the cable car station at the Kandersteg train station. It is around a 15 minute walk to the Kandersteg cable car in total.
The price for the cable car ride is 22 CHF one way or 30 CHF return. It is far easier to walk down, so that is always an option if you want to save the 8 CHF.
The above prices are cheaper if you have a Swiss Travel Pass or 1/2 Tax Card. You save 50% on the price.
It runs from 8.30am until 6pm in the summer season or slightly reduced times in the shoulder seasons (5 pm). In winter it is closed from late October until around Christmas – this year 24.10.2022 to 22.12.2022.
The Panorama Trail: Oeschinensee to Oberbaergli
Oberbaergli above Lake Oeschinensee
If you really want a great view of the Oeschinen Lake, you should continue your hike around the lake (from where the cablecar station is), along the left side, up to Oberbärgli. This is officially The Panorama Trail and a great way to experience the lake from above.
Lake Oeschinen to Oberbaergli
It is another 410m steep climb from the Oeschinen Lake, and definitely not for those of you with a fear of heights. That is not to say that it’s extreme in any way, just a little exposed in parts, which is why the panorama hike is so stunning!
You can also look across to the other side of the Oeschinen Lake and imagine hiking along the lake’s edge and then up to one of the hut on the other side – the Fründenhütte.
The walk up to Oberbaurgli is actually part of the Swiss Alpine Route, with this stage running between Kandersteg and Lauterbrunnen. It is quite a long hike, but definitely worth it if you have the time, and fitness!
Getting There
Kandersteg is in the Berner Oberland, not too far from Interlaken (1 hour 10 by train) and Bern (1hr by train). It is also on the way to Wallis by car from the north, so makes a good stop before catching the car train (Lötschberg Tunnel train) south.
If you come by car, there are some parking lots around town. I recommend arriving early in summer because this is a very very popular hike. Below you can see the parking options in Kandersteg. The cable car station is probably the best place to park.