Immerse yourself in idyllic scenery, surrounded by majestic mountains... welcome to the unspoiled beauty of Lake Oeschinen, a unique natural gem recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site!
Everything you need to know when visiting Lake Oeschinen
Lake Oeschinen (Oeschinensee) is located in the small town of Kandersteg, Switzerland, just a 45-minute drive (or 1 hour by train) from the popular hub of Interlaken and a 2-hour train ride from Zurich. Oeschinensee is not as widely visited as some of the other attractions in the area, but it is one of the must-sees when traveling to Switzerland. It is a small but beautiful lake, surrounded by steep, rugged cliffs with sparkling blue waters and plenty of activities for the whole family.
Admire the stunning beauty of Lake Oeschinen. Photo: @amazingswitzerlandWhat is beautiful about the lake?
Lake Oeschinen has stunningly clear blue waters. Like a giant cauldron of stone, jagged peaks rise 3,500 metres from its rim. When the sun shines, the water takes on a brilliant glow. When the clouds are low, the whole area takes on a somber, mystical air. This lake is a natural haven in Switzerland, with some of the most spectacular hiking spots. Swim in the lake or picnic on the shore. Take a paddle boat ride or photograph some of the most beautiful scenery in the Swiss Alps.
Beautiful mountain lake with mesmerizing turquoise water. Photo: @ryan.lomas
Oeschinensee is fed by melting alpine glaciers. As a result, it contains fine silt particles (called glacial flour) suspended in the water. The silt in the lake absorbs shorter wavelengths of light, such as violet and indigo. The water absorbs longer wavelengths, such as red, orange, and yellow. When sunlight hits the lake, it absorbs most of the colors. Only blue light is reflected, so the lake appears turquoise.
Oeschinensee (“see” means lake in German) is nestled in the mountains above the town of Kandersteg in the Berner Oberland region of the Swiss Alps. It is part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lake Oeschinen – Switzerland's hidden gem. Photo: @amazingplacestripThe best time to visit Lake Oeschinen is in the summer, from July to mid-September. The hiking trails are usually snow-free and the lake is at its warmest. The cable car has the longest operating hours during these months, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cable car is also open in the winter from early December to early March for the ski season. However, the hiking trails will be closed and the lake will be covered in snow and ice.
How to get to Oeschinensee, Kandersteg
Kandersteg is relatively easy to get to if you rent a car. It also has a train station if you don’t have your own vehicle. From Interlaken, you can get to Kandersteg in just 45 minutes and can park at the gondola station. If you are coming from Interlaken by train, you will need to take a train to Speiz and change to a second train to Kandersteg.
Lake Oeschinen seen from the Panorama Walk. Photo: @laura_demarque
Once in Kandersteg, you will need to take a gondola up the mountain to Oeschinen Lake . There are hiking trails up the mountain if you want to walk, but the gondola is quicker. There is also the option of just buying a one-way ticket to take the gondola up and then walk back down. The walk from the gondola station back to Kandersteg only takes an hour, but it is steep and requires some effort to go down.
Hiking on the Oeschinensee Panoramic Trail
One of the best ways to really appreciate the beauty of Oeschinensee on your trip to Switzerland is to hike around the lake. There are a number of trails that offer stunning views of the lake. The most popular is the Oeschinensee Panorama Trail. You can choose to do the entire loop or hike to the viewpoint at Unterbargli and then return the same way.
Starting your hike at the gondola stop, you will continue along a gravel path through open meadows and through clusters of pine trees. Soon you will reach a small hut and a great view of the Oeschinensee, make sure you stop here for some great photos of the beautiful blue lake. This is one of the best viewpoints of Lake Oeschinen and from here you can see why it is one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland .
Kandersteg Town. Photo: @Travel Away
From Lager Point, take Route 8 signed Oeschinensee to Heuberg. This is a panoramic loop that takes 3 hours and is 8.5km long. Don’t worry if you don’t want to do the whole loop, you can still follow this route as far as you like and then turn around and this part of the lake is the most beautiful.
The trail continues on a gravel path through the pine forest and you will soon start to catch glimpses of the lake shore through the trees. After a bit of a relaxing time at the lake, pick up the trail again and continue along Route 8 to Heuberg/Unterbargli.
Starting from Kandersteg to reach Lake Oeschinen. Photo: @Butter.and.fly
The trail slowly begins to climb higher up the mountainside, with views down to the lake from above until you reach Unterbargli, a large undulating meadow with stunning views down to the lake and across to the surrounding mountains. This is a great place to stop for a picnic lunch.
The trail to Lake Oeschinen. Photo: @daniel.ciuca.ro
From Unterbargli you can choose to continue along the figure 8 path to complete the full panoramic loop or return the way you came, following the lake shore. The rest of the panoramic loop is very steep and the path can be quite narrow, which is why so many people turn around at this point and return the way they came.
Must-try experiences at Oeschinen Lake
Take in the views: the turquoise lake set against the 3,500-metre high mountains is breathtaking. Take a seat on the shore and watch the waterfalls cascade down the steep rock walls.
Go for a swim: Being a glacial lake at 1,578m, the water is never warm, but in late summer it can reach around 20°C. The turquoise waters look inviting, so if you’re brave enough, pack your swimming trunks and jump in the cool water.
Lake Oeschinen in summer. Photo: @photographe_cedric_lambert25
Picnic: Oeschinensee is a great spot for a picnic. A rocky shoreline surrounds the lake and there are some great short walks that run around the lake shore.
Rowing Boats: Renting a rowing boat is one of the most fun things to do on Lake Oeschinen . The boats hold up to four people and cost 29 CHF for 1 hour or 18 CHF for 30 minutes. It is first come, first served and the queue can get quite long in the afternoon, but it is worth the wait.
Lunch in a hut: Berghotel Oeschinensee is the larger hut, which has a restaurant with a more international menu, while the Berghaus Arva restaurant has a small menu of local favorites like ravioli and rösti.
Lunch at Berghotel Oeschinensee. Photo: @hoteloeschinensee
Photo: @Berghotel Restaurant Oeschinensee
Take on the Mountain Coaster toboggan ride through the amazing scenery on a 750 meter long track. Children from 8 years old can ride unaccompanied and children over 3 years old can ride with an adult. One ride costs 6 CHF, 2 rides are 11.50 CHF and 3 rides are 17 CHF. You control your own speed and it is a great feeling to rush down with the view of the mountains on the horizon!
Mountain Coaster slide. Photo: @bls.ch
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