Day hike to Switzerland's most famous alpine lake
Oeschinensee
If you’re looking for a fantasy lake easily accessible by public transport, Oschinensee in Kanton Bern is a delightful option.
Basic preparation for your day hike
What I pack in my minimalist day hike backpack
Water
Raincoat
Fleece jacket
Charged phone
Phone charger (for the train ride)
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Hat
Cereal bar
Dried fruit
Discretional picnic
2. How to get there
The closest town to Oeschinensee is Kandersteg, a valley that starts in Spiez near Interlaken in Canton Bern. This town is just 30 minutes from Spiez and one hour from Bern. If you plan to go during the weekend, I recommend planning on being at Oeschinensee at 9 AM to avoid the crowd. You will then get to enjoy the greatness of this place with as few people as possible.
My favourite transportation methods are public transport or on foot so here it goes… From Kandersteg you can either take a gondola up to Oeschinensee (CHF20 round trip) and then walk 20 minutes or hike up following the yellow signs for 1,5 hours.
I strongly recommend walking up but the gondola will save you time and energy for the next hikes that are waiting for you up there.
3. Suggested hike itinerary around this Swiss gem
There are some stunning hikes starting from Oeschinensee offering the blue lake as a mind-blowing backdrop. Once you arrive at Oescheninsee you have several options to continue hiking.
Hiking up to Kliental cabin is a popular hike. It’s quite steep but relatively safe. The hike takes 6 hours round trip. Didn’t I advise you to keep some energy for hiking once at Oeschinensee ? The first route to Oberbärgli is fairly easy and takes 45 minutes. You can then take a Mittagspause (lunch break) at the mountain hutte. You can then digest your alpine delicacies with a hilly hike up Kliental taking this route. This isn’t a loop hike so you will have to retrace your steps on the way down.
There is also a shorter loop hike that we can call the Panorama trail that offers a view of the entire lake while hiking grassy hills. The hike take 3 hours and is kid friendly.
If you’re feeling adventurous and are an experienced hiker/mountaneer, you can venture out to the Fründenhütte for a loop around this marvelous blue lake. I haven’t tried this hike myself and do not recommend it to new comers. If I haven’t scared you off, this adventure take 4 hours and seems to be worth the adrenaline.
For more hike ideas, the Oeschinensee website is also a great ressource.
3 Things to do that aren’t hiking
Chilling out at the shore or renting a row boat to get close and personal with the waterfalls
Get supplies from the mountain cabin at Oeschinensee and have a BBQ in this unique cookout spot. I don’t know where the concept of barbecue to go comes from but I think it’s a somptuous idea. Swiss germans call it “grillieren” and do it as often as possible during the summer.
Feeling brave ? Go swimming ! The water is quite cold since it comes from melting glaciers but it’s a once in a lifetime experience you shouldn’t miss.
