Bachalpsee

Nestled amidst the majestic Swiss Alps, Bachalpsee is a picturesque mountain lake in Switzerland. It’s a stunning lake with its crystal-clear turquoise waters, pristine alpine surroundings, and awe-inspiring vistas. It’s by far one of the most popular places to go to from Grindelwald.

 

If you want to be sure whether visiting the lake will be worth it, how you can get there and how the hike will look like, this guide has you covered!


A Natural Masterpiece in the Heart of the Swiss Alps

Switzerland is home to lots of beautiful mountain lakes, Bachalpsee is one of them! It’s located at an altitude of 2,265 meters, surrounded by snow-capped mountains as well as lots of green. The views you’ll encounter will differ depending on the time that you visit Bachalpsee. The best conditions are when the water is still, the sky is blue and the reflections are shining brightly onto the blue waters of this stunning glacial lake.

In short:

  • Hiking time: 50-60 minutes
  • Altitude change: 100 meters
  • Distance: 2.94 KM one way (5.88KM return)
  • Best time to hike: May – Mid-October
  • Best time to see the ‘defrosted’ lake: Most likely July & August
  • Hiking difficulty: Easy

How to get to Bachalpsee?

The most convenient way to get to Bachalpsee is by taking a cable car. This cable car departs from Grindelwald and ends in First. The cable car ride takes 25 minutes, and you’ll have to remain seated when you pass the stations of Bort and Schreckfeld.

 

It’s a pretty special gondola ride, since the views get better and better as soon as you go up. Keep your ears open during summer, because you can hear the cow bells ringing from a distance. Combine this with the lush green backdrop with a typical Swiss village and you’ll have an amazing scenery.

 

Once you arrive in First, it’s only a short hike that will not take you any longer than an hour.  The path is in good condition, but walking shoes of course make for an extra convenient walking experience.

Buying a ticket

Buy your tickets for the Grindelwald – First gondola in advance, so that you don’t have to wait in line at the ticket office. In summer, the first gondola departs at 08:00. However, as time schedules may change, keep a close look on the official website of the cable car service.

Let’s hike to Bachalpsee

After arriving in First, you can follow the signs for Bachalpsee. You’ll almost immediately pass the First Cliff Walk, where you can take a short detour to visit this (short) cliffside walking attraction. You can also do this one as you get back. Continue your journey along the well paved path, where you’ll be ‘climbing’ approximately 100 meters in total before getting to the lake.

 

During the hike, you’ll be surrounded by stunning nature: mountain meadows as well as alpine flowers and some pretty good views. It can get busy in summer, especially at the end of the morning / beginning of the afternoon. Once you reach Bachalpsee, take a moment to pause and absorb the serenity that surrounds you. The stillness of the lake reflects the majestic peaks like a mirror, creating a scene of unparalleled beauty.

Best time to visit the lake

This question is a bit hard to answer, because I was there in summer (mid-June) but was unlucky to still catch a defrosting lake. Not the stunning blue lake with mountain reflections that I was hoping for. However, the scenery was still pretty special. Your best chance to have a defrosted lake will then probably be from July to August.

Down for some fun activities?

After visiting Bachalpsee, you have several options for some fun activities:

  • From First, you can find Bagjump and First Flyer.
  • You can also take the gondola to Schreckfeld, where you can find the First Glider as well as Mountain Carts.
  • Lastly, in Bort, you’ll find Trottibike.

 

Good to know: when I got back from First (11:00), there was already a waiting time of 90 minutes for the First Flyer.  

More things to do in the area!