Lake Oeschinen above Kandersteg

Der Oeschinensee in Kandersteg

Lake Oeschinen above Kandersteg

Lake Oeschinen is one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the Alps. The lake is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is therefore a nature reserve. The panorama gondola lift takes you from Kandersteg up to the top station in about 10 minutes. The very popular summer toboggan run is located directly at the top station. Fun for young and old.

After a 30 minute walk you reach the Oeschinensee. There, cosy mountain restaurants and accommodations invite you to stay. On the lake you can rent boats and go fishing. Hikers will also get their money’s worth with the various routes and mountain trails. A perfect excursion with many wonderful impressions. And a perfect place for those seeking relaxation.

Lake Oeschinen is one of the most famous and most photographed lakes in Switzerland and is situated at an altitude of 1578 meters above sea level. The lake lies in the middle of the magnificent Bernese Oberland mountain world with Blüemlisalp, Oeschinenhorn and Doldenhorn in the south and Dündenhorn and Zallershorn in the north. The length of the Oeschinensee is 1.6 km while it is about one kilometer wide. The lake is also over 50m deep.

The lake is fed by the mountain streams that flow in from the surrounding three thousand meter peaks. So among others from the Oberbärglibach, the Doldenhornbach or the Öschibach. On the west side, the latter runs off underground and later flows into the Kander in Kandersteg.

Since 2007, the mountain lake has been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site as part of the “Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch”. In cold winters the lake surface freezes and ice skating on the Oeschinensee is possible.

Lake Oeschinen above Kandersteg – The gateway to the Valais with the motorail train

Lake Oeschinen is located above Kandersteg. The village is known for its loading station for the car trains to the Valais into the Lötschental. Anyone who wants to travel by car to Saas-Fee, Zermatt, Verbier, Sion, Leukerbad, Crans-Montana and on to Italy must load their car onto the motorail train in Kandersteg.

Kandersteg is part of the tourist region Adelboden-Lenk-Kandersteg, known in summer for great hiking in the Bernese Oberland Alps and the two famous lakes Oeschienensee and Blausee. And in winter famous for sledding, ski tours and the FIS World Cup Men’s Race in Adelboden.

Day trip from Grindelwald

Lake Oeschinen can be easily reached from Grindelwald by car in about one hour or by train from Grindelwald via Interlaken and via Spiez to Kandersteg. We wish you much fun.