Bachalpsee Lake Circuit

The Bachalpsee Lake Circuit is a short, highly accessible walk from the Grindelwald First gondola top station to the iconic Bachalpsee alpine lake at 2,265 metres in the Bernese Oberland, one of the most photographed scenes in Switzerland. The circuit covers approximately 5 kilometres with minimal elevation change of around 50 metres, making it among the easiest high-altitude walks in the country. The trailhead sits directly at the First gondola top station at 2,168 metres, reached from Grindelwald village in roughly 25 minutes by gondola. No permit is required. Visitors arriving by car can park in Grindelwald; the gondola runs from the Grindelwald terminal year-round on most operating days, and the Swiss Travel Pass covers the gondola ascent. From the gondola station, a wide gravel and earth path leads northeast across open alpine meadow. The trail is virtually flat for the first two kilometres, then rises slightly over a low ridge before dropping to the Bachalpsee shoreline. The path surface is well-maintained gravel interspersed with rocky sections; no scrambling or technical movement is required. Shade is essentially absent — the entire route sits above the tree line — so sun protection is essential. The Bachalpsee itself splits into two connected basins, the larger of which provides the classic mirror-reflection view of the Wetterhorn at 3,692 metres and the Schreckhorn at 4,078 metres. On windless mornings, the reflection is virtually perfect. The smaller basin to the east is quieter and often less crowded. Alpine wildflowers including edelweiss, alpine asters, and snowbell bloom along the shoreline from late June through August. Marmots frequently appear on the rocky slopes flanking the path. A small food kiosk operates at the First gondola station; no facilities exist at the lake itself. Walkers wishing to extend the route can continue past Bachalpsee toward Faulhorn summit at 2,681 metres, adding approximately 3–4 kilometres and 450 metres of ascent.