09/04/2026
Hiking Lake Oeschinensee: 4 Things to Know
1ïžâŁ Everywhere online says you must book an ascent time on the cable car ahead of time, but they werenât super strict about this, so donât stress if you experience train delays on your way. đ We booked the 10:00â11:30 ascent time, but after a missed train connection in Interlaken, we didnât arrive in Kandersteg until 11:45. As a Type A worrier, I was very nervous about this on our way, but we didnât have any issues scanning our passes when we arrived. đ
2ïžâŁ The hike above the lake is 100% worth it, but itâs a bit confusing to find at first. Follow Trail D from the cable car for about 10 minutes. Once you get to a fork in the path, follow Trail G. Itâs about 40 minutes of uphill walking without a view, and youâll definitely question if you made the right choice. Keep going up! Once you see the lake, youâre done with the uphill portion. Youâll then have about 1.5 hours of gorgeous views down onto the lake as you wrap around the cliff.
About 75% into the hike, youâll start making your way down toward the lake. Once you get there, you can take a break to put your feet in the water (or swim if youâre up for a very cold plunge). You can then take the easy trail back up to the cable car, which is about a 20-minute paved uphill walk.
3ïžâŁ Allow about 4.5 hours to hike this trail. This gives you plenty of time to stop for a packed lunch, grab a b**r at the family-run cafe (bring cash in Swiss francs!), and take lots of pictures.
4ïžâŁ The town of Kandersteg is adorable, with plenty of places to grab food before or after your hike.
