How to Hike to Lake Bachalpsee in Grindelwald Switzerland

Switzerland is home to some of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the world, and Bachalpsee is one of the most iconic. Often referred to as Lake Bachalpsee, this turquoise mountain lake above Grindelwald is one of the most accessible and rewarding hikes in the Jungfrau region.

On our 1 week trip to Switzerland, we had considered hiking around Oeschinen Lake, but it was further away from where we were staying and required a much longer hike which I wasn’t completely prepared for.

The trail to Bachalpsee is relatively easy and feels more like a scenic walk than a strenuous hike. Bachalpsee was one of the most memorable activities of our trip, and I would highly recommend it for anyone visiting the Bernese Oberland region.

In this post I’ll break down how to get to Bachalpsee, including the journey to Grindelwald-First and the trail from the gondola station, as well as other fun activities you might enjoy on First mountain.

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Where is Lake Bachalpsee?

Bachalpsee Lake, or just Bachalpsee really because -see means lake in Swiss German, is located above the village of Grindelwald in the Bernese Oberland region. The Bernese Oberland is part of the iconic Jungfrau region of Switzerland.

The lake sits at approximately 2,265 meters (7431 feet) above sea level and can be reached by a hiking trail that starts at First gondola station.

On a clear day, you can see clear reflections of the Schreckhorn and Wetterhorn peaks on the lake, and it’s truly a magnificent sight to see.

How to Get to Lake Bachalpsee

Step 1: Get to Grindelwald

Grindelwald is easily accessible by train from major Swiss cities.

• From Zurich: about 2.5 to 3 hours
• From Lucerne: about 2.5 hours
• From Interlaken: about 35 minutes

If you’re staying in Grindelwald like I did, you’re already in the perfect base for this journey.

The town of Grindelwald was the best choice for our 3 days in the Jungfrau region. Read my comparison of Interlaken vs Grindelwald, and if you want a broader itinerary for 7 days, check out my 7 day Summer Switzerland itinerary.

Step 2: Take the First Gondola

From the center of Grindelwald, walk to the Firstbahn gondola station and take the cable car up to First.

Grindelwald First gondola loading area with modern cable car cabins in the Bernese Oberland

The ride from Grindelwald Firstbahn Station to First Station takes about 25 minutes and offers incredible views over Grindelwald. The gondola ticket with a return ticket about $94 (USD), but I had a Half-Fare Card so I paid $47 for round trip here.

If you have the Jungfrau Travel Pass, the gondola is included. If you have the Half-Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass, they both offer 50% discounts for the First Gondola. For any of these tickets, you can use my code MINYWANDER on Klook.com discounts on the passes.

Woman riding the Grindelwald First gondola with views of the Eiger mountain in the Swiss Alps

Grindelwald First gondola cabins soaring above alpine village and green valleys with Eiger mountain backdrop in Switzerland

The gondola has 2 intermediate stops: Bort and Schreckfeld. Bort is the mid-mountain stop with a large playground, a restaurant, and is the starting point for Trottibike scooters. Schreckfeld is the higher-mountain stop that also features a restaurant and is the starting point for the First Mountain Cart and the First Glider.

To get to Lake Bachalpsee, you’ll want to stay on the gondola past these stations and get off at the top, called “First” station.

Step 3: Hike to Lake Bachalpsee

Trail facts:
Distance: 6 km round trip
Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Elevation gain: about 190 meters
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Starting point: First gondola station
Elevation: 2,265 meters

Once you get off the gondola, you’ll be met by beautiful scenery as soon as you exit the First cable car station. You’ll then find signs that mark the beginning of the hike to Bachalpsee.

It takes about an hour to reach the lake from the station. The difficulty is easy to moderate. The start of the trail was actually the most “difficult” given it’s an uphill climb, but after about 20 minutes it becomes quite flat and manageable.

The trail is wide and well maintained, and most people with basic fitness levels could complete it comfortably. Our parents in their 60’s and my small dog had no issues in completing the journey round-trip.

Along the way you’ll have spectacular views. We actually stopped several times to take photos of the beautiful Bernese alps. The entire hike felt like walking through postcards with the snow-capped peaks and green pastures all around.

While it’s a pretty family-friendly hiking trail, if you are hiking on a sunny day like we did, make sure to apply sunscreen and bring some water and a hat!

Alpine hiking trail near Grindelwald First with mountain stream and Eiger views in the Swiss Alps

Lake Bachalpsee

After the short hike, we finally reached the idyllic mountain lake, Bachalpsee.

What I didn’t know was that Bachalpsee is actually two lakes adjoined together. And I wasn’t expecting to find so many cows but there were a bunch of them grazing by the lakes! The crystal-clear water, dreamlike reflection of the alps, and cows gently grazing along the edges of the lake… it all felt so surreal.

I suggest packing some snacks or a picnic lunch for once you reach the lake.

We did the Bachalpsee trail on the day we planned to leave Grindelwald for our next home base in Montreux, but I wished we had more time to enjoy at the lake. We spent quite a bit of time watching the paragliders taking off near First station and the scenic views along the path did slow us down a bit. Once we arrived at the lake, it was bigger than I thought and I found myself wishing we had more time before having to return.

Woman with alpine cow at Lake Bachalpsee in Grindelwald with Eiger mountain backdrop in the Swiss Alps

Panoramic view of Lake Bachalpsee in Grindelwald with turquoise water and snow capped Eiger mountain in Switzerland

Once you have admired the beautiful Bachalpsee, you can either turn around and hike back the same path to return to First station, or you can continue hiking uphill to Faulhorn Peak. This hike is steeper and longer, and you can see Bachalpsee Lake from higher elevations. We didn’t do this given our limited time and because we were mostly looking for easy access to the lake, but I imaging the views would be incredible.

There is supposedly another trail you can take from Bachalpsee to Bort Station (one of the intermediate stations of the gondola) but I’ve read it takes longer, and some of the trail is uneven and it’s a steep descent so we decided to just do the easy trail back.

Alpine cows grazing beside Lake Bachalpsee with turquoise water and Eiger mountain views in Grindelwald Switzerland

When to Hike to Lake Bachalpsee?

Lake Bachalpsee trail is typically open for summer season hiking from around mid-June to mid-October. The opening times will vary based on weather and trail conditions.

First gondola operating times also vary throughout the season. From May to early October, the first ride is at 8 am and last ride down at 6 pm. See current operation times.

Other Things to do at First

First mountain actually has a nickname, and it is “Top of Adventure.”

Aside from one of the most popular hikes of Switzerland, there are several activities you can enjoy. Some of these activities are seasonal, only operating in the warmer times of the year. Usually they are open mid-April or May to late October. Check the official website for specific dates.

First Flyer

The First Flyer is in the form of a zipline, but in seated position. It takes you from First to Schreckfeld at a top speed of 84 km per hour, and can hold up to four people simultaneously (side by side).

First Glider

The First Glider is an eagle that lets up to four passengers soar through the mountain landscape at high speed. Essentially it’s like the Flyer, except you’re positioned like Superman, facing the Swiss Alps as you zip along from First to Schreckfeld.

First Mountain Cart

The fun First Mountain Cart is a 3-wheeled go-kart type of ride that you can ride from Schreckfeld to Bort for about 3 kilometers. It’s designed with safety and stability in mind, and the official website states it is suitable for children but riders must be over 135 cm tall.

First Trottibike

The First Trottibike Scooter is a cross between a scooter and bike. These start at Bort and after you pass flower meadows and farmhouses, you reach Grindelwald.

All four of the activities above are part of the First Adventure Package. Given the popularity of these activities, it’s almost impossible to do all four in the same day as the lines tend to get quite long. You can purchase tickets at the First cable car station, and choose either one or two activities.

Prices are as follows for 2026:

	Adults		Adults reduced (Half fare/Swiss travel)		Children (6-15 years)
1 activity	90¹	86²	60¹	58²	47¹	45²
2 activities	109¹	105²	81¹	79²	63¹	61²

1: May 01 – October 25, 2026
2: April 13 – April 30
Prices in CHF

The Flyer and the Glider tend to be the most popular, so if you plan on doing one of those, I would start with that as soon as you get to First from Grindelwald. Estimated wait times for each activity are listed at the gondola station in Grindelwald.

First Cliff Walk

Another thrilling activity on First is the Cliff Walk, which is a narrow walkway built onto the side of the mountain that juts out as a viewing platform at the end.

This is free, and located right by the First station at the top.

Observation platform at Grindelwald First Cliff Walk with Swiss flag and panoramic views of the Bernese Alps

How to Spend One Full Day on Grindelwald-First

If you want to maximize your day on First, this is the order I would recommend. We only had half day here, and since our dog was with us we couldn’t participate in any of the adventure package activities, but if I had a full day (without a dog) this is how I would have spent it.

Take the gondola from Grindelwald-Firstbahn in Grindelwald village all the way to the top to First Station.

Complete the Lake Bachalpsee hike round trip, then do the Cliff Walk if that is of interest.

Next, choose between the Flyer and Glider. If you chose the Flyer, do the activity from First to Schreckfeld. If you chose the Glider, take the gondola down to Schreckfeld station and do the Glider.

Lastly, you can do the Mountain Carts from Schreckfeld to Bort and take the gondola back down from Bort to Grindelwald, or if you prefer to Trottibikes you can take the gondola from Schreckfeld to Bort and do the bikes down to Grindelwald from Bort.

This is the ideal order given you get there early in the morning. In high season, the lines for some activities like Flyer or Glider may be long so you might have to choose to do those prior to the lake hike.

Is Lake Bachalpsee Worth It?

Yes! Without a doubt this was one of our favorite activities. It’s a good choice if you:

• Want a high reward hike without extreme difficulty
• Are short on time in Switzerland and don’t have time for longer hikes
• Want iconic Swiss alpine scenery

Swiss alpine cows grazing near Lake Bachalpsee with Eiger mountain views in Grindelwald Switzerland

Where to Stay in Grindelwald

If you’re planning to hike to Lake Bachalpsee, I recommend staying in Grindelwald so you can start early.

Hotel Fiescherblick – beautiful chalet with modern interiors & Nordic elegance
Eiger Mountain & Soul Resort – charming 4 star hotel with views of glaciers
Parkhotel Schoenegg – has a pool with panoramic views over the Eiger
Bergwelt Grindelwald – Alpine Design Resort – gorgeous aesthetics
Bergwelt Grindelwald Residence – for larger groups, 3 bedroom apartments

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Bachalpsee difficult to hike?

No. The trail from First to Bachalpsee is considered a relatively easy hike to moderate and is suitable for most fitness levels. We had no issues hiking it with our parents (in their 60’s) and our small dog.

Can you swim in Lake Bachalpsee?

Swimming is technically possible but the water is extremely cold even in summer due to its alpine elevation.

Is Lake Bachalpsee open year round?

The hiking trail is typically open from mid June to mid October depending on snow conditions.

Do you need a ticket to hike to Bachalpsee?

You need a ticket for the First gondola, but the hiking trail itself is free.

Is the Bachalpsee hike dog friendly?

Yes, this trail is dog friendly and we completed it comfortably with our small dog. Dogs are allowed on the First gondola for a fee.

Final Thoughts

Lake Bachalpsee is one of the easiest ways to experience the magic of the Swiss Alps without committing to a full day of strenuous hiking.

It’s scenic, accessible, and truly one of the most photogenic lakes in Switzerland.

If you want more ideas to plan your trip, check out my other Switzerland posts below!

How to Hike to Lake Bachalpsee in Grindelwald Switzerland

Going to Switzerland? Your Switzerland Trip Essentials

Where is Lake Bachalpsee?