Kandersteg – Oberbärgle – Oeschinensee – Kandersteg

This hike takes you into the Unesco World Heritage area above Kanderstag, to Oeschinensee, one of the most famous and most beautiful mountain lakes in Switzerland and onto a panoramic hike above it all, so this really is a must if your are visiting Switzerland.

Start in Kandersteg, which is a beautiful Swiss mountain village and follow the signs towards Oeschinensee. You could take the gondola up to the lake but you would really be missing out on some lovely walking.

The path follows the valley and the Öschibach stream upwards to the lake. View of the mountains along the way are stunning. The hike first leads along a comfortable mountain path and half way uphill leads onto a paved road.

Once reaching the lake, you will walk past the Berghotel, where you could stop for a refreshment. The path turns left before the hotel and after a couple hundred meters turns right again onto a mountain path. Soon you will reach the panorama restaurant from where there is a great view of the lake.

Shortly after the restaurant, the path starts leading up steeply. It is only a few hundred height meters though and the views are getting even better with each step.

The panorama path on the top is stunning but exposed in places, so you need to not be afraid of a narrow path along here. There is a bit of up and down along the top but mostly it is on the same height and allows enjoying the great views.

Soon you will have the first panoramic views of the lake along the way and there are several view points that invite to stop and enjoy the stunning scenery.

Once you have passed the high point of the hike, you will have a great view of the lake, the surrounding mountains and the waterfall at the end of the lake. You can also see the path leading along the side of the slope and the downhill back to the lake in the distance.

Once you reach the end of the panoramic path, you will reach the Oberbärgli hut, which offers food, drink and an overnight stay.

Past the hut, start the downhill, which is mostly gently, except for one steep section. You will pass another hut and then soon reach the path along the lake.

Follow the path along the lake back to the restaurant at the far end. The path is mostly easy along here and there is a lovely beach just before reaching the end of the lake.

There is some ice cream at the restaurant at the end of the lake, if you fancy some, before making your way back down. Follow the same path back to Kandersteg that you came up and enjoy the views of the valley on the way.