Brülisau – Lake Fählensee – Zahme Gocht – Brülisau

This stunning hikes offers views of lake Sämtisersee and Fählensee and an amazing 360 degree panorama from Alp Sigel. It does need a bit of stamina but it is a beautiful walk and the views are certainly worth the effort. Plus coming down from Zahme Gocht will add a bit of adventure to your day.

Start in Brülisau, which can easily be reached by public transport. There is also plenty of parking but it does fill up, so best start early. From the village, make your way past the church, heading up towards Ruhesitz restaurant. The path starts out along the road but soon you will reach a hiking sign that guides you of the road onto a small path. It will lead you up through fields, continuously cutting of the bends of the road. You will find a bench on the way for a rest and soon you will reach the Ruhesitz restaurant.

At Ruhesitz, turn right and follow the gravel road for an easy, almost even walk towards lake Sämtisersee. Before the road turns more steeply uphill, you will reach a sign where you turn into a small path the continues evenly through the fields. Once you reach a gravel road again, turn left and follow it down to the lake. You will already have a lovely view of Sämtisersee as you approach it.

There is a small path to the right of the lake directly along the water. Sometimes the path may be below the water, but you can always find a way along. Make your way past the lake and then follow the gravel road to Fählensee on the other side. You will get to a junction, where each of the paths will take you to the next lake. Take the one on the left. It will gently lead uphill through fields and past some huts until you finally reach the next lake – Fählensee.

Reaching the lake, you will have a view of the impressive Saxerlücke pass to your left. There is the Bollenwees restaurant on your right and then of course the stunning view along beautiful lake Fählensee. The lake is framed by steep rock walls and even in the heat of summer, only the brave will go for a swim.

Turn right along the top of the lake, past the restaurant and make your way up to a little pass. The path then leads down rather steeply on the other side, until you reach the gravel road about 200 meters below. Turn right onto the road and make your way through huts and fields until you reach the Kalthütten huts.

Here you will see a sign pointing left to a small path through the field. At this point you could continue straight to shorten this hike but you would miss out a stunning part of the walk. If you are still feeling fit, turn left, cross the field and make your way uphill the steepish slope on the other side. You will have a great way of lake Sämtisersee on the way up .

Once the path levels off and you reach the collection of huts called Alp Sigel, you are almost done with the height meters. But this cute collection of wooden houses is well worth a stop and a look around. Make your way through the houses and now it’s a bit more straight uphill, following the signs to Zahme Gocht. And soon you have reached the top. From here you have an amazing 360 degree panorama of Alpstein and on a clear day to lake Constance in the north. This is a great place for a break and there is even a fireplace up here to fulfil any barbecue needs.

Looking down from Zahme Gocht, you will see the steep path leading down, secured by a wire. This is the way back to Brülisau. Make it down this steep but short section, until you reach the bottom of the rock wall. From here a narrow path leads in serpentines down the steep, grassy slope, then through the woods and further down across a fields, until you reach a hiking sign next to a bench. You will already see Brülisau below to your right.

Continue straight down through the fields until you reach the next sign by a stile. Turn right here, climbing across the stiles. The path now leads downhill much more gently through woods and fields with great views of Hoher Kasten ahead.

It’s a lovely section along here and very soon you will be back in Brülisau.