The walls and waterfalls
Two-thousand-metre rock and snowmelt falls ringing the lake.
Günter Seggebäing, Coesfeld — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Giles Laurent — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Giles Laurent — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Giles Laurent — CC BY-SA 4.0
Oeschinen Lake is among Switzerland's most beautiful mountain lakes and part of the UNESCO natural site of the Jungfrau-Aletsch region: an intensely clear turquoise lake at 1,578 metres, walled on three sides by vertical rock two thousand metres high down which snowmelt waterfalls fall, its peaks mirrored in the still water. It formed behind a massive rockslide that dammed the valley, so it has no visible outflow — the water seeps away through the rock. In summer its colour turns an astonishing blue-green; the water is very cold but the bold swim, and small rowing boats are hired. Access is from the village of Kandersteg: a short cable car then a 20-minute walk down, or a full walking route. Around it are mountain restaurants and trails — an easy 20–25 minute path down to the shore and a 35-minute panorama path, with longer climbs to Underbärgli and Oberbärgli. There is no easy loop of the lake: the full circuit is a long, exposed alpine route with fall hazard, not a family walk. A long summer toboggan run comes on the way back. A full-day trip from Interlaken (about an hour by train to Kandersteg).
Two-thousand-metre rock and snowmelt falls ringing the lake.
Summer hire on still turquoise water.
A long, fun descent on the way back.
3718 Kandersteg, Bern
Both are famous turquoise mountain lakes: **Oeschinen** is larger and easier to reach (cable car then a 20-minute walk) with facilities, restaurants, boats and a toboggan run — better for families. **Bachalp**, above Grindelwald, requires an hour's walk from the First station and is higher, colder and emptier, with the more famous mirrored peaks for photographers. For families and an easy day: Oeschinen. For walking and photography: Bachalp.