Bachalpsee Hike from Grindelwald: Trail, Lift & Timing

What the Bachalpsee hike offers and who it suits

The trail starts high, so almost all of the effort is spent on the gondola rather than your legs. From the First station the route crosses flower meadows with a continuous view of the glaciated peaks on the south side of the Grindelwald valley, including the Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn and Eiger.

Because the walking is short and the grade gentle, this is a realistic outing for children, older walkers and anyone acclimatizing on their first day in the valley. Hikers who want a full day in the mountains should treat the lake as a first stop rather than the goal, since longer routes leave from the same junction above the shore.

Getting to the trailhead: First gondola from Grindelwald village

The trailhead is the First gondola station above Grindelwald, reached on foot from the village train station. Walk east along Dorfstrasse, the main street, for about 0.6 km (0.4 miles) and look for the Firstbahn sign on the left, opposite the vehicle entrance to the Sunstar Hotel, before you reach the Gasthof Steinbock.

The First lift is a multi-stage gondola that stops at intermediate stations on the way up. Stay seated at those stops: the doors open for passengers getting off at the mid-stations and then close again before the cabin continues to First. If you plan to ride back down, a round-trip ticket normally works out cheaper than two single rides.

Travelling by train, Grindelwald is served from Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen, and the lift station is a short walk from the Bahnhof. Lift operating hours and seasonal maintenance windows vary through the year, so check the Firstbahn operator's timetable before you set an arrival time.

Distance, ascent and walking time from First to Bachalpsee

The out-and-back walk from the First gondola station to Bachalpsee and back is about 6.1 km (3.8 miles) round trip. The trailhead sits at 2,167 m (7,110 ft), the high point is around 2,278 m (7,473 ft) and the total climb is roughly 110 m (363 ft), which keeps the walking easy to moderate.

Signposts at First give the lake at about 50 minutes on foot, and most walkers cover the one-way distance in that time, with longer stops for photographs at the viewpoints. Because the return is mostly downhill on the same track, the whole outing fits comfortably into a morning.

Route description: First restaurant to the lake basin

Start behind the First restaurant and lift station, where a signboard points northwest toward Bachalpsee, Faulhorn and Schynige Platte. The wide gravel track climbs gently through meadows, and the views shift constantly between the Grindelwald Glacier below the Wetterhorn and the Finsteraarhorn beyond the cirque of the Fiescherhorn, Mönch and Eiger.

After about 1.1 km (0.7 miles) the grade eases and the path bends left to run west through open pasture. At roughly 2.6 km (1.6 miles) a junction sends a branch right toward Hagelsee and Wildgarst, and a second junction a little further on drops left toward Waldspitz, Bort and Grindelwald. Stay on the main track both times to keep the lake ahead of you.

The track reaches the southeastern shore at about 3.1 km (1.9 miles) from First, at an elevation of 2,265 m (7,431 ft). The lake sits in a shallow basin beneath the Reeti, with the Faulhorn, Esel and Simelihorn rising across the far end of the valley.

The lake, its two pools and the reflection views

Bachalpsee is split into an upper and a lower pool by a natural dam, with the lower water lying about 6 m (20 ft) below the upper lake. On a still morning the Schreckhorn is mirrored in the lower pool, which is where most of the classic photographs are taken.

The basin is a popular picnic spot, and the flat meadows around the shore fill up as the morning goes on. Setting out on one of the first lifts gives you a near-empty shoreline and the calm water that makes the reflection work; by midday you will be sharing the viewpoints.

Toilets are available near the lake, which is worth knowing if you are walking with children or planning to stay for lunch. There is no hut or restaurant at the shore itself, so carry water and food from First.

Extending the day: Faulhorn, Schynige Platte and the Bort descent

The signpost at First gives the Faulhorn at about 2 hours 20 minutes and Schynige Platte at roughly 5 hours, both following the same track past the lake before climbing. These are proper mountain days with sustained ascent, not quick add-ons to a short lakeside stroll, and the higher section holds snow later into the season than the path from First.

A more moderate extension is to leave the main track at the Waldspitz junction on the way back and walk down through Bort to Grindelwald village. That turns a short out-and-back into a one-way descent, but it commits you to a long knee-jarring downhill, so many walkers prefer to ride the gondola down from First and save their legs.

If you want a harder, more exposed day on the same side of the valley, the Eiger Trail Hike from Eigergletscher to Alpiglen is the classic alternative, run beneath the north face with a sustained descent.

Best months and walking conditions

The window for this walk runs from early summer into early autumn, when the track from First is clear of snow and the meadows are green. Late spring can still leave snow patches on the path to the lake, and walkers have reported needing good hiking shoes when the route is only partly open.

At around 2,200 m (7,200 ft) the weather changes fast, and afternoon thunderstorms are the main hazard on an exposed meadow with little shelter. Start early, watch the clouds building over the Wetterhorn and Schreckhorn, and turn back if the sky darkens. In poor visibility the route is still easy to follow, but the reflection and the long views that justify the trip disappear.

Huts, restaurants and facilities on the route

Facilities are concentrated at the top of the lift. The First restaurant has a sun terrace with signs identifying the surrounding peaks, and it is the last place to buy a hot meal or a drink before you set off toward the lake.

The First Cliff Walk, a cantilevered metal walkway bolted to the west face of the summit, leads to a 46 m (150 ft) viewing platform and connects back to the terrace. It is a viewing detour at the lift station rather than a hiking segment, and it is worth 20 minutes before or after the lake walk.

Beyond the lake there is no serviced hut until the Faulhorn, so anyone continuing should carry enough water and food for the climb. Fill bottles before leaving First, since the meadows have no reliable supply.

Practical rules: lift tickets, dogs and staying on the track

The gondola ticket is your only cost to reach the lake, and you buy it at the valley station in Grindelwald village, where staff can also explain the round-trip option and the intermediate stations.

Keep to the marked gravel track through the meadows, since the pastures around Bachalpsee are working farmland and the ground either side is fragile. Dogs are best kept on a lead around grazing animals and at the busy lakeshore.

Where to base yourself in Grindelwald

Grindelwald village is the obvious base, with the First gondola, the train station and shops all within a short walk of each other. Staying near Dorfstrasse puts you a few minutes from the lift, which matters if you want to catch an early cabin to beat the crowds at the lake.

For a quieter base, the villages toward Lauterbrunnen connect by train and let you combine the lake with other days out; if that valley is on your itinerary, hiking in Lauterbrunnen gives you the terrace and high-route options to pair with this walk. If you are building a longer trip, the wider grindelwald hiking guide covers the valley's other trails, lift access and route options.

Plan Your Visit

The Bachalpsee hike works best as an early-morning out-and-back: take one of the first gondolas, stay on the cabin through the intermediate stations, and walk the wide track to the lake while the water is still. Ride down from First unless you specifically want the long descent through Bort.

Check the Firstbahn timetable and the mountain weather the day before, then build the rest of your Grindelwald days around the valley's longer routes. The lake is a short, rewarding walk, not the whole of what the Bernese Oberland offers.