Ultimate Guide to Hiking Bachalpsee Lake Trail from Grindelwald First – Switzerland

This guide covers everything you need to know for an unforgettable hike to Bachalpsee Lake—from how to get there and practical tips to the best photography spots and additional activities to explore along the way.

If you’re in Switzerland and searching for a postcard-perfect alpine hike that won’t take you all damn day, the Bachalpsee trail from Grindelwald First is right up your alley! Think glaciated peaks, wildflower meadows, crystal-clear lakes, and, if you’re lucky, you’ll hear the jingle of cowbells in the distance. Let’s begin!

Why Hike to Bachalpsee?

The Bachalpsee hike offers a quintessential Swiss adventure with rather minimal effort. It’s one of the most accessible and scenic hikes in the Jungfrau region, and the thrilling (and free) First Cliff Walk at Grindelwald First adds an extra dash of excitement to your day. Plus, it’s far more budget-friendly and diverse compared to the pricey tourist trap of going up to Jungfraujoch.

• Distance: ~6 km (roundtrip)
• Duration: ~2 hours
• Elevation Gain: 188 m
• Difficulty: Easy (family-friendly with sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing)
• Best Time to Visit: May to October

Getting to Bachalpsee

By Car:

• From Zurich: ~2 hours
• From Interlaken: ~30 minutes
• Parking: Limited spots near the Grindelwald Firstbahn station. Arrive early, and pre-pay for enough hours.

By Train:

• From Zurich HB: ~2 hr 50 min
• From Interlaken: ~45 min
• From Grindelwald train station, it’s a 10-minute walk

The Grindelwald First Gondola

• Operating Hours: 08:00 – 18:00 (last descent at 18:30)
• Ticket Price: 60 CHF roundtrip (30 CHF with SBB Half-Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass)
• Gondolas run continuously and take ~25 minutes to reach the top.

The Hike to Bachalpsee Lake

We did this hike in the early afternoon on our first day in Grindelwald, while waiting for our hotel room to be ready. We dropped off our luggage at our hotel, changed into hiking gear, and made our way to the First chairlift station which was a short walk from our hotel.

It’s pronounced fear-st, not first.

The gondolas run constantly; you’re not having to wait for one to arrive. Scan your ticket at the turnstyle and board the next one available, just like you would at a ski resort. The ride takes about 25 minutes to reach the top — but you’ll make two short intermediary stops along the way — just stay in the gondola until you reach First.

Once up at First, there is a restaurant, gift shop and bathrooms. I definitely suggest making a pit stop at the toilets before venturing out on the trail — but there are restrooms at the lake.

Then, head out on the trail — you’ll see the yellow hiking signs pointing you in the correct direction to Bachalpsee Lake — or just follow the crowds; everyone who’s hiking is headed to the same place you are.

The hike itself is well-marked and starts with a short but steep ascent and a lot of the hike is on what looks like a wide gravel road. Once past this initial climb, the trail eases into gentle slopes with jaw-dropping views of Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn, and Finsteraarhorn peaks. Expect to stop frequently for photos—the surrounding scenery is stunning. We did this hike in mid July and the wildflowers were putting on a show — they were everywhere.

RELATED: Stoos Ridge Hike: Klingenstock to Fronalpstock in Switzerland

We saw many people pushing strollers out to the lake — and while you could do that, there are some rocky parts where you’d run into a bit of trouble.

After about an hour, you’ll reach Bachalpsee—or rather, two lakes which are separated by a dam. For the classic photo spot, climb slightly uphill to the left. Or, get down to the lakeshore and photograph the lake with wildflowers in the foreground – they were everywhere when we visited.

We spent quite a bit of time hanging around the lake, mostly because we were waiting for the sun to come out from behind the clouds. There was this large, looming dark cloud that hung over us and didn’t want to move, while the rest of the sky was blue. We probably waited 45 minutes for it to get out of the way and it never did. What a bummer — but I still feel we got some great shots!

We lucked out and had no wind during mid-afternoon, so we were able to get those mirror-image shots of the lake. If you want to improve your chances of getting photos with a reflection, you’ll want to do this hike as early in the morning as you can!

When you’ve had enough, just turn around and head back. When you’re back at Grindewald First, you can head to the Cliff Walk for more great (and free!) views. The First Cliff Walk doesn’t require any extra ticket; just walk on.

Practical Tips for Your Hike

• Weather Check: Use the Bachalpsee Webcam before heading out. Even if it’s sunny in Grindewald, always check the webcam as it can be different at higher elevations!
• Timing: Arrive early for parking and to avoid crowds. For photography, early morning or late afternoon offers the best lighting, with softer tones and fewer harsh shadows.
• Packing List: Layers, sturdy shoes, food, water, sunscreen.
• Facilities: Toilets at Grindelwald First and near the lake.

Extend Your Adventure

For thrill-seekers with deep pockets who are looking to spend some coin, especially those traveling with children, Grindelwald First offers extra activities like:

• First Glider
• First Flyer
• Mountain Cart
• Trottibike

Grindelwald First is known more for its adventure activities, such as mountain carts, a hang gliding/zip line apparatus, and trottibikes, than it is for hiking Bachalpsee Lake! We didn’t feel the need to do any of these activities but I can see the draw especially if you’re traveling with children. Honestly, this all looked kind of lame, except for maybe the mountain carts. Overall, I thought it was very expensive for what you got — especially the ziplines — First Glider and First Flyer (it’s basically a zip line with a long, long wait time). Lines for these activities can have wait times of 3-4 hours for one short ride. To me, this seems like a total waste of time and money — I can’t fathom standing in line wasting 3 hours of your vacation time to take a 2 minute zip line over a patch of grass.

RELATED: Tips for Visiting Switzerland on a Budget

The marketing for Grindelwald First is savage; they advertise the shit out of these activities, making you think it’s a must-do, hoping to give you that FOMO. Everywhere you look around the Bernese Oberland, it’s travel brochure-style photos of overly-excited people looking like they’re on a sugar high, racing down a track on a trottibike (they’re just glorified scooters) or big smiles all around while strapped into the First Flyer. You don’t have to do this stuff — and trust me, you’ll still have an amazing time! Oh, and don’t get me started on the heavily commercialized Jungfraujoch!

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re here for the views, the ‘gram, the hike, or just a lakeside snack, Bachalpsee delivers on every front. It’s an easy, quick hike that gets you to a stunning alpine lake in the Swiss Alps — what more could you ask for?

Have you hiked to Bachalpsee? Share your experience below!