How to find a Magical Alpine Lake Hidden in the Swiss Alps

Oberblegi Lake – In the Glarner Alps

After spending a few hours hiking on an alpine trail that goes through meadows and forests; under overhanging rocks, across streams and through high valleys, it is such a wonderful feeling when the magical Oberblegisee alpine lake appears in front of you mirroring the surrounding mountain peaks.

The only access to the lake is with a gondola ride and then hiking and biking trails – keeping it well hidden.

The Walk

The walk to the lake and then to the Brunnenberg cable car takes approx. 3 hours with stops. The start is mainly flat then it goes up and down a bit before reaching the lake. A grill spot with views, a simple restaurant serving regional products and 2 self-service alpine cheese dairies are found along the route. Good to Know: They only accept cash and sometimes the TWINT app.

Getting to the Trail

The trip up the mountain starts at Linthal in the Glarus valley. This valley branches off just before Lake Walen (Walensee) and is reached by exiting the main motorway from Zürich at Glarus/Näfels (No. 44 off-ramp). The region, which includes the UNESCO World Heritage Sardona Tectonic Arena, is called Glarnerland.

Good to Know: The national public transport system (sbb.ch) offers a combi-deal – a discount when booking the complete trip through them. Get more information here.

Directions are as follows:

At Linthal Braunwaldbahn take the funicular to the car-free village of Braunwald.
Walk approx. 10-minutes to the Hüttenberg – Grotzenbüel gondola
When arriving at the Grotzenbüel ski and hiking area, look for the yellow sign (with white/red/white mountain trail markings) to Oberblelgisee Rundweg.
The hiking trail ends at the Luchsingen gondola station that will take back down the valley to the Brunnenberg train station.

For more details on the funicular, gondolas(operating times), hiking trail and what time of year to do it see the Getting There section below.

The Trail

Distance: 8 km (from gondola to gondola)

Takes: approx. 3 hrs with stops.

Ascent: 77 m

Descent: 540 m

After leaving the top station of the Grotzenbüel gondola, the first part of the walk is alongside rolling pastures and forested areas with great views of the mountain range on the other side of the valley.

In the summer the dairy farms are busy making dairy products that can be enjoyed at small restaurants and Käserei (cheese dairies) throughout the whole walk.

Walking in the Glarus Mountains to Oberblegi Lake (Oberblegisee)

A lovely thick forest with wild mushrooms and ferns opens out to a wide valley. From here the trail winds uphill to a pretty little Beizli (small farm restaurant) which has a small but very tasty menu of local ingredients.

Then the wonderful Lake Oberblegisee with plenty of places for a picnic or, if you are brave, a swim.

Getting There

Hüttenberg-Grotzenbüel gondola also runs in winter for winter sports

Take the Linthal Valley to Braunwald funicular, then walk to Hüttenberg for the gondola to Grotzenbüel to begin the walk (1,559 m).

The trail ends at the Brunnenberg cable car that travels down to the Luchsingen Valley.