Inspiring Hikes: Kandersteg to Oeschinensee
So, how did I end up in Kandersteg, Switzerland? To be honest, I think I ended up in the picturesque town for the same reason a lot of people do: I was looking for the mountain slide, Rodelbahn Oeschinensee. Like so many excited first-timers to the beautiful Swiss countryside, I had seen multiple videos online of this slide built right into the mountains, and, in true Bailey fashion, I pretty much based my entire day trip to from Geneva on that information, alone.
What I didn’t know going into the trip was that there is actually a hike up the mountain, for anyone who has a little more time to spare and doesn’t mind skipping the gondola ride to the top.
taking a quick rest stop at the gondola drop-off point and enjoying the views and good weather
The trail itself is sort of a web, rather than a straight shot. There are multiple ways to get to the final destination, and all of them are as good as the next; it just kind of depends on what you’re in the mood for and how long you want your walk to be.
Riding the mountain coaster was a one-of-a-kind experience, and I can’t recommend it enough!
I made good use of my All Trails app to stay on track and make sure I took the route I wanted, which switchbacked up the ridge. The path itself isn’t too hard to follow, but it isn’t the most well-maintained walkway either, so for people with limited mobility I would recommend taking the gondola to the top, where the trail going forward is a little more flat, wide and taken care of.
The hike to the slide from Kandersteg is around two miles, on a moderate grade trail. From the mountain slide to Oeschinensee, it is roughly a mile and a half, on an easy grade trail. I didn’t necessarily need my trekking poles on either section, but they’re always good to have if you’ve got them!
Once at the slide, I highly recommend stopping for some great fun and great views. The line for the mountain coaster was surprisingly short and even more shockingly cheap. It was a lot of fun and a nice place to stop, rest and enjoy the postcard-worthy scenery continuing on to the lake.
A couple of mountain goats at Oeschinensee
Moving forward from here, the trail becomes much more heavily trafficked. Oeschinensee is a beautiful place for locals and tourists alike to spend a hot summer day, so don’t be surprised to see people from all corners of the world making their way toward the water. The path from here will be well-marked and easy to follow.
There is a stunning overhead view of the lake as you approach, as well as plenty of wildlife to spot along the way, including cows, goats, sheep and more. At Oeschinensee, there’s more hiking to enjoy, along with swimming, kayaking and other water sports.
The views of Oeschinensee from Berghaus Unterbärgli are arguably the best in the area!
If you have the time and energy for it, there’s a beautifully-rewarding hiking trail up to the Berghaus Unterbärgli, a cafe overlooking Oeschinensee. It’s a bit of a climb, but the payoff is totally worth it. You’ll be rewarded with views straight out of a travel magazine, and as a bonus you can stop in for a quick drink before making the trek back to Kandersteg.
