Hiking Seealpsee & Aescher From Wasserauen

Last Updated on 14th July 2025

I visited Seealpsee back in August 2019, as part of my first Swiss Whisky Trek experience.

Now that I know what the area is all about, it’s safe to say you should be brimming with excitement to explore this area of the Swiss Alps.

If you’re arriving into Wasserauen by train – perfect, it’s the best way to get here. If arriving by car, I have it on good authority to get to the car park next to the train station EARLY, especially on a Friday or Saturday morning.

Starting Out – The Walk from Wasserauen

Back in 2019, I did this walk in reverse. So let me recount the steps, but in reverse order :). The walk from Wasserauen to Seealpsee along the main track takes around 50 minutes.

The other option that is immediately obvious if you could get the Ebenalp cable car up the mountain (24 CHF for adults, one way or 36 CHF return) and enjoy the short walk to the incredible Berggasthaus Aescher.

Alternatively you could visit Aescher and Schafler via an alternative route, which I’ll mention later.

Assuming you leave the cable car until later, the first thing that hits you once you escape the hum of the cars and train station is the gentle murmur of the Schwendibach creek. The path is obvious all the way along this route – no need for convoluted directions or map checking – just one clear route with a gradual uphill leading into beech woodland.

Alternating between smooth paved stretches and gravel, enjoy taking in those deep breaths of Swiss alpine air.

The path meanders past farm buildings, small meadows with cows and the view of the Santis should be in the distance on a clear day. One thing that struck me is the sheer size and vertical-ness (if that even a word?!) of the mountain ranges either side of the path.

The path to Seealpsee

First View of Seealpsee – Jaw‑Dropping Beauty

Gasthaus Forelle will come into view first, and you can either lead left and take a look around here, or keep going to Seealpsee guest house and the lake itself.

If you choose the latter, nothing prepares you for that moment when the trees open up.

Suddenly, Seealpsee will lay before me, shimmering like a mirror nestled in a velvet scoop of meadow and rock. The clarity of the water, reflecting Säntis and its neighbouring giants, is breathtaking.

The view back up the valley towards Santis. Look at that reflection!

I remember thinking the positioning of boats, rugged meadows, and pastoral huts all looked so perfectly choreographed.

The last time I was at Seealpsee I stayed at the guest house and was woken in the morning by a local playing an alpine horn that echoed around the mountains. It was an incredible memory I’ll never forget!

Lakeside Time – Exploring and Indulging

You can spend a blissful hour wandering around the lake, and even having a dip in the lake if you’re brave enough! Warning – it’s glacier melt water, so is freezing! You can loop all the way around the 1.5km lake if you wish, and why not end up back at Gasthaus Forelle, with sun‑dappled terraces and try grilled trout and a cold, local Quollfrisch lager.

The Return Walk Options

After your lakeside fun, you can either reconnect with the service road which rolls gently back down through serene forest and open pasture, back to Wasserauen. Time permitting, you could take the cable car up the moutain and take the short walk to Berggasthaus Aescher….why wouldn’t you…look at it!

Or, alternatively, you can do a loop where you hike up to Berggasthaus Aescher, and then take the cable car down to Wassserauen. You could hike down but this will take around 1 hour 20 mins, and is quite a descent (610m), so I would only advise strong hikers to take this route.

I would also strongly advise only expert hikers to take the signposted route from Seealpsee up to Berggasthaus Aescher. Whilst this only takes an hour or so, this path can be treacherous, especially in wet conditions. If you have the right footwear, are a seasoned hiker and it’s dry under food, crack on. Otherwise head back down the path you came, and take the cable car up.

Highlights & Hiking Essentials

Trail distance, timings & elevation (Wasserauen to Seealpsee) – 50 mins (3km), 280m of gentle elevation

Trail distance, timings & elevation (Seealpsee to Aescher) – EXPERT HIKERS ONLY – 1 hour 10 mins (2.5km), 360m of elevation

Trail distance, timings & elevation (Aescher to Wasserauen) – 1 hour 20 mins (2.5km), 610m of descent

Difficulty: Moderate; suitable for most, though steady effort is needed.

Best time to go: May to mid-September. Weekdays and early mornings are less crowded.

Facilities: Toilets at Wasserauen, two lakeside restaurants, rowboat rentals.

Local tips: Wear sturdy walking shoes, pack at least 2L of water per person, and bring sun protection -the weather can change quickly in the Alps

Final Thoughts

I genuinely cannot wait to go back to Seealpsee this September! The Alpine air, the local lager, the whisky, the satisfying hikes, the awe-inspiring views of the lake, the peaceful mountains…Seealpsee is one of those places that delivers on all fronts – beauty, challenge, and soul‑soothing calm.

If you’re a fan of walking amongst stunning scenery to rival (beat) the Lake District, make sure you put Seealpsee and the surrounding mountains on your radar.

Happy hiking!