Hike to Bachalpsee

Bachalpsee sits at an elevation above 7,400 feet, well above the nearest town of Grindewald. While you can hike all the way up to Bachalpsee from Grindelwald, it would take nearly 5 hours going at a fairly good pace. The best way to reach the lake, is to take the gondola from Grindelwald to First, which sits around 7,100 feet. The gondola does not cost too much, and it takes about 25 minutes to head up the mountain as you pass over sloping meadows filled with cows and chalets. From First, leave the gondola station and you will find plenty of signs pointing you to the lake. Not to mention, there will most likely be a few other hikers headed there, so it is fairly easy to find your way. After just a few hundred feet, you can take a brief detour along the "Cliff Walk", where you can walk along a catwalk over the Grindelwald Valley below. This is fantastic viewpoint of the mountains and surrounding landscape. Continue on your way to the lake for 1.2 miles while you gain roughly 300 feet in elevation. The hike takes about 50 minutes, +/- 10 minutes, and along the way you may see marmots, flowers, ibex, depending on the season and time of day. Even if you do not see any of those, expect to see sweeping snowcapped mountains that sparkle in the sunlight. It is best to leave for the lake early as there are less crowds and the water is more likely to be calm as the winds pick up in the afternoon making it harder to see the mountain reflections.