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Chasing Waterfalls at Oeschinen Lake, Switzerland

08/21/2017 by Kristin Addis 11 Comments

A complete guide to exploring beautiful Oeschinen Lake (Oeschinensee) in Bern, Switzerland. Get information on hiking trails, waterfalls, boat rentals, crystal clear water (that's drinkable!) and more. #Switzerland
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There is no lake in the world quite the color of Oeschinen Lake (Oeshinensee in German), I’m sure of it.

I don’t even know what color to call it, because to say ‘blue’ wouldn’t be getting it right. When you think about how many things in nature are ‘blue’, it seems we’ve failed to come up with enough words to describe this varied color that shows up in millions of iterations.

oeschinen lake guide
What even is this color?

Red is red, and purple is purple, but blue? Gosh there are so many shades, depths to the color, and different ways it can appear based on the mood of the sky.

Sometimes blue is that light, bright color that we put on baby bassinets, and other times it’s an alpine lake that has a hue I think you can hardly satisfactorily describe by just calling it blue.

oeschinen lake guide

This is Oeschinensee in the canton of Bern, Switzerland. It’s not just a blue lake, though. It has at least a dozen waterfalls, beautiful flowers, swimming options, and row boats for rent as well.

Though this lake is popular with locals and tourists, there are still ways to spend most of it uncrowned and even secluded.

My goal was to get as close to the waterfalls as possible, as this is also the spot with the fewest other people, and because waterfalls are epic.

oeschinen lake guide

there are a few marked trails beginning from the huts that sell ice cream. There’s a beach that most people swim in along the shore there as well, though you could jump in anywhere.

There are also little boats for rent for 26 francs, I assume per hour, but if given the choice I like to take my feet.

oeschinen lake guide
A little boat docked on the shore.

First, if facing the lake take the foot path to the left, walking through the forest and then along the lake on the rocks.

oeschinen lake guide
A waterfall along the way

And there are waterfalls along the rocky beach trail, marked with rock cairns, that you can walk under, and around, and in.

Keep in mind this isn’t really an official trail so it’s best if you have proper shoes on, and are willing to climb on rocks a bit, and even to cross the cold rivers barefoot to keep your feet dry.

But if you’re willing to do that, then the best part is waiting.

oeschinen lake guide
Standing behind a thin waterfall while my friends explore on the rocks

The water was frigid, stabbing me with little needles as I slowly made my way in. I’d broken my own rule – one that had served me well growing up in California where the water is also cold – run in, dunk immediately. Don’t give yourself time to think.

Yet without waves there’s nothing to force a dunk, so I crept in slowly, realizing that we’d chosen what must be the coldest part of the lake for a swim. It’s where all the glacial runoff is feeding the lake, after all.

oeschinen lake guide
Gasping while looking at my friend, Patrice

Regardless, the brisk and fresh water is so clean, thanks to meltwater that is tens of thousands of years old, plus the nice filtration system provided by the rocks. It’s lovely to think that you could just take a gulp of the water as you swim.

That’s the kind of blue it is – clear enough to drink, bright enough to look unreal, and crisp enough to go a step beyond refreshing.

oeschinen lake guide

If you want to visit yourself, click here for directions and timetables.

But be forewarned: The ongoing problem I, and so many others, haveย with Switzerland is the more I explore, the longer my list of must-sees grows. The more I visit, the more I am dying to see what other valleys and regions might have to offer. I’m hard-pressed to think of a country that is more organized, cleaner, more beautiful, and nicer to travel through than Switzerland. It’s addictive.

All that said, I think that heading to Oeschinen Lake is probably worth the risk.

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About Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

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Comments

  1. Ijana Loss says

    08/21/2017 at 10:48 am

    This looks so amazing! You have a knack for finding awesome nature places like this. I’m out of vacation days for the year or I would definitely think about heading down here for a few days ๐Ÿ™ Next time!

    Reply
  2. Mao says

    08/21/2017 at 10:58 am

    Stunning pictures! I have dived into cold water a few times. It definitely takes courage but the reward is great once you leave the water and your body feels refreshing.

    Reply
  3. Iris says

    08/21/2017 at 1:01 pm

    Wow!! Looks incredible! Is that place even real? I’m going to Switzerland in a couple of weeks, will make sure to add that place to my checklist! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      08/23/2017 at 12:59 am

      I have to ask myself all the time if Switzerland is even real. So pretty.

      Reply
  4. Nicoline Berthy says

    08/21/2017 at 2:57 pm

    I really wanna go to Switzerland soon and that lake is an absolute must-see, wow! I come from Denmark and most of my travels have been overseas. Now I live in Australia and the Australians go to Europe or talk about going to Europe constantly and it has been a bit of an eye-opener for me. When I go back to Denmark next year I really wanna explore more of Europe – Switzerland included!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      08/23/2017 at 12:59 am

      It’s so funny how it takes leaving home to make you want to explore your own backyard huh?

      Reply
  5. Lauren says

    08/23/2017 at 9:35 am

    Based on my crayola crayons knowledge I would say Cerulean. Beautiful!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      08/24/2017 at 10:00 am

      Amazing.

      Reply
  6. GG says

    08/23/2017 at 2:11 pm

    Just recommended this place to my friends in Germany who have their own blog (actually found yours through them a year ago). The water color looks like the gorgeous hue associated with glacial runoff (sometimes even more enhanced by the blue sky) but there is something else going on there that makes it special.

    Reply
  7. wanderlustvlog says

    08/25/2017 at 8:29 pm

    Hey Kristin,

    Iโ€™m for a while following you on Instagram and on a regular base reading your posts. It always makes medream about new destinations! This post makes me want to take a plane and go straight to Switzerand! Me and some friends recently started a platform where travel bloggers can share experiences. I know you donโ€™t need the promo since your blog is running perfectly, but if you would ever want to guest blog or share some info, we would be honoured!

    Reply
  8. jonny says

    09/08/2017 at 12:47 am

    Amazing pictures and useful information. I love the view of the lake, and I would love to visit one day.

    Reply

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