Arnisee • Alpine Lake Walk & Climbing Park

This gorgeous alpine lake is ideal for a classic Swiss picnic, with mountain peaks reflected in the clear water, fields of wildflowers, and cow bells ringing near and far. We first went to Arnisee in 2009 when kids were 2 and 5 and it was a perfect outing with small kids, with the easy access to the lake and short trail. This summer we went again and it was even nicer than I remembered and fun with my older kids with the new climbing park.

Although this lake is much too cold for swimming, it’s a lovely place to sunbathe and dip your toes in the water as you watch baby ducks float by.  There’s a short and easy stroll around the lake, perfect for smaller kids in training. If you want a proper hike, you can climb up the mountain to a stunning viewpoint over the lake.

If you like to rock climb, there’s a new “Klettersteig” (aka fixed rope climbing course) for families, which is challenging but appropriate for ages 10+ with climbing experience. With not one, but two tiny adorable cable cars bringing you up to this lake, it’s a lovely day in the Swiss alps full of charm.

Note: This outing was sponsored by Lucerne Tourism as part of their “Be a summer child again“ campaign.

First a short video from our day by 110 in partnership with Lucerne Tourism.

Location

The Arnisee lake is located in central Switzerland in the mountains near the Gotthard tunnel. 

Arnisee overview

Here is a map of the Arnisee area from their website. You can see the Intschi cable car on the left with a very short walk to the lake. The Amsteg cable car is on the right, with a longer, but very pretty walk to the lake. You can simply do a short stroll around the lake and picnic by the water. There are also longer, more challenging hikes that start from the lake as shown on the map, like to the Sunniggrat viewpoint.

Hiking map

Here is the walk from the Amsteg cable car, about 850m to the lake. You can do an optional 1 km around the lake, then return the way you came. If you want to walk less, you can take the Intschi cable car instead.

Next time I go, I want to hike up to the Sunniggratli viewpoint above the lake. I’ve mapped out a suggestion for that below. I’d also like to hike to the Leutschachhütte and stay overnight and visit all the tiny sister lakes up higher up in the mountains.

2. Getting There

You can reach the Arnisee by two different cable cars, Amsteg or Intschi. Both are cute tiny gondolas, the main difference is the distance from the Arnisee. The Intschi cable car drops off a short 2 min walk from the lake. From the Amsteg cable car, it’s a 20 min walk to the lake, but very beautiful. If you have time, I recommend doing a loop and riding one up and one down for the full experience.

By public transport: If you are coming by public transportation, it’s more convenient to take the Intschi cable car, which is adjacent to the Intschi, Seilbahn bus stop. And the end of your day, you could optionally go down the Amsteg cable car and return home via the Amsteg, Schulhaus bus stop (about a 10 min walk from the cable car station).

By car to Intschi cable car: Drive south on the A2 toward the Gotthard tunnel. Take exit 38 Amsteg and drive north to Intschi. The address of the parking is Gotthardstrasse 14, 6476 Gurtnellen. There is a free parking lot across the street from the cable car station.

By car to Amsteg cable car: Drive south on the A2 toward the Gotthard tunnel. Take exit 38 Amsteg and follow signs to the Luftseilbahn. The address of the Amsteg cable car is Butzen, 6474 Gurtnellen. There is free parking along the road in front of the cable car station. On busy days, there is an overflow dirt lot farther down the road.

Loop option: I think its fun to do a loop so you can experience both cable cars. You can start at Intschi and ride up to the lake. That at the end of the day, walk to the Amsteg cable car, ride down to the valley. Then you can take a bus back to your starting point from the Amsteg, Schulhaus bus stop (about a 10 min walk from the cable car station). When you buy your cable car tickets, you can buy a loop ticket that includes the bus. If you are coming by car, you could park at Amsteg and take the bus to Intschi at the start of your day, so your car is waiting for you at the end.

Photo story

1. Riding the cable car

The Amsteg-Arnisee cable car is super tiny and fits only 4 people, so you have to put your backpack and collapsed stroller in the cargo section outside the car.

There’s no attendant at the valley station. You just get in and close the door and magically it goes up the mountain (I think there’s a camera so they know if people are in the car). It runs every 30 mins or on demand with at least 3 people. At the top, you’ll need to pay the fare (it was cash only last time we went). Keep your receipt for the return trip.

In 2020, round trip on the Amsteg cable car costs CHF 15/adult, CHF 7/child (6-16), under 6 free. No discounts for Swiss travel cards. In summer, it runs daily 7:00 to 19:00. Cash only.

The Intschi cable car is a little bigger, fitting 8 people. There’s also room for cargo outside the cable car, where you could fit a folded up stroller. In summer, it runs every 20 mins daily 6:55 to 19:35. The rest of the year, it takes a break for an hour at lunchtime. There is an attendant at the valley station where you can purchase your tickets.

In 2020, a round trip ticket costs CHF 16/adult, CHF 8/child (6-16), under 6 free. Family ticket (2 adults, 2 children 6-16) for CHF 40. This cable car is free with the Tell Pass, a travel pass for Central Switzerland. No discounts for other Swiss travel cards. 

2. Trail to Arnisee

From the top of the Amsteg cable car, the trail is a wide footpath through alpine meadows. 

Sometimes the path is lumpy, so not totally obstacle free but not too difficult with our all-terrain stroller.

3. Arriving at Arnisee lake

Here’s our first view of the lake as we walked up from Amsteg.

Such beautiful clear water.

If you are there early, you get the whole lake to yourself for a bit.

It’s not a lake for swimming, but on hot days, you’ll see sunbathers on the grassy area in the picnic area and kids wading in the shallows. We saw a couple people jump in briefly and it was so hot, that we jumped in too, not recommended. I thought my heart would stop, it was so cold! There’s a public bathroom next to the lake, if need a place to change your clothes.

4. Walking around the lake

There’s a short trail (about 1km) that goes around the lake, that your little ones can easily walk. The path along the water is smooth.

The part in the forest is bumpy with stairs, not suitable for strollers. 

Make sure to take the short detour to the Chänzeli viewpoint. On the Intschi side of the lake, you’ll see a fork in the path on the edge of the forest. Turn right (in this photo) following signs to Chänzeli. 

It’s about 5 mins on this lovely path to the viewpoint.

Here’s the safely enclosed viewpoint at Chänzeli.

5. Climbing park (aka Klettersteig)

In July 2020, they opened a new “Piel-Flue” climbing park above the lake (more info here). It includes various traditional climbing routes with bolts and a Via Ferrata course (what is that?), where a cable is permanently attached to bolts along the climbing route, to which you can fix your lanyard/harness (learn about Via Ferrata equipment). 

There are some metal rungs along the route to help with tricky sections, but primarily you are climbing on the rock. Unlike normal rock climbing, you don’t need a rope or belay because you are always connected to the cable. It climbs up about 125m of elevation and takes about 90 mins to 2 hrs.

The route is free to use if you bring your own equipment. Otherwise you can rent equipment (harness, safety cable with carabiners to connect to the cable, and helmet) from Berggasthaus Alpenblick next to the Intschi cable car.

To reach the Klettersteig, you follow this forest path that leads up the mountain from the lake.

It’s a narrow dirt path, newly built to access the climbing park. 

This Klettersteig is suitable for ages 10+ with climbing experience. I have several friends that do these types of courses a lot and really enjoy them. We had fun and liked trying something new. 

But honestly, this was a little out of our comfort zone because we don’t have much experience climbing besides ropes courses. So we only did a short section (about 20 mins) and left at the emergency exit before reaching the more difficult climb above. My 12 year old really liked it and wants to go again. But I think we will take an intro climbing course to build some skills before coming back to an outdoor course like this. 

6. Picnic Area & Restaurants

Near the water, there is a big picnic area, with multiple grill pits, wood, picnic tables and benches. This can get quite full on a sunny Sunday, so best to go early.

If you didn’t bring a picnic, there are two restaurants near the lake. Gasthaus Arnisee (shown below) is on the trail from Amsteg to the lake. 

Berggasthaus Alpenblick is right next to the Intschi cable car, a 2 min walk from the lake.

7. Back to the cable car

If you are riding down the Amsteg cable car, walk back along the same path, following signs to Amsteg. As much as I like the lake, this view might be my favorite part, just so classic Switzerland.