Mettmenalp • Easy walk around alpine lake

This short hike goes around a mountain reservoir with a beautiful forest and mountain views in the distance. You can simply enjoy the view from the dam or walk around the lake, which might take about 45 mins with children. It gets rather lumpy and narrow in parts, so it’s not for strollers. But it’s short enough that even small children can make it all the way around without much trouble.

The trail has a few play stations for kids, with educational information about animals, etc. There is a restaurant as well as several picnic areas with fire pits, wood and picnic tables. We’ve had such nice days there over the years and I’d be happy to go back anytime.

Overview

Here’s a map of the Mettmenalp area. You can see the picnic areas marked around the lake.

Trail map

From the top of the cable car, it’s a short walk to the lake where the loop trail shown below starts.

Trail Conditions. The trail on the east side of the lake is a smooth wide path, suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. Once you reach the river on the far side of the lake, the trail turns into a narrow foot path, not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs.

Services. Near the cable car, there is a hotel and restaurant with a small playground. At the lake, there is a water fountain where you can fill your water bottles.  Along the lake shore, there are multiple picnic areas with fire pits, one right when you reach the lake, one at the far end of the lake next to the river that feeds into the lake, and a third on the west side of the lake on a little hill that looks over the lake. 

Longer option: There’s a 7 km loop that goes higher up in the mountains surrounding the lake. See details here.

How to get there

Mettmenalp is a mountain area located in eastern Switzerland in the Glarnerland region. See on Google Maps. You access the lake first by driving up a mountain road, then a short ride on a cable car. 

Note: In 2023, because of landslides in this area, the road from Schwanden up to the Mettmenalp cable car is closed to public traffic. Instead, they are offering a shuttle service from Schwanden. Follow the signs to the designated parking and use the shuttle as directed. The landslide does not affect the trails.

By car: Drive to Schwanden, then follow signs to Kies-Mettmenalp (sometimes spelled “Chies”), driving up a narrow one-lane mountain road. Your destination is Luftseilbahn Kies-Mettmen (GPS: 46°58’03.9″N 9°05’26.0″E). There is lots of free parking next to the cable car and an overflow lot.

Note: There is a warning sign saying that a large public bus drives down this road between xx:30 and xx:59. Although there are many turnouts, you may find yourself in a difficult situation trying to pass this bus. They are not kidding – you don’t want to have to pass this bus! Best to plan your trip, so you arrive at the hour and drive up the road without the bus. On your return trip, the bus drives up the road between xx:00 and xx:30, so plan your return trip so you drive down after xx:30.

If you don’t want to drive up this road, no problem. Park at the Schwanden train station (metered) and take the bus up to Kies. This bus runs once an hour on the xx:03 (pause during lunch, so no bus at 12:03 or 13:03). On your return trip, the bus leaves Kies on the xx:35, last bus 17:35

By public transport: Take a train to Schwanden (the S25 from Zürich HB is a direct train with no stops). Then take bus 44 to Kies. This bus runs once an hour on the xx:03 (pause during lunch, so no bus at 12:03 or 13:03). 

On your return trip, the bus leaves Kies on the xx:35, last bus 17:35, catching the train in Schwanden to your final destination.

Planning your day

Tickets

Here is the cable car station at Kies. There is a ticket office inside where you can also get a free hiking map. There is a WC.

In 2022, a cable car return ticket costs Adult CHF 20/adult, CHF 10/child. Seniors get a small discount. No discount for SBB GA, Half-fare or other travel passes. However, kids with a SBB Junior ride free.

Check the website for current operating time and prices.

Operating times

Summer season for Kies-Mettmen cable car is typically from late May through end of October. In generally runs every day 7:30 to 18:00 (till 19:00 on weekends). Through August, it runs every 15 mins. September and October, it runs every 30 mins. The ride is about 4 mins. The cable car is small, fitting maybe about 12 people.

Photo story of the trail

Arriving at Mettmenalp

View from the top of the cable car back down to the Glarnerlad valley.

It’s a short walk from the cable car up to the lake. The Berghotel and restaurant are on the left.

There is a small playground behind the hotel. Maybe come back here for lunch.

After the hotel, the path splits. If you have a stroller, follow the paved path to your left that takes a bit longer but is smoother. On foot, take the dirt path to your right, which is more direct.

Here is the lake in July.

Here’s the lake in fall.

Right when you get to the lake there are a couple amusements for the kids, starting with a matching game with local animals. It looks a little different now but the same idea.

This long jump showing you how far various animals can jump. My 5yr old could jump as far as a squirrel.

Next to the long jump, there’s the first picnic area with a fire pit, wood, and table. There’s also a water fountain near here to fill up your bottles.

Lake in early spring

The first time we went to Mettmenalp, it was mid-May and there was still a lot of snow.

We couldn’t hike around the lake, so we just wandered along the dam, admiring the beautiful broken ice on the lake.

Trail around the lake

In fall, we did the trail all the way around the lake. First you cross the dam.

The follow the Rundgang path, which remains smooth and flat until the far side of the lake.

View from the far side of the lake.

At this trail sign, keep on the path closest to the lake.

On the far side of the lake, you’ll meet the river, so pretty!

There’s a small sculpture garden here. It’s probably changed since we’ve last been.

There is a fire pit here with a grill, wood and table. The ropes are to keep the cows out. 

You can also build a fire pit right next to the river, like we did so the kids would be entertained.

We continued walking around the lake, but the trail gets more narrow and rough on this side, not good for strollers.

Here’s another picnic area at the far side of the lake.

The cross the other side of the dam and return to your starting point. Hope you like it!

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