Partnunsee is a high alpine lake a bit north of Klosters, accessible by car making it a good choice for spring hiking when most mountain transport is closed.
We were there in mid-May a few years ago, which was perhaps a tad too early as some of the trail was still covered in snow. But we still enjoyed it and I’m sure it would be wonderful in summer.
The hike is not particularly difficult or long but it does go straight up and there was some huffing and puffing by my boys, aged 5.5 and 9 at the time.
At the lake, there are a couple picnic areas with fire pits and room to run around a bit. There is a mountain restaurant near the lake as well if you prefer that.
Quick Info
| Region | Prättigau reigon in Graubunden |
| Address: | Partnun 76, 7246 St. Antönien |
| By car: | Metered parking near Partnun – see on map From Zurich 1h45 |
| By public transport: | Bus stop: St Antönien, Sagaris From Zürich 2h20 |
| Trail: | 2h round trip • ⬇️trail map |
| Distance: | 5 km there and back |
| Difficulty: | moderate • 240m up & down |
| Condition: | mountain trail with rocky, uneven terrain • no strollers |
| Highest point: | 1869m |
| Open: | trail usually June to mid October |
| Cost: | free except parking fee or bus fare |
| Services: | restaurant, fire pits with wood at lake |
| More info: | • St Antönien weather |
Trail Overview
This trail is located near Klosters in eastern Switzerland, on the border of Austria. You can drive to the trail head and hike up to the lake from there.
Hiking map
Here’s the trail. It climbs 2.5 km up to the lake (about 1 hour), then you return the same way.
Strollers:
You can follow the road up to the mountain restaurant, which is about half-way to the lake. After that it gets quite lumpy, maybe possible with an all-terrain stroller, but not recommended. The path around the lake itself is completely unsuitable for strollers. This hike is better done with a baby backpack.
Getting There
By car:
Drive to Partnun. If you are coming from Zurich, get off the highway at Landquart, then drive towards Klosters and Davos. Just before reaching Küblis, turn left on Luzeinerstrasse and follow that mountain road up the high valley to Partnun.
You’ll pass a few parking areas along the side of the road as you approach Partnun. The last one closest to the hike is P6, shown below. It’s metered, coins only. When you hike up the road, you’ll see a few parking spots near the houses, but but I think these are for residents only. I wouldn’t drive farther than P6.
By transit:
The bus schedule is a little tricky. You take a train to Küblis, Bahnhof, then PostAuto bus 222 to St. Antönien, Ruti. From here it’s a 3 km walk to the trail head. This bus only runs a few times at day (8:18, 9:18, 1018, then a long break for lunch). On the way back, it runs at 15:00, 17:00 and 17:00.
There is a bus 227 that runs from St. Antönien, Ruti to St. Antönien, Äbi where the trail starts. But it only runs once in the morning and once in the afternoon and not at all outside high season. It also requires a reservation and it costs extra, not part of the public transport system.
Photo story of the trail
From your car, continue hiking up the road, following trail signs to Partnunsee. Here’s what it looks like when you start the trail.
The trail leaves the road and follows a narrow footpath straight up the hill.
Most of the trail is wide and well-groomed as shown the left photo below. You can leave this main path and walk on narrow, rocky paths for short sections (shown in right photo below), simply for entertainment, which we did with our kids.
Near the mountain restaurant on your way up, there was firewood for sale. You’ll need this if you plan to build a fire at the lake since there’s no wood to gather.
Whoops! Just before reaching the lake, the trail was covered in snow. It was still a bit early for hiking in mid-May. But that’s why no one else was there, just how we like it.
Another look at the trail by the lake, a little lumpy and covered in snow.
After about an hour (about 2.5km), we reached our destination, Partnunsee, and we had it all to ourselves.
It was a relatively warm day, but once we reached the lake, the wind picked up and it got cold fast. You can see us huddling on the ground trying to get away from the wind.
We walked to the fire pit on the far side of the lake and built a fire. We brought our own wood but someone had left a few pieces at the fire pit that we used as well.
Fortunately, the fire pit was sheltered from the wind and there was even a little wood left by previous hikers. But don’t count on it.
Since we were above the tree line, there wasn’t any stray wood for a fire or cooking sticks. So bring your own. There is a park bench next to the fire pit, which would have been very nice if it hadn’t been so cold.
One last look at the lake before making our way back home.
