Seewlisee alpine lake hike

This lovely alpine lake is a quiet gem, partly because only tough hikers with good fitness are likely to make trek up to see it, not casual day trippers or tourists. There is a mountain hut and café next to the lake, where you can get refreshments and stay the night.

To reach the trail, we took a slightly scary open-air gondola, definitely not for those scared of heights. It’s a tough climb, about 1000m elevation gain over 4km to reach the lake, but definitely worth the effort. 

Shorter options: There are two other pretty alpine lakes near this one that are easy to reach with kids: Golzernsee and Arnisee. I heartily recommend both.

Location

This trail is located south of Lucerne. It is accessed with the Chilcherberg gondola in Silenen near the north side of the Gotthard tunnel.

Trail Overview

Here is the hiking map for the Maderanertal area. Download full version (PDF).

Hiking map

Here’s my more detailed hiking map. It’s about 4km to the lake and mountain hut, then an optional walk around the lake, about 2km. Then 4 km back down to the cable car. It took us about 6 hrs with lots of breaks to take photos.

See trail map on Komoot • SchweizMobil • AllTrails • OutdoorActive

Planning your day

Posted time to the lake is 2hr30. It took us (two motivated adults) about 2hr10 to get to the lake, about 1hr walking slow around the lake taking pics, 30 mins at the cafe, and 1h30 back down. I’d plan about 6 hours total.

Make sure to take as much water as you need. There is no drinking water on the trail. The mountain hut has a cafe with drinks and snacks. You can stay there overnight, but call in advance.

I recommend hiking sticks and sturdy hiking shoes. The trail is well built but many parts are steep and slippery.

Getting to Silenen

By public transport: Get yourself to the bus stop Silenen, Dägerlohn. The bus drops you off in the tiny village. Then you have to walk about 10 mins uphill on a one-lane road to the cable car station, as shown on the map below.

By car: From the A2 freeway, take the #38 exit Amsteg, then follow signs to the Silenen village. Then follow the tiny white sign to “Luftseilbahn”. Best to look at the map and follow your GPS. You’ll drive up a one-lane road, past a church to the tiny self-service cable car station.

There are about 10 parking spots here (make sure they aren’t marked Private), but even on a quiet weekday at 7:00, most were taken. So you might need to park in the village. I’ve shown some possible parking spots on the map above. I’m not positive you are allowed to park in those alternate spot, but they looked promising.

Riding up the gondola

This is the open-air gondola that fits four people. It feels scary but you should be safe if you stay in your seat and don’t open the door (no lock!).

The gondola operates between 7:00 and 19:00. There isn’t an operator at the valley station. So you have to call the gondola operator on the provided phone to ride up. Open the phone box shown below and push #5 for two seconds. Then listen for the operator and say “Ich möchte bitte hochfahren” which means “I would like to ride up”. He’ll say something back (I couldn’t understand his dialekt).

Then get in the cable car. The back seat has a door that swings upward, like a Lamborghini scissor door. For the front seat, you can lift the wall up and off, then replace it after the passengers are loaded. Then just wait until it starts moving and enjoy the ride! You pay for your ticket in cash at the top – CHF 12/adult for round trip, CHF 6/kids, no discounts travel cards accepted.

Trail up to lake

Hooray, you made it! Remember to use the WC here before starting on the trail. Follow signs to Seewli.

I’m sorry to say that the trail is not very well marked. There were 3-4 forks with no trail signs. Stay on the path that looks more well used than the others.

Lots of switchbacks, lots of forest sections at the beginning.

Here’s a fork in the path. Do not take Hexensteig, go to your right.

Big views down the valley toward the Gotthard tunnel.

Big views up the mountain. So pretty!!!

Lots more switchbacks, so many switchbacks.

The trail plateaus after about 3km. Take a well deserved break here on the benches. It’s only about 30 more mins to the lake from here.

Now the path is relatively flat over to the lake. You’ll pass this nice waterfall.

At this blue sign, you can simply hike straight pass the sign, up and over the mound to reach the lake. Or you can follow the sign to the left to reach the mountain hut. Then you can hike from the hut over the mound to the lake.

Around the lake

Even if you are tired, I highly recommend walking around the lake, a bit under 2km. Take your time and have a picnic. This is the reward for all your hard work.

Some cows greeted us on the far side of the lake. We didn’t linger as it seemed these four twins were babies of the mother nuzzling them on the left.

As you walk around the lake, you get different views of the same things. So nice!

Can we stay here forever?

Going back down

Before hiking down, we stopped at the mountain hut for some drinks. If you are too tired to hike down, they have overnight place for 20 people.

Happy to be above the clouds at 2000m today.

Hiking back down in sun and fog. The way back down felt much longer than the way up and so hard on the knees. The rocks and tree roots were slippery and I fell once, even with my hiking sticks for balance. Be careful!

My friend thought I shouldn’t bother writing this one up because no one will do it. Let’s prove her wrong! Please comment on the post if you hike this one. I want to know how many people do it.

See also

Here are alpine lakes in this area that easy to reach with kids.

Golzernsee • Hike to alpine lake and swimming

Arnisee • Alpine Lake Walk & Climbing Park

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