Walensee Lake Hike: Weesen – Seerenbach Falls – Quinten

Quick info

Region	Heidiland region, Eastern Switzerland
Start:	Weesen
End:	Quinten
By car:	Speerplatz parking in Weesen From Zürich 45 mins
By public transport:	Fli, Hirschen bus stop From Zürich 1h

Trail:	3h • ⬇️ trail map
Distance:	9.9 km one way
Difficulty:	moderate • 410m up 421m down
Condition:	footpaths with uneven terrain (no strollers)
Elevation:	423m to 708m

Open:	April to October • trail status
Cost:	ferry and train to return to starting point
Services:	restaurants near beginning and end of trail, honesty cafes along trail
More info:	www.amden-weesen.ch • weather • webcam

Gallery

Overview

This trail is along the north side of the Walensee lake, southeast of Zürich.

There are many variations of this trail. Below I describe the one way hike from Weesen – Betlis – Quinten, visiting the Seerenbach waterfalls along the way. 

In Quinten, we typically have lunch at one of the lakeside restaurants. Then take a ferry either to Murg or Weesen, depending on how we want to get home.

Important: So make sure to coordinate carefully with the ferry schedule, which run infrequently and have different schedules in each season. More about that below.

Hiking map

The map below shows the trail from the Weesen parking to Quinten.

See trail map on SchweizMobil • Komoot • OutdoorActive

From the Weesen parking, walking time is about 3h30, but allow more time to admire the waterfall and take pictures.

If you are taking public transport, you start at the Fli, Seestern bus stop, skipping the first 25 mins (1.7 km).

If you are starting in Betlis, skip the first 4 km (see shorter trail map).

Trail description

The first hour from Weesen to Betlis is on a paved road along the lakeside. The last 2 mins before Betlis is a narrow one lane road where you’ll need to watch carefully for the occasional car.

In Betlis, there is a small car park, toilets, and grassy picnic area along the lake. Then about 40 mins on an access road to reach the falls. It’s a narrow footpath to the viewpoint close to the falls. Then back down towards the lake, following a footpath the rest of the way to Quinten. See the photo story below for more details. 

Shorter versions

If you need a shorter day, you can skip the first hour of the trail:

• by car: park in Betlis and start the hike there. When you end in Quinten, ride the boat to Betlis to get your car.
• by public transport: in Weesen, ride the boat to Betlis and start the hike there. When you end in Quinten, ride the boat to Murg and catch the train there.

Longer version

From Quinten, you can keep hiking to Walenstadt. Posted time from Quinten is 3h30. It took us about 2h40.

Weesen to Walenstadt: 6h30 • 20.5km one way • 952m up, 964m down

See trail map on SchweizMobil

How to get there

There are many options, but here’s are the most convenient options.

By public transport:

Take a train to Ziegelbrücke, then a bus to Weesen. If you want to ride the ferry to Betlis, get off at Weesen, See which is near the ferry dock. If you want to walk the full distance, get off Fli, Seestern (two more stops past Weesen, See) and walk on Betliserstrasse towards Betlis.

At the end of the hike in Quinten, ride the ferry to Murg and walk about 5 mins to the Murg train station, where you can ride home. 

By car:

For cars, you can park in either Weesen (Hauptstrasse 25, 8872 Weesen) or Betlis (see on map). At the end of the hike in Quinten, take the ferry back to your car in either Betlis or Weesen. 

To reach the Betlis parking, drive to Weesen, then turn right on Betliserstrasse. After a few minutes, you’ll reach a stop sign where the road turns into one lane.

Traffic on this road is controlled, meaning that traffic flows only one direction, switching every 15 minutes. You can drive to Betlis at xx:00-05 and xx:30-35 each hour. This gives enough time for the cars to drive the 2 km to Betlis before cars start driving the other direction.

In Betlis, there is room for about 50 cars to park. Last time we were there, it cost CHF 2/hr, payable in coins. On busy weekends, the spots can fill up fast. Make sure to pay for plenty of parking time, just in case you stay longer on the trail than anticipated.

Ferry Schedule – check this carefully!

Before even leaving the house, check the Walensee ferry schedule, which is very limited and varies by day of the week and season.

Make sure you carefully read the codes on the ferry times. Some boats only run on weekdays, others only Sundays, some boats don’t stop at all destinations.

In any case, make sure the ferry is running and that you’ll have enough time to do your hike before the last ferry of the day. 

Where to stay

If you want a special stay, our top choice would be a night at Tremoni Boutique B&B right in the peaceful Quinten village. The sunset views on the lake are unbeatable.

Convenient for day trips. If you want to explore the region for a few days, best to stay in Murg or Unterterzen. You can stay lakeside and be a 5 min walk from both the train station and Walensee ferry dock.

• In Murg, we like lofthotel Walensee, which has a convenient location near the lakeside and short walk from the train station. They also have a great restaurant.
• In Unterterzen, Marina Walensee Hotel is right near the lakeshore and has family rooms for 4-12 people.

For a budget stay, try Flyhof in Weesen, a friendly lakeside guesthouse.

Photo story

I include pictures for the whole trail starting in Weesen. You might skip straight to Betlis with the boat or car.

Starting in Weesen

From the parking you’ll walk along the main village road. Then fork right and follow the paved road all the way to Betlis.

If you rode the bus, you can skip walking through Weesen and get off at the Fli, Seestern bus stop. Then start on the road to Betlis.

After you leave the neighborhood, the road continues along the water the rest of the way to Betlis.

You’ll pass this cafe, which has free public toilets.

After the cafe, the road becomes one lane and has regulated traffic, one direction each 15 mins. If you are walking, listen for cars and stay to the side. The cars drive quicker than they should and can surprise you around a corner.

There is a short section in a dark tunnel with a few pretty openings to the lake. Cars can drive through this tunnel, so stay to the side in case they don’t see you right away.

Starting in Betlis

The road ends in Betlis, where there is big parking area. There is a free toilet here and picnic area along the lake.

Now follow signs to Seerenbachfälle, the waterfalls.

You’ll start through these meadows.

Sometimes they mow the hay and no flowers.

Then join the paved road for awhile.

You’ll have nice views of the lake on this part.

I always take a pic of this cute church.

Right before the falls, you’ll pass this honesty cafe.

Waterfalls!

After about 40 mins from Betlis, you’ll leave the road and follow a footpath up to the falls viewpoint, as shown below..

It’s a short walk thru the forest to reach the falls viewpoint. Sometimes the water flow is very low or non-existent starting around mid August.

Walk on the path and fork at this sign, now following signs to Quinten.

You’ll go down some steep switchbacks for about 10 mins. Then join the main trail, turning left to hike towards Quinten.

About a couple mins, you reach a bridge that crosses the river flowing from the big waterfall above. After the bridge, there is another small waterfall.

Honesty Cafes

When you leave the last waterfall, you’ll walk past a few more farmhouses as you traverse the mountain. After a few minutes you’ll pass the “Seeren Kiosk” , a self-service coffee bar with an espresso machine and cold drinks.

Here is the self-service “Apfelsaftbar.” Drop coins in the jar and serve yourself apple juice into the glass cups. “Saubere” means clean, there’s a separate basket for dirty glasses.

We passed a little farm that had the most adorable baby goats that jumped and romped all over. So adorable!

Up and down in the forest

Now a long stretch in the forest, starting steep uphill, then steep downhill. There is one section with some chains to help you manage the rocky terrain. But not dangerous.

You’ll pass this picnic area with fire pits along the way.

Vineyards

When you finally emerge from the forest, you spill into these pretty vineyards with lake views.

Nice fall colors in early October.

Quinten village

From the vineyards, you walk down this cute lane to the water.

There is an honesty shop selling jams, honeys, chutneys, and wine from the vineyards here.

Lunch in Quinten

There are three restaurants in Quinten. We always eat at Restaurant Schifflände, which has tasty fish & chips and serves the local wine. Seehus is also on the water and Tremondi is a bit up the hill.

For weekends, best to make a reservation as it can get really busy. Not everyone hikes here, some just take the boat.

Catching the boat

You can buy tickets for the boat online or on the boat. You cannot buy them on SBB mobile app. No discounts with Half Fare Card or travel passes.

If you came by public transport, you can take the short boat to Murg and catch the train there. Check schedule.

Otherwise, catch the longer boat ride going to Betlis and Weesen. Check schedule. The timetable varies by day of the week and season.

Seating is first come, first served. No class of service here.

We prefer the longer ride as you get to pass by the falls on the way.

Keep hiking

For a bit more walking, you can continue along the lakeside path, about 20 mins to the next village Au and catch the boat there. You’ll pass a very nice picnic area on the water. See trail map. Check boat schedule: Au to Murg and Au to Betlis/Weesen.

For a much longer hike, you hike past Au, about 3 more hours to Walenstadt and catch the train there. It has another steep climb up to fantastic views of the peaks above and pretty meadows. Definitely recommended if you want a full day hike. See trail map.

Hope you enjoy this hike!!!