The walk everyone can do and nobody regrets: fifty minutes along a broad alpine path from the First gondola to a pair of tarns at 2,265 metres, where on a still morning the Schreckhorn and Finsteraarhorn stand upside down in the water.
The Bachalpsee, or Bachsee, is two linked lakes in a shallow basin under the Faulhorn, dammed by a natural moraine, with the whole wall of the Grindelwald peaks lined up across the valley.
The gondola does the climbing. From Grindelwald it rises in three stages to First at 2,168 metres, and from there a broad, well-made path, almost level with a gentle rise, contours north-west across alpine meadow to the lake. It is busy in summer for good reason: the effort is small, the path is safe, and the reward is one of the most photographed views in Switzerland.
The trick is timing. In the early morning the water is usually glass-still and the reflections perfect; by late morning the wind ruffles the surface and the crowds arrive. Take the first gondola, walk out before the cafés open, and you may have it nearly to yourself.
Follow the yellow signs for "Bachalpsee" from the First top station. Times on the signs assume a steady pace.
Approximate profile. Solid: the way out; dashed: the return.
Step off the gondola onto the terrace of Berggasthaus First, with the Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn and Eiger across the valley. The Cliff Walk, a steel walkway bolted to the rock, starts right here; save it for the way back.
The path climbs gently north-west across open pasture dotted with gentians in early summer, with cowbells in the distance and marmots whistling from the slopes. A few benches face the peaks. There is no difficulty and no exposure.
The path tops a rise and the lake appears, with the jagged Schreckhorn and the Finsteraarhorn, highest peak of the Bernese Alps, mirrored in it. Walk round to the far end and ten minutes up the moraine for the classic view back over the water. The smaller upper lake is just beyond.
Return the same way and do the Cliff Walk before the gondola. Or ride down in style: the First Flyer zipline, the First Glider, and mountain carts and trottibikes on the lower stages take you back towards Grindelwald.
.jpg?width=1280)
.jpg?width=1280)
.jpg?width=1000)
The First gondola leaves from the centre of Grindelwald, 30 to 40 minutes by train from Interlaken Ost. It runs from early morning in summer; check the first departure, and webcams for cloud, before buying a ticket. It is covered by the Jungfrau Travel Pass and discounted with other passes.
Berggasthaus First at the top station serves Rösti, soup and coffee with the view. There is no café at the lake itself, so bring a picnic; the Faulhorn inn is an hour and a half further on.
_(7622570258).jpg?width=960)
The great ridge walk over the Faulhorn, past this same lake.
Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, with the Eiger growing ahead.
Under 1,800 metres of rock and ice, from Eigergletscher to Alpiglen.
The Northface Trail and the old mule path down to the valley.
The turquoise lake under the Blüemlisalp, and the Heuberg view.
Flat along the valley floor past Staubbach and Trümmelbach.
Wikimedia Commons photographs are used under their Creative Commons licences; Pexels photographs under the Pexels licence. Click a title for the original, its author and licence.
.jpg){kind=link}
