Oeschinensee

Lake Oeschinen lies at an altitude of 1,578 metres above Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland. It covers 1.1 square kilometres and is 56 metres deep. To the east and south it is framed by the 3,000-metre peaks of the Blüemlisalp, Oeschinenhorn, Fründenhorn and Doldenhorn; the lake was formed by rockslides from the flanks of the Fründenhorn and Doldenhorn. It drains underground via the Öschibach and has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch since 2007.

The gondola from Kandersteg has existed in its present form since 2008. From the upper station you reach the lake along a gently descending path in about 25 minutes. At the lake there are restaurants, rowing boat hire and swimming; higher up are the Blüemlisalp Hut (2,834 m) and the Fründen Hut (2,562 m). The path along the south shore was most recently closed for safety reasons, so a full circuit of the lake was not possible (as of October 2026, according to the latest available information); check with the operator beforehand. Allow at least half a day.