# 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.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/oeschinensee/

A turquoise lake set beneath steep limestone walls above Kandersteg. Take the cable car from the valley and walk the easy path to the shore; bring sturdy shoes if you want to continue along the lake on the rougher trails.

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.

- **Nearest town:** Kandersteg, Switzerland
- **Category:** Nature & parks
- **GPS:** 46.4983, 7.7270

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

**Getting there:**

- **Switzerland: Vignette needed for motorways.** Vehicles over 3.5 t pay the heavy vehicle charge instead of the vignette. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.

## Sources

- [Oeschinensee – Wikipedia](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oeschinensee)
- [Oeschinensee – Betriebsstatus Gondelbahn](https://www.oeschinensee.ch/en/betriebsstatus/)

## Nearby

- [Lauterbrunnental](https://camping-spirit.com/places/lauterbrunnen/) – 17 km
- [Trümmelbach Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/truemmelbach-falls/) – 18 km
- [St. Beatus Caves](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-st-beatus-caves/) – 22 km
- [Oberhofen Castle](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-oberhofen-castle/) – 26 km

## FAQs

### Where is Oeschinensee?

Oeschinensee is in Kandersteg, Switzerland, at GPS 46.4983, 7.7270. It is about 15 km from Leukerbad.

### Can you camp near Oeschinensee?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping Rendez-vous, about 3 km away; within 25 km there are 51 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### What is there to see near Oeschinensee?

Places worth a stop nearby: Lauterbrunnental (17 km), Trümmelbach Falls (18 km), St. Beatus Caves (22 km) and Oberhofen Castle (26 km).

### When is the best time to visit Oeschinensee?

The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)