Here are the summary hike details:
- Start/ end location: from Luftseilbahnen Bannalp, Fell 3, Oberrickenbach 6387 take the gondola towards Chrüzhütte
- Ascent /descent: 520 m ascent, 520 m descent
- Distance: 7,7 km – see our exact Strava route at the end of the post
- Duration: 4 hours (snack and photo breaks included)
- Technical and physical requirements: Easy – Medium
- Season: June – October
Introduction
Hiking to Bannalpsee is a great one day weekend get-away where you can have the perfect amount of hiking, mountain views and swimming in a mountain lake with a low to medium effort.
We went there with our son and had a great time. Depending on the amount of time you want to spend here hiking vs. staying and swimming near the lake, there are several routes and options that you can choose from.
Getting there
But first, if you would like to do a hike is this area, you need to go to Luftseilbahnen Bannalp, Fell, Oberrickenbach 6387 (exact Google Maps location here) from where you will take to gondola up to Chrüzhütte. One way ticket up costs CHF 12 and if you also want the retour, both ways costs CHF 21. GA and Half Fare travel cards are not accepted, but the car parking is free instead.
Route details
Once up to Chrüzhütte you can go right towards Bannalpsee and you will directly start the descent in a 20 minutes walk to the lake. We decided to go left for a longer hike around the lake and then go down. So we went towards Urnestaffel, a nice restaurant which is only 15 minutes away. It was already lunch time for our son, so we already took a break for lunch and relaxed in the sun.
Then we went forward towards Oberfeld Alphütte leaving the Bannalpsee way down on our right. It was well worth it, as you’ll see in the pictures below. The walk up to here was easy and we decided to continue for a while before returning to the lake. Again, it was worth it, as we got to a great ridge with amazing views all around. Patrick was sleeping during this time so unfortunately he missed the views. Once we got to one of the highest points, around 1.890 m altitude, from where the Bannalpsee seemed a small pond, we decided to go back. We turned back after the ridge you’ll see below and the 360 viewpoint where we managed to get some spectacular photos. Although it looks like the ridge walk was exposed, it was very safe, with protective supports on both sides. If you have vertigo on exposed heights than maybe you would not feel comfortable although it’s a very short and safe protected ridge so it might actually not be a problem.
After the ridge viewpoint, we returned descending towards the Bannalpsee and took a well deserved brake where our son had a snack. You can also have a refreshing swim here and then relax and dry in the sun, as many people did. The Chrüzhütte gondola is only 25 minutes away, in an easy ascent picturing a great view of the ridge we just went on and all other small peaks rising behind the lake. Below you will find our direct Strava route that you could use to plan also your route in case the pictures convinced you.
