Lauenensee Lake

Lauenensee is a pair of small alpine lakes in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland, near the village of Lauenen in the Bernese Oberland.

The two adjacent basins - commonly called the upper and lower lakes - are reached by short hikes from Lauenen and are popular for short walks, picnics and views of surrounding hills and forests.

The lakes are natural mountain basins formed by post-glacial processes and have long been part of local recreational routes.

They sit close to the village of Lauenen in the Bernese Oberland, within Canton Bern and within easy reach of the Gstaad area.

• Upper and lower basins: Two small adjacent basins lie close together and are connected by a stream; short marked trails from the village allow easy access to both lakes.

What to See#

• Upper Lauenensee: The upper basin of the pair of lakes, located immediately above the lower lake and linked to it by a short stream; accessible by walking trails from the village of Lauenen.
• Lower Lauenensee: The lower basin lying immediately below the upper lake, often reached on the same short circuit walk and used for picnics and shoreline viewpoints.

Lauenensee is about 15-20 km northwest of the town of Fribourg and can be reached by car via route signs toward Lauenen/Lauenensee. The nearest larger transport hub is Bern; from there, regional trains and buses go to towns near the lake with final legs often by taxi or local bus. Parking is available at designated lots near the lakeshore.

• If visiting in summer, arrive early morning to avoid mid-day tourists and to catch the best light on the small islands.
• Hire a rowing boat from nearby inns rather than relying on public launches-local proprietors often know the shallow spots.
• Walk the short trail to the higher viewpoints and watch for the circular stone soothing pools formed by centuries of weather.