Bachalpsee, Mountain lake in Bern, Switzerland
Bachalpsee, also known as Lake Bachalp, is a small mountain lake in the Swiss Alps at over 7,200 feet (2,200 m) above sea level, near the village of Grindelwald in the canton of Bern. A natural dam splits it into two basins, surrounded by open moorland and small streams.
The area around Bachalpsee was once used by shepherds who brought their livestock to the high pastures during the warmer months. With the rise of Alpine tourism in the 19th century, the lake became a known stop for hikers and travelers crossing the region.
The name "Bachalpsee" comes from the German word for stream, reflecting the many small waterways that run through the area. Hikers often stop here to sit by the flat shore, eat lunch, or take photos of the mountains mirrored in the water.
Most visitors take the gondola from Grindelwald up to the First station, then follow a well-marked, mostly flat trail for about an hour to reach the lake. Sturdy shoes are a good idea year-round, as paths can be muddy in spring and snow-covered in winter.
Although the lake sits at around 7,415 feet (2,265 m), the trail from First is gentle enough to be done with an all-terrain stroller, making it one of the few Swiss mountain lakes accessible to families with very young children. On calm days, the reflections of the Wetterhorn and Schreckhorn peaks on the water surface are so sharp that it is hard to tell where the water ends and the sky begins.
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