Seealpsee Hike: Switzerland’s Magic Mountains
Lake Seealpsee
One reason we decided to visit Switzerland is because Michael loves the mountains. We knew we wanted to go on a hike but decided to maximize our opportunities and do engagement photos. We never got a chance to take them, so why not get them done right before our wedding? I wanted to take them somewhere that looked like an enchanted forest. After hours of looking, I thought our best bet would be on a hiking trail, so we chose the Seealpsee hike.
Seealpsee is a small alpine lake hidden in the mountains on the far northeast side of Switzerland. Unlike other popular lakes in Switzerland, this does not have bright blue water, but rather a more natural vibe. The lake is only accessible by hike, with trails starting at Wasserauen. This is also a popular spot for paragliding, and they can be seen leaping from the cliffs above as you come near the parking lot. The closest village is Appenzell, a quaint little town with a cable car and a few other attractions. You could make this a destination, but we only had one day.
Seealpsee Hike
There are two ways to reach the lake. A paved service road goes directly to the lake from the parking lot, and a rugged trail runs up and along the mountain. The service road is significantly easier and takes 1-2 hours, but both have large elevation changes and will require decent leg work going up and down. We chose to take the Seealpsee hike to get there and return back on the service road to save time. As you will soon see, the hiking trail is absolutely worth it, as many of our best views were not of the lake, but the trail itself.
The trail was pretty hard in the summer heat. It starts out with a very steep incline for quite a while. We had to take several breaks, but thankfully it’s fully shaded and has a cooling waterfall flowing beside it. About one-third the way through it opens up and you see the incredible mountains cascading all around. The view back towards the trailhead is breathtaking.
From there on it is a nice descent towards the lake, with stunning views and vistas at every point. We couldn’t stop ourselves from pausing and admiring the majesty of its nature. These mountains feel very different from the rest of Switzerland, with beautiful layers revealed in the rock, it’s a surreal landscape.
Engagement photos
We decided if we saw interesting scenery we would get ready for our photos there. As we were walking Alec discovered a spot off the path filled with pine trees, moss, and greenery. I felt like I was in Frozen when the characters were looking for trolls. It was exactly what I wanted! Our friend Ashlynn Downing and her husband Alec are wedding photographers who I highly recommend. Ashlynn captured the photos beautifully and it is still one of my favorite sets of pictures up to this day.Â
As we continued on our hike we wound up on various picture-perfect paths. From dancing in the forest, running in the Swiss Alps, and relaxing by the lake. We wanted these engagement photos to embody who we are as a couple, adventurous and keeping to ourselves. Ashlynn helped match that perfectly! The engagement photos felt natural as we just got to be kids and run around in a place that felt like a fairytale. I’m not the princess-y type, but playing the role for the day was nice.
Berggasthaus Seealpsee
Seealpsee is surrounded by a few remote hotels and restaurants. I honestly don’t know how they get supplies up here, but it’s a great place to stop and take a rest. There is a restaurant high up on a dangerous trail opposite the lake but we decided to visit Berggasthaus Seealpsee which is just off the lake. While we can’t vouch for the hotel, we can vouch for the food. There’s no way around the fact that this was one of the priciest meals we had in our entire two weeks in Switzerland. The isolation and demand certainly contributed. The food was good, but like everywhere in Switzerland it was nothing to write home about. What is great is being able to satisfy your ravenous hunger after a long hard hike.
Final Thoughts
We’re so glad we did the Seealpsee hike. It is such a memorable place in Switzerland, and will always hold a special place in our hearts. The hike is hard but worth it. Even if you have to take the service road, the incredible mountains and lake views make for a stunning hike. Hopefully, you’ll consider Seealpsee on your trip.
Travel Diary
