For years, I have admired pictures of Blausee. Blausee, or Blue Lake, is located in the Kander Valley of the Bernese Oberland. Pictures on Instagram and online showed a secluded lake with a surreal blue color. There is a legend of a grieving maid who was found dead in her boat at the bottom of the lake after losing the love of her life. The color of the lake was mysteriously transformed by the tears for reflect the blue color of her eyes.
Don’t get me wrong, the lake is beautiful! And, it is dog friendly. However, I can’t say that it entirely lived up to my lofty expectations.
Upon arriving, I couldn’t shake a somewhat commercial fee. Visitors are greeted by billboards, a large paved parking lot and a gift shop. Guests are also required to pay an entrance feel. The fee was modest by Swiss standards and we gladly paid it, but one can’t help but observe that there are an endless number of freely accessible natural wonders nearby.
I envisioned hiking through and around the park to arrive at a large lake in the forest. Obviously, this misperception was directly due to our lack of preparation – for which I take full responsibility. In reality the park and lake were both relatively small (the lake itself is only 1.6 acres). The trails are better described as walking paths and the main path from the entrance is paved. These characteristics would arguably be considered desirable to many, as they make the lake easily accessible to a greater number of people, including those with limited mobility or using a wheelchair. And, the smallness of the lake certainly did not minimize the remarkable colors or clarity of the water which allowed you to easily view rocks and fallen trees beneath the surface. It was simply a mismatch of expectations and reality.
The well maintained paths offered a tranquil retreat for a calming morning walk. The trails can easily be completed casually in a short amount of time. You can also prolong your visit by bringing a picnic or visiting another nearby attraction. We didn’t have a reason to use it, but we did observe that the playground area appeared to be top notch! And, be sure to check out the very large trout that call the lake home.
I think it is also worth noting the popularity, and subsequent crowds. Obviously, the same can be said for any popular destination, but the relatively small size of Blausee means that the lake can easily feel overwhelmed with tourists. The first time we considered visiting we changed our minds after seeing the midday parking lot filled with row after row of tour busses. We gladly adjusted our plans and decided to return on a different date early in the morning. This was an excellent choice, allowing us to explore with relatively few other visitors. By the time we left, we could already see people following one another through the paths like ants and lining up to take pictures at desired locations. My advice: go early if you want to capture the magic of Blausee.
Overall, we are glad we visited. I would recommend a stop to those who are in the area, have extra time, or are looking to snap a stunning picture. Especially those with kids. Blausee is easily accessible, provides beautiful views and doesn’t require dedication of an entire day. If you prefer greater hiking options and a more authentic alpine experience, I preferred the nearby Oeschinensee. For us, it was the perfect way to break up the drive to watch my brother compete in the Swiss National Athletics Championships.
(Spoiler alert: He won! Click here to see pictures from his 10th national title.)
