Last updated on April 13th, 2024 at 10:12 pm
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This post contains all of Seealpsee travel tips, compiled into one Seealpsee guide with everything you need to know to plan your visit.
The hike to Seealpsee is one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done. I saw a picture of Seealpsee on Tumblr when I was 15 years old, and ever since then, I dreamed about the day I could visit. I finally got a chance to visit last year, and it did not dissapoint. Anyone who has the opportunity to visit this gorgeous alpine lake in Switzerland definitely should. That’s why I’ve put together this Seealpsee guide, answering all your questions about how to get to Seealpsee, how long the hike is, and how difficult it is.
Where is Seealpsee located?
Seealpsee is located in Wasserauen, in the Appenzell Innerrhoden canton of Switzerland. The closest town in Appenzell.
How do you get to Seealpsee?
Seealpsee can be reached easily from the Wasserauen train station or parking lot. There is a service road beginning from the train station that goes directly to Seealpsee. This road is fairly steep, but is a great option to access Seealpsee.
The other option is to hike down to Seealpsee from Ebenalp. Ebenalp is a summit in Wasserauen that can be reached by cable car. A one way ticket up the cable car costs 22CHF. This cable car is also accessed from the Wasserauen train station. If you choose this option, you can take the cable car up to the summit, hike down to Seealpsee, and then walk back to the train station on the service road. I would highly recommend this option, the views from the top, and on the way down, are spectacular!
The closest town to the Wasserauen train station is Appenzell. This is where I stayed when I visited Seealpsee, and I found it easy to find accommodation and to take the train from Appenzell to the Wasserauen train station. You can take the Appenzell Railways train, and it takes about about 30 minutes and costs about 3CHF.
How long does the Seealpsee hike take?
If you start from Ebenalp, and hike back down to Wasserauen, the whole Seealpsee hike takes about two hours and 15 minutes. If you want to hike directly to Seealpsee from Wasserauen and back, it will take slightly longer, about two hours and 45 minutes.
How difficult is the Seealpsee hike?
The Seealpsee hike is moderately difficult. I must say, it is pretty steep, so definitely be careful if you do the hike. That being said, I am by no means a skilled or practiced hiker, and I found this hike very doable; it did not require any climbing or special skills. The hike from Ebenalp down to Seealpsee had ropes to hang on to in the parts that were extra steep, and I never actually felt like I was in danger. If you are careful, you shouldn’t have any issues!
A few more tips
If you do take the cable car up to Ebenalp, look out for the cool sights at the top before you hike down! Aescher, a world famous guesthouse, is nestled into a rock face. You can also see Wildkirchli caves, a very neat anthropological site. Note that these are both closed in the winter, so plan accordingly!
I hope this Seealpsee guide will help you plan your next hiking adventure. In my opinion, Seealpsee is must-visit on your next trip to Switzerland!