Hiking trails in Engelberg
Up to the dreamlike Trübsee

There are countless great hiking trails in Engelberg. One of them is the ascent to the Trübsee. The path leads you from the valley station of the TITLIS cable cars, across meadows, through forests, up into the unique mountain world. The crowning glory of this hike is undoubtedly the stunningly beautiful Trübsee itself. A mountain lake like an advertising poster, simply great!

Dreamlike Trübsee

I would like to be honest with you. The climb from Engelberg up to the Trübsee is not the easiest one. Therefore, I´d like to show you right at the beginning that every bead of sweat will be worth it.

Drum roll. Fanfares. Applause.

My dear readers, may I introduce you to the “dreamlike”, the “unique”, the “stunningly beautiful” Trübsee. Voila!

There are hikes where you need to be completely clear beforehand why you are willing to exhaust yourself. What will your reward be? Convincing visuals can make all the difference!

One such hike, for example, is the strenuous and never-ending climb from Grindelwald to Männlichen.

Another example, though not nearly as exhausting, is the climb from Engelberg up to Trübsee. But let’s start at the beginning!

The other way around

I discovered the Trübsee on a beautiful tour that I took with a friend in the summer. The popular hike is called “Vier-Seen-Wanderung” (Four-lakes-hike), starting in Melchsee-Frutt and leading over the Jochpass to Engelberg.

Actually, I cannot talk about “discovering” because the famous mountain lake was grey and desolate under a blanket of fog. There was truly no talk of a turquoise-blue-crystal-clear beauty, that day.

The lake lived up to its name. Why? The German word “trüb” literally translated means “murky”. The German word “See” means “lake” and that leaves us with “murky lake” or Trübsee.

Nevertheless, both the unforgettable hike and the steep descent from Trübsee to Engelberg have remained in my memory. “We definitely have to do this hike the other way around,” I thought to myself, while my knees were cracking precariously on the descent. No sooner said than done.

A cold day | Cold enough?

It was cold on the day of our “other way around hike”. For the first time this year, we were out with gloves and headband. Just the right day for a warming ascent of almost 800 meters!

Alternatively, we could have joined the many skiers on a gondola ride up to Titlis Mountain. Titlis Mountain is undoubtedly THE starting point for extraordinary skiing fun. Of course, this would have required at least rudimentary knowledge of skiing, but well, we had other plans.

But while we’re on the subject of “skiing” and “cold temperatures,” here’s a thought on the side. Is it actually cold enough for this time of year?

The thing about snow

Terms such as “rising snowline” and “Green Christmas” have long since become commonplace.

Switzerland, a notorious winter paradise, is also affected by low-snow winters and its consequences. An interesting article about this topic can be found hier.

We saw plenty of evidence of this climate trend in the form of snow machines along the way.

It could hardly be any more obvious.

Fortunately, our interests are NOT YET affected by this problem. Hiking trails in Engelberg are available “en masse” at any time of the year. Let’s hope that this will continue for a long time.

A green and shady ascent

On green ski slopes and through shady forests we continued our ascent towards Trübsee.

At this time of day, the morning, our entire route was almost in the shadow of the gigantic mountain massif. So, if you prefer it a bit warmer, either hike up in the afternoon or choose a more temperature-friendly season.

Still, despite the shade and green ski slopes, nature was once again impressive and beautiful.

Hiking trails in Engelberg | So beautiful.

The final ascent led us on classic mountain trails surrounded by the alpine panorama.

Steep rock faces, winding mountain paths, lonely mountain huts and the peaceful silence of nature. So beautiful.

Light at the end of the tunnel | way

As if nature wanted to give us a final boost, the so-called “light at the end of the tunnel” appeared. It appeared just shortly before we reached our destination. It couldn’t have been any more appropriate or more welcome.

In full anticipation of feeling the warming rays of the sun on our skin, we hiked up the last meters.

And then everything happened at once!

Heaven on Earth

The end of the ascent. The lake. The sun.

Honestly, we didn’t know what to enjoy first.

The incredible sight of one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in central Switzerland?

The warming rays of the sun?

The fact that we had accomplished the climb and could now rest?

Or all of the above?

Three words: Heaven on earth.

The lake that is anything but “murky”.

We walked along the turquoise-blue-crystal-clear-semi-frozen lake and could hardly believe our luck.

Wherever the name comes from, it could not have been more inaccurate on this day.

Lake Trübsee, is a mountain lake located at an altitude of 1764 meters above sea level.

Nestled between two of the most popular tourist hotspots in Central Switzerland, the municipality of Engelberg and Mount Titlis.

In summer, the lake is a popular hiking destination. In winter, it is part of the ski area. That makes lake Trübsee an absolute all-rounder! And anything but “murky”!!!