One of the
best things to do in Appenzell
Seealpsee

One of the best things to do in Appenzell is, without a doubt, a hike around the magnificent Seealpsee. To turn this great experience into an unforgettable one, include a swim in the crystal-clear lake! Be aware, however, you might get unexpected company!

One of the best things to do in Appenzell | Sensational Seealpsee 

A “must-see” in Switzerland is the stunning Seealpsee in the Alpstein range of the canton Appenzell Innerhoden.

The lake, a blue-turquoise-green gem, is located at 1,143 metres above sea level. You can reach the natural beauty via different popular hiking trails. The most common and well known treks lead you either from Wasserauen village or Ebenalp mountain (1,640 metres) to the lake.

Amazing Appenzell Alps

 In fact, a huge network of hiking routes around Ebenalp connects the Seealpsee with other outstanding sights in the Appenzell Alps. There is, for example, the fascinating mountain guesthouse Aescher, or the highest peak Säntis at 2,202 metres above sea level.

The Appenzell Alps surely offer endless hiking possibilities and stunning sights for all sorts of different fitness and technique levels.

Therefore, on the occasion of a family visit, we simply had to include a visit on our “To-Do”-list. We decided on the Wasserauen route to Seealpsee and back and surely did not regret this decision.

Wasserauen | The place to start your adventure

Our adventure started on a huge parking spot in the middle of Wasserauen. The place mainly consists of a few traditional farms (beautiful!), the cable car station to Ebenalp and the parking lot.

Wasserauen marks the starting point for a variety of exciting activities.

It was already quite busy at around 10.30 hrs on a Saturday morning. From hikers, hobby-walkers, paragliders and sun-seekers, there were all kind of different people, excited to get their day started!

There are two options from Wasserauen to get to the Seealpsee. We decided to take the unpaved, slightly longer path via the south-eastern part of the Hüttentobel valley.

You can also walk the other way round, via the mainly asphalted, but a little steeper road. In the end, I don´t think it really matters. Both trails will lead you in around 60 to 90 minutes to the beautiful lake.

Let the hiking begin

From the parking lot, we turned left after the Hotel Alpenrose onto the mountain path. The slightly challenging ascent through the Hüttentobel valley begun straight away.

After a short time we reached the beech forest from where we hiked up slowly but steady.

The path continuously led us up, for roughly one hour, always accompanied by the murmur of the mountain stream. As always we were thankful for the shade during the ascent.

Famous Aescher mountain guesthouse

Once we emerged from the forest, we found ourselves on an open mountain pasture. Here, on our way to Alp Hütten, we could get a glimpse of the previously mentioned Aescher mountain guesthouse.

Since you can only get a tiny glimpse, I had to dig out a picture from a previous hike. Like that, you can get an idea of what I am actually referring to.

Yes, that is it! Can you believe it? Isn´t it absolutely breath-taking??? Today, however, Seealpsee is our protagonist, hence, let me tell you only some very basic facts:

• Berggasthaus Aescher is a mountain guesthouse that snuggles up against the massive Alpstein rock face
• The guesthouse became utterly famous after the National Geographic printed its picture as a cover on a book called “Places of a Lifetime” | 225 Dream Destinations around the world
• As if this was not spectacular enough already, only a few steps away, one can find the “Wildkirchli” (English: Wild chapel). These are three interlinked caves located at a height of around 1500 metres above sea level. In front of a particular cave, the altar cave, stands a wooden bell tower from the 19th century. You have to see that!
• Lastly, the guesthouse is one of the oldest in Switzerland, dating back to 1860

As you can see, the guesthouse and the caves definitely require their own article. Another hiking adventure (Wasserauen – Ebenalp – Aescher) has just been placed on my mental “To-Do”-list

Hello, dear Seealpsee!

Back down on the ground, we continued our hike until we finally saw what we were looking for: THE LAKE!

What is so special about this lake?

Firstly, the landscape around it is so stunning, it actually leaves you speechless.

Secondly, the view immediately seems familiar, as a famous Swiss beer brewery “Quöllfrisch” took it as its cover picture.

Thirdly, the colour and clarity of the water, are one-of-a-kind and make you want to jump and dive into it instantly.

Subsequently, dear Seealpsee, is a true Swiss jewel and a visit is definitely one of the best things to do in Appenzell. Probably in Switzerland!

A dive into 18 degrees “warm” water and the critical point

Hence, as soon as we reached the lake shores we dropped our stuff, took off our clothes and waded bravely and determined into the water…

Well, bravely yes, determined, not quite so.

At 18 degrees, there ultimately comes a so called “critical point” that makes you stop and reconsider. The “critical point” is the moment when you are about half-way in the water, thighs not entirely submerged yet. At that moment you either stop, shiver and reconsider or you jump.

Gladly we jumped.

Froze.

Came back to our senses.

Enjoyed!

Swimming with cows

One might think, one of the best things to do in Appenzell is swimming in a lake. How about, we top this whole experience by adding some alpine cows to the picture?

As we just got over the whole “critical point-18-degrees-super-clear-lake” shock, a few cows from “the hood” marched in on us. Do check out the video above, please!

Honestly, it could not get any more authentic and cool!

Who cared if they scared us out of the water, stepped on our towels and made us flee from our spots?

We didn´t and nobody else either. Animals and humans together enjoying the lake life. Swiss fairy-tale life at its best!

Can it get better after this? Yes!

After this exceptional experience, we did not think it could get any better. However, as we learnt already many times in Switzerland, it can always get better!

What turned this perfect day into a heavenly one, was the paddling sound of an ice cream boat peacefully approaching the shore.

Is there anything else one can wish for? Great hike, glance of famous mountain guesthouse, crystal clear mountain lake, bright sunshine, cows completing alpine-dream picture…ANYTHING?

Yes, an delicious ice cream to enjoy whilst thinking about the fact how exceptionally lucky we are.

Beautiful from every angle | One of the best things to do in Appenzell!

After the ice cream, we dried up and continued the trail around the lake.

The good thing is, it doesn´t matter from which direction you come or where you stop. The lake is beautiful from every angle and so are the surroundings.

Back to Wasserauen

We also stopped at a traditional cheesemaker, so our guests could take back some true alpine cheeses.

It goes without saying that during this hike countless of pictures were taken.

Almost at the end of the round trek, the cozy Seealpsse mountain guesthouse awaits hungry guests with a large terrace. We skipped it on this occasion as we had already indulged in our homemade sandwiches.

Our return to Wasserauen led us via a steep, mainly asphalted, service road.

Back in Wasserauen, we watched the paragliders coming down, one by one. It seemed that we all had a fun-tastic day!

We took a long breath in and a full breath out. Swimming with cows, who would have thought 😊 ?