The beautiful Melchsee Frutt Hike: Brilliant panoramic view on glaciers, mountain peaks as well as ten lakes. Swimming and fishing possibilities (license) at two lakes. Fireplaces at two lakes with prepared wood.

Pictures and text by Marc Gottwald

Melchsee-Frutt Hike: Short summary

• – Edelweiss visible (I will tell you the exact place)
• – Arrival Melchsee-Frutt: By gondola (GA: half price; last departure 17.30) or by car (16 francs per day for parking). Travel by car is limited in time! Ascent always at the even hour (e.g. 8 o’clock, 10 o’clock, 12 o’clock, etc…); departure at the odd hour (7 o’clock, 9 o’clock, 11 o’clock, etc…). It is a curvy, rather narrow mountain road.
• – Beautiful photo subjects partly including reflections of the mountains in the lakes depending on the time and position of the sun (in June: in the morning until about 9:30 am and in the evening from 5 pm).
• – Towards evening you are almost alone, otherwise many people.
• – A panoramic hike with edelweiss, glaciers and beautiful lakes. 

Duration: 5 hours; Condition: difficult; Technique: medium

No longer an insider tip – still beautiful

Even as a little kid, my parents took me to Melchsee-Frutt almost every month, so I’m thrilled to return once again and show you around.

Admittedly, the resort is no longer an insider tip in Switzerland! In my opinion, it is even very crowded. That’s why I recommend you not to come on a weekend. If you are looking for hidden gems, you will find some under the following link. 

Nevertheless, you will always find places with the most beautiful panorama over glaciers and various lakes, where you are almost alone. But more about that later.

This is what you have to keep in mind for the journey to “Melchsee-Frutt “.

There are two ways to get there: by car or by gondola. If you take the cable car, you can park at the bottom station. If you want to go up by car, tickets are available. You will pay on the mountain (16 francs per day for parking, in case of loss of ticket also 16 francs). The journey by car is limited in time! The ascent is always at the even hour (e.g. 8 o’clock, 10 o’clock, 12 o’clock, etc…), the departure at the odd hour (7 o’clock, 9 o’clock, 11 o’clock, etc…).

To the first destination on the Melchsee-Frutt Hike: the Blausee

Arrived at the top of the parking lot you start your hike. The planned hiking time is about 5 hours and leads you over the Melchsee and 4 small lakes to the Blausee. No, it’s not the well-known Blausee near Kandersteg, Melchsee-Frutt also has its own Blausee.

In between you will be greeted lovingly by cows with beautiful horns.

At the Blausee it is worthwhile to take a photo break, especially if you like to take pictures. Wonderful photo subjects are the reflections of the mountains in the lake depending on the time of day and the position of the sun (preferably in the morning and evening).

No forest – natural or not?

Now you could continue hiking towards Abgschütz (2263m.a.s.l.) or Hochstollen(2481m.a.s.l.). Today we take it more comfortable and walk back to Melchsee.

Along the Melchsee there is an exciting reforestation program of the Melchsee-Frutts forestry association. Scientists assume that the whole area around Melchsee (Lake Melch) and Tannensee was once forested, but was deforested by our ancestors from the 15th century onwards. It is assumed that iron was mined for war purposes on the Erzegg, where you will hike later on. The wood was used for heating the smelting furnaces.

Ascent from Melchsee to Erzegg 

After about 2/3 of the way along the Melchsee, you turn right and hike up to Balmereggerhorn. This is, in my opinion, the most strenuous part of today’s hike (300 meters of ascent). The white plants indicate that there is a wetland hiding underneath. On the ascent, there are also quite a few red stones indicating the high occurrence of iron.

What an impressive view here of Melchsee-Frutt, the Bernese Oberland and the Titlis!

Photo tip: This is definitely one of the most beautiful photo motifs on the hike. Partly mountain bikers drive over the ridge. This could give brilliant snapshots for your photo album.

You can see the closer mountain range with the mountain peaks (Achtelsassgrättli, Sätteli, Wendenstöcke) and two smaller lakes, but they are reservoirs (recognizable by the round artificial shape and the light concrete rim).

Looking further into the distance, you can see the Steinlimigletscher, the Steingletscher, the Uratgletscher.

By the way, the ridge is the border of the cantons of Obwalden and Bern. Definitely the highlight of the hike, as you can enjoy the scenery all the time.

That’s why we decide to take a rest here, which I can warmly recommend to you as well. If you look further to the left, you can see the Titlis and the Titlis glacier as well as the Engstlensee. In addition, you can now spot Lake Melchsee from a little further up.

From Erzegg to Lake Tannensee

After the rest, the descent of the Melchsee Frutt hike continues towards the Tannensee. For the moment, you can walk all along the ridge. Again and again you will encounter beautiful flower meadows. There are also many royal blue gentians.

For barbecuers: At the Tannensee there is a fireplace with prepared wood. Just be careful that the goat does not eat everything 😉.

Over the Bonistock with impressive karst landscape

Passing a beautiful chapel and the restaurant Tannalp (by the way, you could also take the Fruttli train back here (for a fee), the last ascent takes you towards Bonistock.

Again you hike on a beautiful ridge. And now for all photographers, this is a real snapshot!

Via Bonistock (restaurant and overnight accommodation) you hike back through impressive karst landscapes to Melchsee.

And at the end we actually discover edelweiss. As it looks, however, it is only artificially set, nevertheless a nice photo subject, with the Melchsee in the background.

Towards evening, you won’t meet a single hiker on this route (from 5 p.m. on) and you’ll have Melchsee-Frutt almost for yourself.

Summary Melchsee-Frutt Hike

This Melchsee-Frutt hike is a highlight, although you have to expect a lot of people, especially on weekends. Nevertheless, the hike is very worthwhile thanks to the panoramic view of the Alps and the various lakes. The area is definitely a place where it is worth staying in a hotel for a few nights.