Oberst See Hike, Two-day Family Excursion: Top Highlights & 6 Essential Tips (early July Edition)
DETAILS*
Hike up (Saturday)
Duration: 8h 25min including all breaks
Difficulty:
Distance: 16.2 km point-to-point
Ascent: 1626 m
Descent: 238 m
The highest point: 2043 m above sea level
Hike down (Sunday)
Duration: 2h 45min including all breaks
Difficulty:
Distance: 7 km point-to-point
Ascent: 226 m
Descent: 449 m
The highest point: 2043 m above sea level
OUR EXPERIENCE:
Starting point (Saturday):
We took a bus 22 from Landquart, Bahnhof to Malans GR, Älplibahn (8 min, it runs twice per hour on Saturdays).
TIP #1: We went on this hike with our family (2 adults, a 11-year-old, a 16-year-old, and an 18-year-old). We parked our car at the Malans GR, Älplibahn parking lot, which cost 6 CHF for a 24-hour stay.
End point (Sunday):
We took the same bus 22 from Malans GR, Älplibahn back to Landquart, Bahnhof (8 min, it also runs twice per hour on Sundays).
TIP #2: We used the Älplibahn cable car to descend, as we were carrying full camping gear for ourselves and a family of five. Be aware that this gondola is often overbooked with people heading to or returning from the Älplibahn restaurant, where they enjoy lunch with a scenic view. So it might be tricky to find a free time slot, but we managed to get spots for all seven of us, so it’s definitely doable! The ride costs 14 CHF one way per adult.
Itinerary:
We hiked up to Oberst See (2043 m above sea level):
After parking our car at the Älplibahnstation, we decided to take a slight detour on the way up, as the route directly below the cable car didn’t look very appealing to us. Surprisingly, the entire ascent up to the Vorder Alp point at 1803 meters was along a road. While there was no regular traffic, we were only passed by one car the whole way, it still wasn’t the idyllic forest trail we had hoped for.
That said, the views were quite nice.
We found a few benches along the way to rest, and there were several small waterfalls where we could refill our bottles with fresh water. The path itself is very wide, not too steep, but it does ascend continuously.
Once we reached Vorder Alp (1803 m above sea level), the best part of the hike began!!
From this point on, the amazing mountain views began to open up, instantly boosting our motivation, even though there were only 200 meters of elevation left to climb. This section of the trail features some gentle “ups and downs” as you approach the valley with three small lakes/ponds. This is definitely the most beautiful part of the hike: spectacular views, vibrant alpine nature, and colorful wildflowers along the way.
The trail follows a standard white-red marked hiking path. We also passed through a few cow pastures, which added a nice alpine touch.
Don’t be discouraged if the first two lakes are dry. And don’t lose hope when you face the final uphill before Oberst See, there’s a small hill you need to climb, and only when you reach the very top do you finally see the lake. Oberst See is there year-round, and it is the perfect place for a refreshing swim.
TIP #3: The first two lakes/ponds were completely dry during our visit, but Oberst See still had water, and yes - you can swim in it!
TIP #4: Oberst See area is a fantastic spot for wild camping. There is even a basic fire pit, plenty of flat space for tents, and fresh water nearby, making it a little slice of camping paradise.
There is a small creek flowing out of the lake, and that is where we chose to set up our tents for the night.
Hike down to Älplibahn station (1787 meters above sea level):
There is no alternative route back to the Älplibahn station, so we returned the same way we came the evening before, passing by the three lakes/ponds and once again enjoying the most scenic part of the hike, with its gentle uphill sections. There is a parallel road leading down, but it has steeper inclines and declines. We preferred to stick with the more pleasant and interesting white-red hiking trail, which offered a smoother walk. However, this time we did not hike all the way back up to Vorder Alp. Instead, we took a gentle uphill path to the left before reaching it.
This route allowed us to look back on the trail we had taken the day before and gave us a fresh perspective and new views. It was definitely a good decision, the path was more engaging than walking along the road.
In some sections, it was clear that not many people use this trail, which made it even more special and enjoyable.
The final stretch down to the Älplibahn station was short, but we got caught in the rain twice. Skipping the steeper descent turned out to be a wise choice for us and the kids.
TIP #5: Keep in mind that the Älplibahn is often fully booked by restaurant guests, especially after lunchtime. Either you’ll be lucky like us and find a free slot between reservations, or you can relax with a coffee at the restaurant while waiting for your ride down!
Our food (ca. 1900 kcal): we usually eat as we would on a normal active day, but we always bring some high-carb snacks like cashews, peanuts, protein bars, dried mango, dried bananas, and a few cookies. We are vegetarians.
Breakfast (500 kcal): we had oats mixed with whey powder, skyr yogurt, and fresh fruits.
Snack (250 kcal): we brought along homemade pancakes, which we ate with jam and Ovomaltine chocolate spread.
Lunch (600 kcal): towards the end of the first day, somewhere between the three ponds/lakes, we had a cold pasta salad with green pesto, cheese (to boost the protein), and vegetables.
Dinner (500 kcal): we enjoyed a variety of cheeses with bread, nuts, cherry tomatoes, hummus, and cucumber.
Breakfast next morning (500 kcal): we ate whatever was left from the previous night’s dinner.
Our drinks:
We had one coffee on the train, and once we reached our camping spot we brewed Basler Drip Coffee, decaf in the evening and regular coffee in the morning.
TIP #6: Near the end of the hike, close to Oberst See, there is a creek with a continuous flow of fresh water. That is one of the reasons this spot is such a perfect place to camp! However, along the way, there were only a few places to refill water bottles: some small waterfalls on the uphill section and one fountain along the most scenic part of the trail.
We carried a total of 2.4 L (3 × 0.8 L bottles) and refilled 0.8 L once during the hike, giving us a total of 3.2 L for two persons.
What we packed:
We stayed overnight at Oberst See, like six other people, so we took our full camping gear: tent, Inflatable mattresses (Exped), sleeping bags (Pajak), Primus stove for boiling water.
Clothes: fresh change of clothes and a long-sleeve for the evening, pajamas, extra dry and warm socks, flip-flops (Kubota), fast drying towel, and…. swimsuits! We took our rain jackets (Haglofs) which we ended up using twice on Sunday.
During the hike we wore shorts and t-shirts – perfect for the weather conditions!
Specific season conditions:
Although the weather forecast didn’t show any rain along our hiking route, it rained right at midnight. The next day, there was about one hour of rain around 12:00, followed by a few light showers later on.
Only Oberst See still had water, the other two lakes/ponds were already dry.
Highlights:
You pass through marmot territory, and if you're lucky, you can not only hear them but also see them!
The valley with the three lakes/ponds is incredibly scenic, it almost feels like being in the Dolomites.
Even though a few other people were hiking and camping, the area felt very remote and peaceful. It’s not a touristy spot, so you can truly connect with nature.
Swimming in Oberst See was one of the absolute highlights of the first day!
Let's sum up our TIPs:
TIP #1: We went on this hike with our family (2 adults, a 11-year-old, a 16-year-old, and an 18-year-old). We parked our car at the Malans GR, Älplibahn parking lot, which cost 6 CHF for a 24-hour stay.
TIP #2: We used the Älplibahn cable car to descend, as we were carrying full camping gear for ourselves and a family of five. Be aware that this gondola is often overbooked with people heading to or returning from the Älplibahn restaurant, where they enjoy lunch with a scenic view. So it might be tricky to find a free time slot, but we managed to get spots for all seven of us, so it’s definitely doable! The ride costs 14 CHF one way per adult.
TIP #3: The first two lakes/ponds were completely dry during our visit, but Oberst See still had water, and yes - you can swim in it!
TIP #4: Oberst See area is a fantastic spot for wild camping. There’s even a basic fire pit, plenty of flat space for tents, and fresh water nearby, making it a little slice of camping paradise.
TIP #5: Keep in mind that the Älplibahn is often fully booked by restaurant guests, especially after lunchtime. Either you’ll be lucky like us and find a free slot between reservations, or you can relax with a coffee at the restaurant while waiting for your ride down!
TIP #6: Near the end of the hike, close to Oberst See, there is a creek with a continuous flow of fresh water. That is one of the reasons this spot is such a perfect place to camp! However, along the way, there were only a few places to refill water bottles: some small waterfalls on the uphill section and one fountain along the most scenic part of the trail.
*supported by Garmin and SchweizMobil