ℹ️ Click on the + to view the trail info.
🥾 Trail Info 🔽
- 🚗 Arrival: Accessible by car (parking available near the church in Lungern) or by public transport with the scenic Luzern–Interlaken Express panorama train.
- 💰 Costs: The uphill ride with the Turren cable car is around CHF 24 (adults, one way). Children pay about CHF 12. Reduced fares are available with Half Fare Card or GA travelcard. Turren-Pricelist
- 🥾 Equipment: Sturdy shoes, hiking poles, food, and water.
- 🥵 Difficulty: Overall moderate – manageable for most hikers with a bit of stamina.
- 📍 Start and End: The hike starts at the Turren cable car station and ends in Kaiserstuhl, Obwalden.
- ⏱️ Time: Plan about 4 hours of hiking, or around 5 hours with breaks.
- 📊 Ascent & Descent: Ascent: 370 m (1,210 ft) | Descent: 1,200 m (3,940 ft). Your knees will feel it!
- 🌿 Trail Surface: 5 km mountain road, 6 km mountain path, 2 km meadow – very diverse.
- 🦋 Wildlife: On the Butterfly Trail you can see many free-flying butterflies between June and August.
- 👨👩👧 Family-Friendly: Suitable for children from around 10 years old, but not accessible with strollers.
- 📌 Signage & Markings: The trail is very well signposted. You follow the official SwitzerlandMobility Route 575 “Butterfly Trail,” with yellow hiking signs and information boards along the way.
- 🐕 Hiking with Dogs: Dogs are allowed, but a leash is recommended (wildlife, grazing cattle).
- 💡 Tips: For maximum peace and the best autumn colors, start your hike in September or October – after 3 pm I had the entire trail to myself. You can also experience golden autumn colors on my Lej Nair hike in the Engadin, which is part of the well-known 3-Lake Trail.
- 🏡 Accommodation & Restaurants: Only available at the Turren cable car station. After that, self-catering is required until Kaiserstuhl.
- 🌄 Highlights: Stunning views over turquoise Lake Lungern with the Jungfrau mountains in the background, and later over Lake Sarnen – simply breathtaking! For more impressions, check out my Lake Lungern Reel on Instagram.
The hike starts at the Lungern–Turren cable car right next to Lake Lungern. But before you set off, it’s worth taking a short look at the village of Lungern itself, almost everyone has seen those iconic pictures and videos of the winding road above the turquoise lake. 😊
Once you’ve explored all the spots on your list, you’ll conveniently reach the cable car station at Lake Lungern. From there, the ride takes you up to Turren, a true butterfly paradise. The region is famous for its exceptional biodiversity: some of Switzerland’s largest butterflies can be seen here, including one species with a wingspan of up to 75 mm (about 3 in).
From this point on, it’s important to always follow the small hiking trail marker number 575, labeled “Butterfly Trail.” Right after the Turren mountain station, the path leads downhill for about 15 minutes. During the descent, you can already see the distinctive slope on the opposite side, where the trail later climbs back up in gentle switchbacks.
At first, I felt a bit intimidated myself, but don’t worry, it looks much harder than it really is. With a little stamina, anyone can manage it, and at the top you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view as the perfect payoff!
Once you’ve completed the roughly 30-minute hike through the shady forest section, a breathtaking panorama opens up before you: in the background, the majestic Jungfrau mountains rise high above. It’s a view you won’t forget anytime soon. After enjoying this magical moment, the final part of the route begins. The trail climbs gently uphill once more, accompanied by sweeping views that draw you further step by step.
A short section leads you across a meadow directly to the summit of Dundelegg at 1,739 m (5,705 ft). Once you reach the summit, the ascent is behind you from here it’s all downhill. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with sweeping panoramic views. From this vantage point, you can spot Fluonalp, a small summer alpine hut where you can buy especially fine cheese. (Tip for cheese lovers: the best cheese comes fresh from the farmer!).
The hike leads you from the summit of Dundelegg across meadows and rocky trails into a quiet forest, until you reach the Sädel viewpoint. Here, a bench invites you to pause and take in a spectacular panorama of Lake Sarnen and the turquoise waters of Lake Lungern. The striking color contrast between the two lakes is especially impressive – a moment you won’t forget.
As you begin the descent through the forest towards Kaiserstuhl, you’ll repeatedly catch glimpses of shimmering turquoise Lake Lungern through the trees. After about two hours (≈ 7–8 km / 4.5–5 mi of hiking), you leave the forest and are greeted by a breathtaking panorama: Lake Lungern in all its glory, framed by the majestic peaks of the Jungfrau region in the background.
On the other side, you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic panorama over Lake Sarnen, including an impressive view of Mount Pilatus in the distance. The trail remains wide and easy to walk, making it accessible for most hikers.
After a 180-degree turn, you’ll be rewarded with one of the best panoramas of the entire hike. By this point, it was already around 6:30 pm, with a pure walking time of roughly 3 hours. For me, evening is the perfect time to capture stunning photos – the light is simply magical.
If you love panoramic views and atmospheric lighting conditions as much as I do, then you’ll also enjoy Lake Palpuogna. Nestled in a fairytale mountain setting, it is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in Graubünden – a true highlight, especially in autumn.
Details and Elevation Profile
Frequently asked questions about the Lungernsee hike
ℹ️ Click on the question to view the answer.
The starting point is at the Turren cable car above Lungern. By car, you can take the A8 motorway and park in the village. Even more scenic is the journey on the panorama train from Lucerne. From the Turren top station, the marked trail – also known as the “Butterfly Trail” – leads you all the way down to Kaiserstuhl on Lake Lungern.
Expect about 4 hours of pure walking time. With breaks, photo stops, and a bit of rest along the way, you should plan for around 5 hours in total. The tour ends in Kaiserstuhl on Lake Lungern and leads you across a varied mix of mountain roads, forest trails, and meadows.
The hike is rated as moderate. With normal fitness it is well manageable, but the descent of 1,200 m (3,940 ft) can be tough on the knees. Hiking poles are therefore recommended. The trail is varied and rich in nature – perfect for experienced hikers and nature lovers.
The hike is at its best between June and August, when you can see countless colorful butterflies. Autumn is also highly rewarding. In September and October the larches and forests turn golden, and in the afternoon the trail becomes very quiet.
The main highlights are the spectacular panoramic views over turquoise Lake Lungern and later over Lake Sarnen with Mount Pilatus in the background. Along the way, you’ll enjoy a mix of forests, meadows, and alpine trails. In summer, countless free-flying butterflies along the official SwitzerlandMobility Route 575 “Butterfly Trail” are an added highlight.
The trail offers a variety of natural scenery: blooming alpine meadows, shady forests, and panoramic mountain paths. In early summer, countless butterflies flutter across the meadows. With a bit of luck, you may also spot marmots, birds, or grazing cattle. The combination of wildlife and landscapes makes this hike both diverse and unique.
At the starting point by the Turren cable car station there is a restaurant. After that, you’ll need to bring your own food until Kaiserstuhl. Along the trail, however, you’ll find plenty of picnic and barbecue spots – perfect for a break with a view.
