Golzerensee

A lake that looks painted

Sometimes the fun starts before the hike even begins. The postbus ride from Amsteg to Bristen is spectacular in its own right and worth the trip alone — the bus barrels along at breathtaking speed, skimming past jagged cliffs through the wild Bristen gorge. If that makes you queasy, staring out the window helps, and so, just in case, does a motion-sickness pill.

Once you reach the valley station in Golzern, the real fun begins: a small, cozy cable car carries you up. At the top, a wide, easy path leads toward Golzerensee — turquoise, clear, almost too pretty to be real. At the lake there are plenty of fire pits and a lovely meadow for spreading out a picnic blanket. As beautiful as it is, usually only a handful of other groups of friends and families are around — plenty of room for a game of frisbee, a dip in the cool lake, or a short loop along the shore.

Tip: there are cozy spots to stop for a bite along the way (hello, fries), but packing a picnic or grill supplies is at least as rewarding.

How it went for me

For me, Golzerensee is one of the loveliest summer outings there is — barely any climbing, but a turquoise lake, a meadow in the sun and enough room to fritter away a whole lazy day with friends. Sometimes the best destination isn’t the highest summit but a fire pit by the right lake.