Schwellisee Lake & the Two-Lakes Hike
While day-trippers cluster around the Obersee near the station, those willing to walk for 45 minutes discover Schwellisee — a small, perfectly still lake where the peaks of the Arosa Dolomites reflect so cleanly you have to check which way is up. It is the kind of place that makes you feel like you found Switzerland's secret.
The Walk There Is Half the Magic
The classic approach pairs Schwellisee with its neighbour Älplisee on the signed Two-Lakes Hike, a loop of around 8 kilometres that starts from the Hörnli Express cable-car valley station. The trail climbs through larch and spruce forest before opening onto high alpine meadows carpeted with wildflowers from late June through August.
The Mittelbünden Panoramaweg path, which the route joins mid-loop, delivers sweeping views back over Arosa village and the Schanfigg valley — a perspective most visitors never see because it requires actually leaving the lifts behind.
What to Bring & When to Go
This hike is best from late June to early October when the trails are snow-free and the lakes are at their most photogenic. Pack a picnic — there are no huts or kiosks on this particular loop, which is precisely why it stays quiet.
Sturdy trail shoes are sufficient; the terrain is well-maintained and signposted throughout. Start before 10 am to catch the mirror-calm water before afternoon breezes ripple the surface and scatter the reflections.
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