Arnensee Lake, Switzerland

You can reach Col du Pillon (1,546 m) with a 35 minutes from Gstaad, going through the nice villages of Feutersoey and Gsteig. From Col du Pillon, the trail leads to Lac Rénaud (25 minutes), a small mountain lake where you can stop for a coffee. The ascent continues, mostly gently, to Col de Voré (1,918 m), the highest point of the trail from where the view on the surrounding valleys is  beautiful.After around 30 minutes descent, you reach Seeberg (1,712 m), a little natural mountain lake and a perfect spot for a picnic or a little rest.  From there down to Arnensee, the trail is simply gorgeous and it is likely to offer its best in mid-June to early July, when rhododendrons – covering the small hills – flower, coloring the hills in large fuchsia sports. After a while, the lake suddenly appears. And while looking at its blue-green water, you start dreaming for a bath!

The descent eventually leads to Arnensee shore, where there is a little beach perfect for a refreshing swim. From there, you can circle the lake either on the left side or on the right one until you reach Restaurant Huus am Arneenseeand its terrace on the lake. There you can taste the fishes caught in the lake – mainly trouts and bass – before starting the last part of the trail, mostly through the forest, down to Feutersoey(1 1/2 hour) to catch the bus to Gstaad.Arnensee is a fantastic place also for families with small children and for those who are not willing to hike up and down the mountains. In summer, you can catch one of the buses driving up to the lake from Gstaad and back (3 rides in the morning and 3 in the afternoon).

The walk around the lake is very pleasant and easy and does not take more than 1 1/2 hour, going quietly. Alternatively, you can also rent a boat to cross the lake and just have some fun. If you happen to be in the Gstaad area, don’t miss the place!This blissfully secluded spot offers an idyllic getaway for a refreshing swim, a spot of angling or a hike taking in a picnic lunch at one of the barbecue sites. You can also eat at the cosy and welcoming “Huus am Arnensee” mountain restaurant, where you can hire pedalos and rowing boats to explore the lake. 
The Arnensee is a lake at approximately 1500m, above Feutersoy. To access it, take road from Gstaad to Gsteig, in Lauenen the lake will be indicated on the right. Road up is well maintained, one has to throw coins into a machine to get passed an automatic gate.