Triftsee Hike

Triftsee is a turquoise mountain lake in the Grimselwelt region, surrounded by mountains. It’s one of the most photogenic spots in the Swiss Alps. You can also cross the Trift Bridge (Triftbrücke), which is a suspension bridge that crosses the gorge.

The hike starts at the Triftbahn upper station. The trail going to the Triftsee is moderate, but you have to be careful, as a wrong turn might lead you to a difficult section. I would recommend crossing the bridge at the end to get the best views on the other side. The hike after the bridge is a T4-rated path; I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone who is not used to this kind of trail. Moreover, this is currently closed because the Trifthütte SAC is closed (as of 2025).

When going down, you can choose to take the same path. But you can make a small loop passing by the Windegghütte. You have two options:

• Ketteliweg (T3): pretty difficult and recommended only for the most adventurous hikers willing to use the chains to climb on a narrow, exposed path.
• Familienweg (T2): as its name suggests, it is a bit easier and recommended for everyone who is not used to this kind of trail.

Unless you’re confident on exposed alpine paths, I personally recommend the Familienweg.

After the hike, you can visit the nearby gorge called Aareschlucht.

Logistics

To get to the trailhead, you will need to take the bus to Nessental, Triftbahn. Then, you will need to take the Triftbahn. The hike starts and ends at the same gondola station.