Blausee is famous for its intensely blue, crystal-clear water and fairytale forest setting in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. However, visitors planning to swim need to know one important rule before they arrive: normal swimming in Blausee is not permitted. The lake is best experienced from its shoreline, woodland paths, and seasonal glass-bottom rowing boat.
Quick Answer
No, visitors cannot normally swim in Blausee. The official Blausee Nature Park rules prohibit swimming, and the lake stays around 8°C. A special organized charity swim is held in early December, but ordinary visitors should enjoy the lake from the paths or the seasonal glass-bottom rowing boat instead.
Key Takeaways
- Normal swimming in Blausee is prohibited under the park’s official visitor rules.
- The lake’s water remains around 8°C throughout the year.
- A glass-bottom rowing-boat ride is included with daytime admission during the summer season.
- The surrounding nature park covers about 20 hectares and includes woodland paths, picnic areas, a playground, restaurants, and an organic trout farm.
- If swimming is your priority, nearby Oeschinensee permits swimming during suitable summer conditions.
Can You Swim in Blausee?
No. According to the official Blausee Nature Park FAQ, swimming in Blausee is not permitted during normal visits. The rule allows the lake’s trout to remain undisturbed in its unusually cold water.
The official information states that the water remains around 8°C throughout the year. That means Blausee is considerably colder than many recreational swimming lakes even during summer.
Warning: Do not enter the lake for a casual swim, even if the water looks calm and inviting. Normal swimming is prohibited by Blausee Nature Park rules.
There is one special exception. Blausee organizes a charity swimming event in early December in which registered participants cross roughly 40 metres of the lake. This is an organized event rather than permission for everyday recreational swimming.
The Uniqueness of Blausee’s Crystal-Clear Waters
Blausee’s unusual color is one of the main reasons people visit. According to the official nature-park information, the lake is supplied by groundwater flowing through the Kander Valley even though it sits only about 17 metres from the Kander River.
The exceptional clarity strongly influences how the lake appears to the eye. Submerged tree trunks and rocks lying many metres below the surface can appear surprisingly close, while the clear water and surrounding forest produce the deep turquoise-blue appearance for which Blausee is famous.
The lake is beautiful in every season. Green forest dominates the warmer months, autumn leaves add warmer tones around the water, and snow creates a striking contrast with the blue lake in winter.
Blausee Facts
| Nature park area | About 20 hectares |
| Lake area | About 0.64 hectares |
| Water temperature | Around 8°C year-round |
| Maximum depth listed for diving | About 12 metres |
| Typical diving visibility | Approximately 5–15 metres |
Activities at Blausee Instead of Swimming
Not being able to swim does not mean there is little to do. Blausee is primarily a nature-park experience, and several activities allow you to enjoy the water and surrounding forest without entering the lake.
Take the Glass-Bottom Rowing Boat
During the summer season, visitors can experience the lake from a glass-bottom rowing boat. The official Blausee Nature Park says the boat trip is included with daytime admission.
The clear viewing panel gives you another perspective on the lake’s submerged rocks, tree trunks, and fish without disturbing the water.
Note: Official visitor information promotes the operated glass-bottom rowing boat as the standard on-water experience. Do not assume that personal kayaks, paddleboards, inflatable craft, or other water equipment may be used simply because the lake appears calm.
Walk Through the Nature Park
The park covers approximately 20 hectares and contains a network of woodland paths through moss-covered rocks, mature firs, deciduous trees, and small gorges. The main approach to the lake is short, making Blausee accessible even to visitors who do not want a long mountain hike.
Use the Picnic and Playground Areas
Families can use the nature playground and picnic areas near the Wasserhaus. Toilet facilities are also available in the park.
See the Trout
Blausee is closely associated with its organic trout farm. The cold, mineral-rich water supports the trout for which the property is known. Visitors should never feed the trout or throw stones into the water because the official park rules specifically prohibit both.
Book a Winter Dive if You Are Certified
Swimming and diving are not the same under Blausee’s rules. During the winter season, the park offers pre-arranged dives for certified divers. These are limited, organized activities and are not equivalent to open recreational access.
Wildlife and Nature Surrounding Blausee
The lake and surrounding forest create a peaceful habitat where visitors can observe nature without entering the water. Trout are especially important to Blausee, and the official FAQ also refers to sturgeon living in the lake.
During the warmer season, llamas are also kept in the Sommerau clearing within the nature park. The wider forest is filled with mature trees, moss-covered rocks, roots, and natural woodland features that make the short walks around Blausee feel much more secluded than the lake’s easy access might suggest.
Visitors can help protect this environment by remaining on suitable paths, keeping dogs under control, avoiding disturbance to fish, and taking waste away or using the facilities provided.
Tips for Visiting Blausee
A little planning makes a Blausee visit easier, especially during weekends and popular summer dates.
Check the Opening Hours
The official visitor page lists the nature park as opening daily from 09:00. The FAQ says it generally remains open until 21:00, although events and special operating dates can result in different closing times.
Know the 2026 Admission Prices
As listed on August 17, 2026, daytime admission from 09:00 costs CHF 11 for adults Monday through Friday and CHF 13 on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Children aged 6–15 pay CHF 7 on weekdays and CHF 9 on weekends and holidays. Children under 6 enter free.
Evening admission from 18:00 is CHF 9 for adults on weekdays and CHF 11 on weekends and holidays. Children aged 6–15 pay CHF 5 or CHF 7 respectively. Prices can change, so the official ticket page should remain the final reference when planning a future visit.
Travel by Public Transport
You can take a train to Frutigen or Kandersteg and then continue by bus to the Blausee BE stop. From the bus stop, the walk to the lake is roughly 350 metres.
Drivers can reach the park from the main road between Frutigen and Kandersteg. Parking is available but is subject to a fee, and spaces can fill during busy periods.
Accessibility
The official FAQ describes an approximately 300-metre asphalted route from the main entrance toward the lake. It rises and falls in places but is generally suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Smaller woodland paths are less accessible. The restaurant has a wheelchair-accessible toilet with a changing table.
Pro Tip: Arrive earlier in the day if you want quieter paths and the best chance of taking the summer glass-bottom boat. Buying admission online can also reduce waiting at the entrance.
Bring Comfortable Shoes
The main access is easy, but many of the smaller woodland paths include roots, stones, and uneven natural surfaces. Shoes with a secure tread are more useful than sandals if you intend to explore beyond the immediate lakeshore.
Keep Dogs on a Lead
Dogs are welcome in the nature park and enter free, but they must remain on a lead. Dogs are also prohibited from swimming in Blausee. The park instead directs owners to a watercourse near the barbecue area if a dog needs to cool down.
Current Notice, August 2026: Blausee’s official nature-park page currently states that barbecuing is prohibited until further notice because of forest-fire danger in the canton of Bern. Picnic areas remain open. Check current park notices before relying on barbecue facilities.
Where to Swim Near Blausee
If swimming is a major reason for your trip, consider combining Blausee with nearby Oeschinensee above Kandersteg. Unlike Blausee, Oeschinensee permits recreational swimming when conditions are suitable.
The official Oeschinensee visitor information says its alpine water remains cool but can reach around 20°C during summer. Swimming conditions still depend on mountain weather and the season, so treat it as an alpine lake rather than a heated swimming facility.
This combination works well for travelers who want to photograph and walk around Blausee while still having the option for an alpine swim elsewhere in the Kandersteg area.
The History and Legend of Blausee
Blausee has both a geological history and a romantic legend, and the two should not be confused.
According to the official nature-park history, the landscape was shaped about 15,000 years ago when a massive rockfall from the Fisistock mountain created the unusual terrain. Today, the forest still contains large boulders, rocky channels, moss-covered formations, and depressions left within that landscape.
The famous Blausee saga gives the lake’s color a much more emotional explanation. In the story, a young woman falls in love with a herdsman. After he dies in an accident, she repeatedly returns to the lake to mourn him. She is later found at the bottom of the lake with the raft the couple had used together.
The legend says the lake became deep blue because of her tears and because its color reflected her blue eyes. It is a traditional story associated with Blausee, not a geological explanation of how the lake formed.
Blausee’s real landscape dates back roughly 15,000 years, while its famous tragic-love story belongs to the folklore that gives the lake much of its romantic character.
Conservation Efforts at Blausee
Blausee is a privately managed nature park rather than an unrestricted public swimming lake. According to the official park FAQ, maintaining the approximately 20-hectare property requires substantial work and is not subsidized by the municipality, canton, or federal government.
Visitor rules help protect the lake and its animals. Swimming and fishing are prohibited, trout and sturgeon must not be fed, stones should not be thrown into the water, and dogs must remain on a lead.
Respecting these rules is especially important because the lake’s exceptionally clear water and fish are central to the Blausee experience. Visitors can enjoy the scenery without entering or disturbing the water.
The Beauty of Blausee
Blausee remains one of the most distinctive small lakes in the Bernese Oberland, even though it is not a recreational swimming lake. Its appeal comes from the combination of intensely blue water, forest paths, submerged trees and rocks, trout, mountain scenery, and the contrast between an easily accessible attraction and a surprisingly quiet woodland setting.
The best way to experience it is to slow down, walk the paths, take the summer glass-bottom boat when available, enjoy the viewpoints around the shore, and respect the rules that protect the lake.
If you are planning a picnic during your visit, simple food that can be prepared ahead of time is useful. One option is this guide to delicious homemade cottage cheese, which can be prepared before your trip and packed with other picnic foods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Blausee?
Blausee is a small, exceptionally clear blue lake inside a privately managed nature park in the Kander Valley of Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. The surrounding park covers about 20 hectares.
Is swimming allowed in Blausee?
No. Normal recreational swimming in Blausee is prohibited. The park makes a special exception for an organized charity swim in early December.
How cold is the water in Blausee?
Official Blausee information says the lake remains around 8°C throughout the year, making it a very cold alpine water body even in summer.
Are there facilities for swimmers at Blausee?
There is no normal public swimming area because swimming is prohibited. The nature park does provide visitor toilets, restaurants, picnic areas, a playground, walking paths, and other facilities.
Can you kayak or paddleboard on Blausee?
Official visitor information highlights the park-operated glass-bottom rowing boat rather than self-guided kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. Visitors should not assume that personal watercraft are permitted.
Can dogs swim in Blausee?
No. Dogs are welcome in the nature park but must remain on a lead, and the official rules prohibit them from swimming in Blausee.
Is there an entrance fee for Blausee?
Yes. Visitors pay admission to enter the privately owned Blausee Nature Park. The fee is for park access and included attractions, not for swimming. Prices vary by age, time of day, and whether you visit on a weekday, weekend, or holiday.
Can certified divers enter Blausee?
Yes, but only through the park’s organized winter diving program. Diving is by prior arrangement, participant numbers are limited, and divers must meet the program requirements.
Where can I swim near Blausee?
Oeschinensee above nearby Kandersteg allows swimming in suitable summer conditions. Its official visitor information says summer water can reach around 20°C, although it remains a natural alpine lake and conditions vary.
Sources
- Blausee Nature Park FAQ — swimming rules, water temperature, admission information, access, dogs, toilets, accessibility, and visitor regulations.
- Blausee Nature Park — park size, geological history, glass-bottom boat, woodland paths, picnic facilities, groundwater, and Blausee saga.
- Blausee Contact, Directions and Admission — current admission prices, opening information, driving directions, and public transport.
- Blausee Events — certified winter diving and organized ice-swimming information.
- Blausee Organic Trout Farm — trout husbandry, water quality, and approximate year-round water temperature.
- Oeschinensee Official Visitor Information — nearby summer swimming and water-temperature information.
