Schönenbodensee

Schönenbodensee is a small mountain lake in the municipality of Wildhaus-Alt St. Johann, in the Toggenburg valley of Switzerland's canton of St. Gallen. It sits just east of Wildhaus village, in a hollow below the southern slopes of the Gulmen, with the Churfirsten ridge close by. Despite the similar name, it has nothing to do with Lake Constance (Bodensee).

Where is Schönenbodensee?

The lake lies a short distance east of Wildhaus, tucked into a shallow basin at the foot of the Gulmen. Above the valley rise the jagged Churfirsten peaks. Across the village on the opposite side lies a comparable lake, the Schwendisee, so both can be combined in one outing around Wildhaus.

How did the lake form?

Roughly 14,000 years ago a glacier that had filled the valley melted away and left a water-filled hollow. Over the following millennia the shoreline slowly silted up, and low-lying moorland developed around the water. The whole area is protected today, so stay on marked paths and keep off the soft ground at the edges.

What can you do at the lake?

This is one of the few places around Wildhaus where you can swim in natural water on a hot day. A bathing facility with a long jetty was built here in 1930 and is still in use. Local guides regularly praise the water quality. In season you can rent pedal boats, and food and drinks are sold on site, so you do not need to carry a full picnic up from the valley.

Beyond swimming, the shore suits an easy walk, a picnic, or a relaxed stop during a longer hike in Toggenburg. Families like the gentle terrain and the views, which come with very little effort.

What else is nearby?

Wildhaus is a starting point for the Churfirsten, a chain of seven peaks above the valley. The region has six mountain railways and four themed hiking trails, so longer routes are easy to reach from the lake. The Schwendisee, set on the slope between the valley floor and the Churfirsten, makes a good second stop. If you want a heated outdoor pool instead, the nearest is in Unterwasser, close to the valley station of the Toggenburger Bergbahnen.

When should you visit?

Warm summer days are best, when the bathing area and the pedal boat rental are open. In spring and autumn the lake works as a quiet walking destination, with moor and mountains looking especially photogenic. Check opening times of the bathing area and kiosk on the Toggenburg tourism website before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Can you swim in Schönenbodensee? Yes. There is a bathing area with a large jetty, and the water quality is often praised.

Is it the same as Lake Constance? No. Schönenbodensee is a small glacial lake in Toggenburg, far from the large Bodensee.

Can you rent pedal boats and buy food there? Yes, pedal boats are available and there is a place selling food and drinks.

Why is the surrounding area protected? The lake lies in a low-moor zone that has developed since the end of the last ice age. Protection preserves this rare landscape.