Spaneggsee

Spaneggsee is a small mountain lake in the municipality of Glarus Nord, canton of Glarus, tucked into the hills above Filzbach and the Kerenzerberg. Its surface covers about 4.7 hectares, so it is a quiet alpine pond rather than a developed lake. There is no road to it. You arrive on foot, across pasture land dotted with alp huts.

Where is Spaneggsee?

The lake lies near Filzbach in the northern part of the canton, in the area of the Mürtschenstock massif. It sits on the trail between Talalpsee and the Mürtschenfurggel pass (1,840 m). Some route descriptions spell it Spanneggsee, and the nearby alp is called Talalp-Spanegg. Coordinates are roughly 47.075° N, 9.131° E.

How do you get there?

Most walkers start at the top station of the chairlift at Habergschwänd above Filzbach. From there an alp road leads in about 20 minutes toward Talalpsee and the Unterstafel huts. The path then continues via Oberstafel Spanegg to the lake. The stretch from Talalpsee up to Spaneggsee is steep, so wear proper hiking boots.

What will you see on the way?

You cross alpine meadows with cheese-making huts. The lake appears on several well-known routes:

• a day loop around the Mürtschenstock that passes above the green-tinted water of Spaneggsee and over the Mürtschenfurggel,
• a walk from Habergschwänd past Talalpsee and the Spannegger-Höhe, extended into a loop around the Glarner Fronalpstock, about 6.5 hours with some 1,190 m of ascent,
• the three-lakes stage of the Sardona World Heritage Trail, which passes Spaneggsee and continues over the Mürtschenfurggel and Murgseefurggel passes to Murgsee.

When should you go?

Because the lake lies high in the mountains, summer and early autumn are the best seasons, once the snow has gone. Check the weather forecast and the chairlift's operating times before setting out. The path to Talalpsee tends to be busier than the section up to Spaneggsee, which is calmer.

What should you bring?

Carry water, sun protection and an extra layer for changing weather. There are no shops on the route, and mobile coverage can be patchy. Download a swisstopo map or the SchweizMobil app for offline use.

Frequently asked questions

Can you drive to Spaneggsee? No. It is reached on foot, usually from the chairlift top station at Habergschwänd.

How big is the lake? About 4.7 hectares, which makes it a small alpine lake.

Can I combine it with other lakes? Yes. The trail links Talalpsee, Spaneggsee and, further on, Murgsee as part of the Sardona World Heritage Trail.

Is the hike difficult? The first section on the alp road is easy, but the climb from Talalpsee toward Spaneggsee is steep. Full routes that add the Fronalpstock loop take around 6.5 hours.