Save this place and discover nearby attractions with NextOnTrip
In the app you can add it to your favorites, see what else is worth visiting nearby on the map, and earn a badge for your visit.
The app is available for iPhone and Android.
About this place
Wägitalersee is a reservoir in the municipality of Innerthal, in the Swiss canton of Schwyz. It fills the Wägital valley, ringed by the peaks Gross Aubrig, Fluebrig, Zindlenspitz, Brünnelistock and Bockmattli, and makes an easy day out from the Lake Zurich area.
What is Wägitalersee?
The lake was created in the 1920s to feed a hydroelectric scheme. The company Kraftwerk Wäggital was founded in 1921 and the valley began to fill in 1924. The reservoir covers roughly 4.2 km², reaches about 65 m at its deepest and holds around 150 million m³. It works as a yearly store: most of the water is used to generate power in winter, sent down a pressure pipeline to the Rempen power station. Its outflow, the Wägitaler Aa, runs into Upper Lake Zurich at Lachen.
Why did a village end up under water?
Rising water drowned the old village of Innerthal, including the church, the parsonage, the school and about 30 farmhouses. New buildings went up beside the lake. Locals lost three court cases, and the scheme was built mainly to serve Zurich's electricity demand. The Schräh dam, around 110 m tall, was regarded for some years as the highest in the world.
What can you do here?
- Walk the lakeshore loop. The circuit is about 13 km on a paved lakeside road and takes around 3 hours. Traffic is light and slow, and the surface suits pushchairs and wheelchairs.
- See the dam and waterfall. On the way you pass the Schräh dam and the Schrähbach waterfalls, which drop nearly 50 m.
- Cycle. Bikes share the same road.
- Swim and picnic. Several spots along the shore are set up for bathing and picnics.
- Climb into the mountains. From Innerthal, the Bockmattlihütte is just under 2 hours uphill.
How do you get there?
Take the train to Siebnen-Wangen, then the Postauto (post bus) up the valley to Innerthal, where the loop starts and ends. By car, follow the Wägital road from Siebnen.
When should you go?
The loop works from late spring to autumn, when the road is dry and the shore is pleasant. In summer, the bathing spots are the draw. Higher trails towards Bockmattli need settled weather.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Wägitalersee?
In the municipality of Innerthal, canton Schwyz, in the Wägital valley of north-eastern Switzerland.
How long does the lakeside walk take?
About 3 hours for a loop of roughly 13 km on asphalt.
Is it suitable for families?
Yes. The surface is paved, so pushchairs and wheelchairs manage it, and the road carries little traffic.
Is it a natural lake?
No. It is a dam reservoir from the 1920s that flooded the former village of Innerthal.
Nearby places
Earn badges for the places you visit
Download NextOnTrip, discover new places and check off your trails.