Walensee

Walensee is a lake in eastern Switzerland, and the municipality of Quarten sits on its southern shore. The water is shared by two cantons: roughly 81 percent belongs to St. Gallen and 19 percent to Glarus. The jagged Churfirsten range rises above one side, while the Flumserberg massif stands on the other.

Where is Walensee and how big is it?

The lake covers about 24 km² and runs roughly 15 km from end to end, with a width of 1.3 to 2 km. Its greatest depth, about 151 m, lies off Quinten. Walenstadt marks the eastern end and Weesen the western one. Quarten lies on the south side, between the two.

What will you see?

The steep Churfirsten walls dominate the north shore. Their sheer slopes held back land traffic along the lake for a long time, which is why the village of Quinten has no roads at all. You reach it on foot from Weesen or Walenstadt, or by boat, for example from Murg.

Near Betlis, on the northern side close to Weesen, you will find a chapel, and the Seerenbach Falls, among the highest waterfalls in Switzerland, are close by.

How can you explore it on foot?

From Weesen station, a two-hour walk follows the Linth Canal, the Walensee shore and the Escher Canal to Mollis. It covers about 8 km with almost no climbing. The wide gravel path suits strollers and wheelchairs and can be used all year, although it gets little sun in winter.

A separate dam path along the Escher Canal, between Näfels and the lake, is about 5 km long and takes around 1.5 hours to Gäsi Mollis. Information boards and old bunkers line the way. The Gäsi area is a near-natural leisure zone with restored shore habitats, and from there the lakeside route continues along the north shore toward Mühlehorn and Unterterzen.

Why does the lake look the way it does?

The Escher Canal feeds the waters of the Linth river into the lake. Konrad Escher's Linth project, about 200 years old, was the largest water-engineering undertaking of its day, and the canal dam path lets you see its legacy up close.

When should you go?

The shore paths stay open through the year. In summer, pair a walk with a boat trip to Quinten. In spring and autumn, choose longer routes beneath the Churfirsten. In winter, expect shade on the northern sections.

Frequently asked questions

Which cantons share Walensee?

St. Gallen, with about 81 percent of the surface, and Glarus, with about 19 percent.

How deep is the lake?

The maximum depth is about 151 m, off Quinten.

Can you drive to Quinten?

No. The village has no roads. Walk there from Weesen or Walenstadt, or take a boat, for example from Murg.

Is the lakeside walk difficult?

No. The Weesen to Mollis route is about 8 km, takes roughly 2 hours and has hardly any ascent.