Pizol - 5 lake hike

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Pizol Wangsersee
Pizol Wildsee
Pizol Schottensee
Pizol Baschalvasee
Pizol Schwarzsee
Pizol Wildsee
The Route Description

The Pizol five lake hike is one of the most beautiful mountain hikes in Switzerland. On a good day, it offers panoramic views of the Eastern Alps (Glarus and Grisons), the Rhine Valley and Lake Constance (Bodensee). The routes' popularity on a summer weekend would rival that of a religious pilgrimage. The trail is not technically challenging but requires above average endurance to tackle the three steep inclines.

If you start from Pizolhütte, then the lakes ("see" in German) are in the following oder, Wangsersee, Wildsee, Schottensee, Schwarzsee, and Baschalvasee. Starting at Pizolhütte, take a five-minute walk in the opposite direction of the 5 lake trail to reach Wangersee. Enjoy the vistas and double back from there to tackle the first incline with many switchbacks.

The next two lakes, Wildsee and Schottensee are the highlight of this trek. Wildsee lies at the bottom of the Pizol glacier, although almost the entire glacier has disappeared due to rising temperatures. It is difficult to go near Wildsee as you would have to scramble down the rocks to reach the shore. Instead, take in the scenery and march on towards Schottensee. The azure colour of this lake is dazzling and if you are brave enough then it is possible to take a dip.

The next section presents the second never ending incline and views to picture perfect Swiss meadows. Keep your energies up by breathing deeply into the fresh Alpine air, the only thing available here for free! After about 5KM you descend to Schwarzsee, where you can find many spots to do a picnic. The third big incline is just after this lake and at the top you are rewarded with magnificent views of the Rhine valley and beyond. Here you can stack up rocks and create your own little summit, take pictures for your Insta stories!

The last lake (or first, if coming from the opposite direction) is quiet underwhelming. In summer and early autumn there is a fair chance that you will come across cows around this area, be careful around the calves and their mothers, they can get aggressive. The last section is a steep downhill and very hard on the knees. At the end you will arrive at Gaffia, from where you take a chairlift to Furt. There are restaurants and a play area at Furt where you can restore and replenish before heading back to Wangs.

Like all routes in Swiss this trail is well signposted. The time estimates from Pizolhütte to Gaffia is 4 hours, however a more realistic duration is 6 hours, taking in account of all the snack and selfie breaks.

Note: If all this is too much for you then there is a much easier Panaroma route from Pizolhütte to Laufboden. You will be able to see one lake (Wangsersee) and not miss out on the fantastic scenery. See the "Getting Here" section for more details. 

Getting Here Description

There are two ways to start:

1. Wangs, Pizolbahn
By Public Transport: Train till Sargans railway station and then Bus till Wangs, Pizolbahn
By Car: Take Sargans exit and follow the signs to Pizolbahn. The parking is next to an elevator that takes you to the ticket counter. During busy weekends there will be ushers to help you park at a different location and a bus service to bring you to the cable car and back.


2. Bad Ragaz, Pizolbahn
By Public Transport: Train till Bad Ragaz Railway station and then bus till Bad Ragaz, Pizolbahn
By Car: Take Bad Ragaz exit and then follow the signs to Pizolbahn. A big parking lot is located near the cable car starting point. You can also park at the railway station, which has 60 places.

Note: Buses from Post Auto and Pizolbahn run regularly between Bad Ragaz and Wangs cable car stations

The cable car from Bad Ragaz will take you to Laufboden. After getting off the chair lift follow the 3.5 KM Panaroma Route to Pizolhütte. You will cross Wangsersee and then join the regular 5 lake hike trail. The section of the route is easy and offers breathtaking views. Of course, this will add about 1 more hour to your trip but it is worth the effort.

Literature Description

Check the latest weather, cable car schedule and operations: https://pizol.com/experience-summer/hiking/29/5-lake-hike?lang=en_GB

Swiss hold funeral for ice lost to global warming:https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49788483

Updates from Pizolhütte : https://pizol.com/pizolhuette/?lang=en_GB

 

Equipments Description

There are restaurants at Pizolhütte and Gaffia but nothing in-between, so carry water and a bite to eat.

You must wear good hiking shoes; this is one rocky trail. Sports shoes, jogging shoes will tear easily and offer no protection. If possible then hiking sticks are recommended.

Do not forget to pack your swim shorts and towel if you plan to take a dip. Keep it even if you are not planning a swim, the water at Schottensee is so inviting that you will regret not keeping anything. Or be brave enough to go in your underwear!

The entire trail is above the tree line, which means there's no shade. The summer sun is harsh at 2400 meter+, so lather yourself in sunscreen. Keep a fleece jacket or similar even if the weather looks good, it can get a cold in the shadows and moreover the Alpine weather can change in a snap.


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Difficulty
Difficult
Distance
9.7 km
Duration
4 hrs
Ascent
490 m
Descent
820 m
Best season to visit
Best month to visit
Responsible for this content

Naoota

www.naoota.com

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