Klöntalersee is a beautiful mountain lake in eastern Switzerland. It's a lovely place to picnic and swim on hot summer days.

There is a nice hiking path around the lake, visiting a couple waterfalls that usually run through July.

If you want to stay overnight, there are campgrounds on both ends of the lake, a popular choice for Swiss families on summer holidays.

Open: Best to visit May to October.

Note: Sometimes in spring, the water level is extremely low and it's not as pretty. Check lake status.

How to get there

By public transport: Take a train to Glarus. Then Postauto 504 bus direction Klöntal. It runs hourly and takes about 17 mins to reach the lake at the Klöntal, Rhodannenberg stop.

By car: You can drive directly to the lake, up a narrow winding road (only for nerves of steel). Then park in the metered parking near the east side campground. From there, you can easily walk to the lakeshore swim and picnic areas.

If you prefer to skip driving on the mountain road, you can park at the Glarus train station and take the bus up instead.

Swim & picnic

If you are just coming to lounge and swim, there are a few spots near the bus stop and parking.

1. Northeast shore. This grassy area near the bus stop has a beautiful view of the lake and has the advantage of being in the sun.

2. Grassy area near campground. Most campers spill into this big grassy area right next to the campground and parking. So it tends to be the busiest.

3. South shore riverbeds. Families with small children gather in the two riverbeds (one and two) near the campground, where there is shallow water for splashing and lots of simple fun to be had playing with rocks and digging in the dirt. But after rain, heed any warnings about flooding, as the river bed could be dangerous.

4. Grassy area on south shore. If you don't mind a short walk, this grassy area about 10 mins from the campground and parking tends to be a little less busy simply because you have to walk farther to get there. There is an official picnic area with a grill a bit further in the forest. These areas tend to be in the shade longer, as the mountains above are tall and cast a long shadow.

You can rent SUP at the Güntlenau campground (southeast shore).

Hike

There is a walking trail all around the lake, a 13.3 km loop, about 4 hours. See trail map.

For a shorter hike, we typically ride the bus to the far side of the lake and walk back along the south shore. This version is 6.5 km one way, about 2h30. It visits the big waterfall and is mostly in the shady forest, a good choice for a hot day. Learn more.

Fishing

You can fish in the Klöntalersee without a license, using one rod from the shore. You must follow the local fishing regulations, e.g. catch size and season open times.