Winter circular hike Lauenensee

Those who love piste fun and lively après-ski parties will hardly get their money’s worth in Lauenen. A few holiday homes, a few hearty inns, a ski lift and a cross-country ski track – that is almost all that the little village in the Lauen valley, cut off from the rest of the Saanenland, has to offer winter sports enthusiasts. But those who come here do so primarily because of the magnificent landscape and the family atmosphere. Hikers also find mainly tranquility and peace in Lauenen. On the extensive circular route to the Louwenesee, they are more likely to encounter a horse-drawn sleigh than long lines of cars – a sympathetic sign that the clocks still seem to tick a bit differently here.

From the post bus terminus Lauenen/Geltenhorn, a footpath leads into the valley along the road to Hotel Alpenland. Here begin the two winter circular routes Lauenensee and Rohr. To the Lauenensee, keep right and follow the little road past holiday chalets to the forest edge. There the path turns left and leads gently but steadily uphill to the hamlet of Hinderem See. In the same direction, it continues on the wide groomed path over snow-covered meadows and through short forest sections. After a left turn, the white expanse of the frozen Louwenesee suddenly appears. Here and there, individual fir trees and reed beds on the shore protrude through the thick layer of snow covering the lake, which shimmers so colorfully in summer and autumn. There is a very special charm emanating from this wide landscape, which somewhat resembles arctic plains.

At the Lauenensee restaurant, closed in winter, keep right and reach the Mattestübli in a few steps. A stop at the cozy Stübli is recommended. The return route to Lauenen leads along the little road that runs up the right side of the Louwibach valley from Lauenen and on which the post bus runs up to the Louwenesee in summer. From Twäregg, the descent leads gently back to the valley floor. Beautiful views downstream and into the valley of the Louwibach alternate. The Rohr, a nature reserve with flat reedland, is a worthwhile destination even in winter. A cross-country ski track and a circular hiking trail run through the white plain. The return route to Lauenen from Rysch either continues straight along the little road or via a left detour down to the already mentioned circular route to Hotel Alpenland. From there, it is another 500 m back to the post bus terminus Lauenen/Geltenhorn.