Hiking Around Klöntalersee

🗺️ Overview

• Location: Klöntalersee, Canton Glarus, Switzerland

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

• Duration: ~2 hours for half the loop, ~4 hours for the full tour

• Elevation gain: ~40-50m on the left side, ~250m on the right side

• Best time to visit: Spring to autumn

• Highlights: Stunning lake views, cliffside paths, rock-cut trails, a scenic waterfall, and a forested section

• Options: Complete the full tour or take a bus back to the starting point

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A Stop in Canton Glarus

On our way to Austria, we made a detour to Canton Glarus to hike around Klöntalersee—a stunning alpine lake. (I must admit, part of my motivation was to check off another Swiss canton!)

Reaching the starting point takes about 30 minutes from the nearest highway. You drive towards Glarus, but just before entering the town, you turn right onto a narrow winding road that leads up to the lake.

Getting Started

Parking is plentiful at Rhodannenberg, located at the lake’s eastern end. The loop around the lake can be done in either direction, but we opted for the clockwise route—starting on the left shore—since this side offers the most scenic and diverse landscapes. The right side, in contrast, follows a road for much of the way.

The Scenic Left Shore

The hike begins along the lake’s shore, and after a short while, the path becomes more engaging. You’ll encounter sections along small cliffs, parts carved directly into the rock, and a mix of lakeside trails and shaded areas.

The terrain remains mostly flat, with only about 40-50m of elevation gain over the 2-hour walk to the far end of the lake. Along the way, you’ll come across a beautiful waterfall, easily visible from the trail. After this, the path transitions into a peaceful forest section, adding variety to the scenery.

Choosing Your Route Back

After approximately two hours, the path leads back to Gasthaus zum Klöntal, where you can grab a bite to eat, enjoy a refreshing beer, or relax at the children’s playground nearby.

From here, you have two options:

1. Complete the full tour on foot: The right-side trail ascends higher up the mountain to avoid the road, adding 250m of elevation gain and taking another 2 hours to return to Rhodannenberg

2. Take the bus back: If you prefer a quicker return, an hourly bus covers the distance in just 5-10 minutes.

Since we were on our way to Austria, we chose the bus this time, making it an efficient yet rewarding stop along our journey.

Klöntalersee offers a perfect mix of easy hiking, breathtaking lake views, and flexible options—whether you want a relaxing stroll or a more demanding full loop!