Fälensee & Bollenwees Hiking Area, Alpstein, Switzerland

25/10/2026

Fälensee (also written Fählensee) is a mountain lake in the Alpstein range in north-eastern Switzerland. It lies at 1,447 metres in a long and narrow valley in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, between high rock walls. Because of its shape, the lake looks a little like a small Norwegian fjord. The water is clear and green, and it is up to 31 metres deep. The lake has no river at the end: the water flows away under the ground and comes out again in the Rhine Valley. At the eastern end of the lake stands the Berggasthaus Bollenwees, a well-known mountain inn.

What to See

The Berggasthaus Bollenwees has a large sunny terrace right by the water, a restaurant with local food and rooms for an overnight stay. From here an easy path follows the north shore of the lake. You walk past meadows with cows and small alpine huts, with the steep rock walls of the Hundstein ridge above you. At the western end of the valley the path climbs on towards the Zwinglipass and the Altmann peak. Just above Bollenwees is the Saxer Lücke, a mountain pass with great views of the Kreuzberge rock towers and the Rhine Valley. On the way down to Brülisau you pass Lake Sämtis, another pretty lake in a quiet green valley.

How to Get There and Practical Information

There is no road to the lake, so you can only reach it on foot. The most common way is from Brülisau, which you can reach by bus from Appenzell. The walk via Plättenbödeli and Lake Sämtis to Bollenwees takes about 2 to 2.5 hours. You can also take the Hoher Kasten cable car from Brülisau or the Staubern cable car from Frümsen and walk down over the Saxer Lücke. The paths are marked mountain trails, so wear good shoes. The best time to visit is from June to October. The Bollenwees inn is usually open from May to October. Swimming is possible in summer, but the water is cold.