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There are three cascading waterfalls known as Seerenbachfalls near the village of Betlis, in St. Gallen. Located right on Walensee, Seerenbachfalls is a popular destination for locals and foreigners alike.
It is Switzerland’s second tallest waterfall after Mürrenbachfall in Lauterbrunnen Valley. Visiting Seerenbachfalls is a great family outing, especially during a sunny weekend. It is easy to reach, the views are perfect, and it does not cost an arm and a leg to get to it.
Overview of Seerenbachfalls
| Age Group | All ages |
| Category | Hike |
| Expected Duration | Half Day, Full Day |
| Cost | Free |
| Address | Amden, St. Gallen |
| Website | None |
| Opening Hours | Open 24/7 |
Seerenbachfalls: Switzerland’s Second Tallest
Seerenbachfalls is Switzerland’s second tallest waterfall. A false designation of Switzerland’s highest waterfalls was corrected in 2009. Switzerland’s highest waterfall is Mürrenbachfall in Lauterbrunnen.
- The upper cascade is 50 meters high.
- The middle cascade is the tallest at 305 meters.
- The lowest cascade reaches 190 meters.
At the foot of the steep cliff, the waterfalls form a gorge that empties into Lake Walen.
The Rin Spring is a part of the third Seerenbachfalls Cascade. This spring is located at the bottom of Seerenbachfalls. It is one of the largest underwater river systems in Europe.
Seerenbachfalls: How To Get There
Seerenbachfalls can be reached in a variety of ways. Several parking lots are available in Weesen (Parkplatz Weesen See, Parkplatz Weesen Speerplatz) and near Lago Mio (Parkplatz Amden Lago Mio/ Siten, Parkplatz Amden Betlis).
Here are a few options how you can get to Seerenbachfalls from either Amden or Weesen along with the estimated hiking time:
Option 1 – Amden to Seerenbachfalls
You can park the car in Amden at the Lago Mio parking lot. From there, the estimated hiking time to Seerenbachfalls is 80 minutes.
Alternatively, you can take the nearby bus up to Fli, Seestern stop. It is around one kilometer away from Lago Mio and will add 10 more minutes to your hike. So the total hike from Fli, Seestern to Seerenbachfalls will be roughly 90 minutes.
Option 2 – Weesen to Seerenbachfalls
You can park the car in Weesen right beside the lake and on the opposite side of Hotel Schwert Weesen. Alternatively, you can ride the bus until Weesen, See.
From the Weesen parking lot to Seerenbachfalls, the estimated hiking time to Seerenbachfalls is 1 hour 40 minutes.
Seerenbachfalls: Hike Suggestions
Amden or Weesen to Seerenbachfalls
You can hike from either Amden or Weesen, depending on your availability, interest, or parking availability. Paths run from Weesen to Amden usually consist of asphalt and are generally flat or slightly sloping. It is a very easy hike with no steep climbs or descents. Almost any pair of comfortable shoes will do.
Since the hike is relatively easy, you can bring a children’s stroller. Younger children can use their scooters or balance bikes to travel the distance. Even young children can easily walk here.
After Betlis, the path becomes a normal forest trail. Although it’s not steep nor dangerous, it’s no longer paved like it was at the beginning.
Families often go on this hike together. It is a very popular family outing, and you will definitely see lots of children or couples walking their dogs here.
Hike from Seerenbachfalls to Quinten
The total hike from Weesen to Quinten is 3 hours. The first half of the hike has been mentioned above. Seerenbachfalls is right around the middle of this hike. Lots of families use this point to stop for a picnic. There is a grill area near the waterfalls.
From Seerenbachfalls, you can follow the signs to Quinten. From Quinten, when the ships navigate Lake Walen, there are trips back to Weesen. Alternatively, you can proceed to Mühlehorn, Murg, Unterterzen, Betlis, or Walenstadt.
For the hike to Quinten, I would recommend good hiking shoes as it is no longer a paved path unlike the start of the hike.
Boat from Unterterzen to Seerenbachfalls
The boat leaves Unterterzen several times a day to go to Betlis. From Betlis, you can hike to Seerenbachfalls. From Betlis, it only takes 1 hour to get to Seerenbachfalls.
For the timetable of ships from Unterterzen to Betlis, you can check https://www.sbb.ch/.
Seerenbachfalls: Playgrounds Nearby
There are six playgrounds to visit on Lake Walen. Called Spielerlebnis Walensee, the various playgrounds have modern elements interspersed with the story of Lake Walen’s secret. The playgrounds are located in the following areas around Lake Walen and each playground has its own theme:
- Weesen – Fish playground
- Quinten – Exotic fruits, animals, and paradise playground
- Walenstadt – Ship playground
- Murg – Spinning mill and industrial development playground
- Unterterzen – Sawmill and concrete playground
- Mols – Water and animals playground
Seerenbachfalls: Here’s What You Need to Know
One-Way Street to Betlis
- Immediately after Lago Mio beach bar, the street narrows to a one-way street. There are only specific times (5 minutes each) per hour when it is available. Lago Mio to Betlis can be accessed between HH:00 – HH:05 and HH:30 – HH:35. Betlis to Lago Mio can be accessed between HH:15 – HH:20 and HH:45 – HH:50.
- The one-way street to Betlis must not be crossed outside of the permitted time window. The street is very narrow and there is no way for you to cross it if there are cars coming in the other direction. Weesen or Amden are better places to park than Betlis. It’s the easiest choice.
Come in Early
- When the weather is nice and sunny, it’s best to come in early to avoid the crowds. Seerenbachfalls is a popular destination in the region and I’ve seen how full the parking lot is firsthand.
- If you cannot arrive early enough or are coming from a bit further away, you may have to wait until you find an appropriate parking spot.
- If you expect to arrive later, I recommend parking elsewhere and taking the bus from there to Weesen or Amden.
Seerenbachfalls: Places To Visit Nearby
- After seeing Seerenbachfalls, you may enjoy the beaches of Lake Walen. A number of options are available: Lago Mio in Amden, Flihorn, and Betlis.
- You can also visit a chapel on the way, the Kapelle Betlis. It is on the way from Betlis to Seerenbachfalls. Originally rebuilt in 1889, it underwent another restoration in 2002.
- Why not rent a boat? If you go to Weesen, they have pedal boats and motor boats available for rent.
Summary
A trip to Seerenbach Waterfalls is the perfect family getaway. Betlis is a great starting point from which to reach Seerenbach waterfalls for younger children. Those with older children or who are capable of longer hikes can go further to Quinten.
In addition to Seerenbachfalls, the family has plenty of other family-friendly options to choose from once they’re done hiking. Take a dip in the lake, explore one of the playgrounds nearby, ride a ship, or even rent a boat – there is so much to do.
Families with kids of all ages would find it worthwhile to spend a day exploring Seerenbachfalls and its surroundings.
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