Duration
~4 hours
Distance
9.9 km
Elevation gain
524 m
Difficulty
T2 — moderate mountain hike
High point
2499 m
The Five Lakes Hike
One of Eastern Switzerland's iconic day hikes. A loop across five alpine lakes — Wildsee, Schottensee, Schwarzsee, Wangsersee, Baschalvasee — strung along the slopes below the Pizol summit. Marked as a SchweizMobil hiking route, well signposted in red-white-red. Cable car from Wangs to Pizolhütte handles the vertical gain.
Take the gondola from Wangs to Furt, then chairlift to Pizolhütte (start point at ~2230 m). Buy a combined ticket — gondola up, descent on foot or back via cable car.
Snow can linger on the upper passages well into July. Check Pizolhütte's webcam before going early season.
The lakes are at different elevations and exposures — each has its own character. Wildsee (the largest) is the postcard one; Schwarzsee sits in a darker basin. The route between Schottensee and Schwarzsee is the most technical section.