--- type: "Article" title: "We hiked from Filzbach to Lake Talalpsee – but not back!" description: "\"Talalpsee\" has such a nice ring to it that says \"mountain lake.\" And, while the way up to it is something...the way down by kick scooter is something else!" resource: "https://travelmemo.com/switzerland/hiking-filzbach-talalpsee-habergschwaend" author: "Walter Schaerer" publisher: "Travelmemo" photo_count: 34 tags: ["Alps", "Hiking", "Landscape", "Nature", "Switzerland"] entities: - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/switzerland" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/alps" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/walensee" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/hiking" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/landscape" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/restaurant" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/lake" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/winter-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines" - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T13:44:52+00:00 } verified: - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2017-09-09T14:19:34+00:00 } sources: - id: photos resource: hiking-filzbach-talalpsee-habergschwaend.md#photos title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer" author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" timestamp: 2026-07-04T13:44:52+00:00 --- # We hiked from Filzbach to Lake Talalpsee – but not back! > A hike from Filzbach up to the alpine Lake Talalpsee in the Swiss canton of Glarus, made memorable by a thrilling kick-scooter descent back down the mountain via Restaurant Habergschwänd. ## Destination Filzbach, canton of Glarus, Switzerland, in the vicinity of Lake Walensee. ## Getting there Take public transport to Filzbach Sportzentrum station, or drive and park at the Filzbach SFH chair lift valley terminus (large car park, but fills up quickly). ## When to go Restaurant Talalpsee is open in good weather only; Restaurant Habergschwänd operates in summer 09:00–16:30 and winter 09:00–16:00. The Kerenzerberg chair lift runs weekdays 09:00–16:30 and weekends 08:00–17:30. ## Why visit A manageable mountain hike through fields, forest, and pastures leads to a scenic 7-acre alpine lake with UNESCO-listed Sardona geology nearby, topped off by an exhilarating kick-scooter descent at up to 40 km/h. ## What to see - **Lake Talalpsee** — A 7-acre mountain lake up to 2.3 m deep, offering a full circuit walk and striking views in varying light. - **Sardona rock shelters** — UNESCO World Heritage geological formations near the lake, explained by on-site plaques. - **View of Lake Walensee** — Visible from the steep trail between Talalpsee and Restaurant Habergschwänd. ## What to do - **Hike Filzbach to Talalpsee** — Roughly one hour of moderate uphill climbing through pastures and forest to the plateau, then 20 minutes across flat terrain to the lake. - **Picnic at Schweizer Familie fire pit** — Branded fire pits with stocked firewood sponsored by Swiss Family magazine are available lakeside. - **Circuit walk around Talalpsee** — Short loop around the entire lake; group took about 50 minutes including a picnic stop and photos. - **Kick-scooter (trottinet) descent** — Rent a kick scooter from Restaurant Habergschwänd and ride down to the chair lift valley station, where it is returned and carried back up by lift. - **Lunch at Restaurant Talalpsee** — Serves local produce including cheese and sausage plates; open in good weather only. - **Coffee at Restaurant Habergschwänd** — Known for its secret-recipe house coffee called Huskykaffee; open year-round during operating hours. ## Good to know Hiking poles are not necessary as the gradient, while noticeable, is not extreme. The kick-scooter service operates during the chair lift's hours of operation; scooters are returned at the valley station and ferried back up on the chairs. Restaurant Talalpsee closes in bad weather unless reserved in advance (Tel. +41 79 691 02 21). Total hiking time with breaks and photo stops was approximately 5 hours. ## Photos ```yaml photos: - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland.jpg" caption: "The Swiss national critter in full action" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-2.jpg" caption: "Still more actively curious cattle" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-5.jpg" caption: "The merry mini-hiking troop taking a breather" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-6.jpg" caption: "The steep part is almost done!" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-24.jpg" caption: "The trail to Talalpsee" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-21.jpg" caption: "Talalpsee" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-18.jpg" caption: "Talalpsee" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-13.jpg" caption: "Talalpsee" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-11.jpg" caption: "Talalpsee" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-30.jpg" caption: "Firepit, courtesy of \"Schweizer Familie\" magazine" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-12.jpg" caption: "Fire pit with sheltered wood pile" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-25.jpg" caption: "Last chance to fill up on the way to the Talalpsee" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-23.jpg" caption: "Talalpsee mountain restaurant" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-27.jpg" caption: "Meat plate with its bread basket" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hiking-Lake-Talalpsee-Switzerland-39.jpg" caption: "\"Forest feast\" plate" ```