Looking to experience some high-alpine magic during the winter? This Melchsee-Frutt winter hike is a great option!
This hike through the Melchsee-Frutt plateau is up above the treeline and takes you past two frozen lakes. This wide-open landscape, when cloaked in a blanket of white, makes for an extremely peaceful and otherworldly experience.
There are also Langlauf and snowshoe trails here – it’s so fun to observe everyone enjoying their own particular winter activity!
Searching for a summer hike instead? The Engelberg 4 Lakes Trail also goes through this beautiful region and is perfect for a hot summer’s day!
Overview of the Melchsee-Frutt Winter Hike
| Location: | Central Switzerland |
| Difficulty: | Easy-medium |
| Distance: | 9.6km |
| Duration: | Around 3 hours, but allow longer if you want to linger for a lunch break half way. |
| Elevation Gain: | 240m up/down |
| Starting Point: | Melchsee-Frutt Gondola Station |
| End Point: | Melchsee-Frutt Gondola Station |
| Trail Type: | Loop hike |
| Trail Conditions: | Groomed winter hiking path, no need for snowshoes |
Summary of the Melchsee-Frutt Winter hike to Tannalp
Melchsee-Frutt is a high-altitude mountain resort in central Switzerland that is perched up at 1,920m. In winter, the landscapes of this plateau transform into a snowy wonderland, making it a much-loved place for a variety of winter sports activities, including skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and winter hiking.
The Melchsee-Frutt winter hike to Tannalp is an incredible trail for those wanting to enjoy dramatic mountain scenes without too much strain. It’s a longer winter hike (compared to a lot of groomed winter trails which are often much shorter than their summer counterparts) which gives plenty of time to enjoy the views of frozen lakes and dramatic peaks. However, despite being longer, their is not too much elevation gain, making it accessible and enjoyable for all!
How to Get There
You’ll start and end your hike at the Melchsee-Frutt cable car station, which is easy to reach via public transport or car.
Via public transport: take the train to Sarnen and then bus 343 to Stöckalp where the cable car station is located.
By car: drive to Stöckalp where there is a large car park next to the gondola station.
Trail Highlights
The winter loop hike from Melchsee-Frutt includes so many of the highlights that you hope for from a winter adventure in the alps!
- Two frozen lakes: The hike takes you past the frozen mountain lakes of Melchsee and Tannensee. At Melchsee we saw loads of people out on the lake ice fishing which was super cool to see! In contract, Tannensee was covered in a thick blanket of untouched snow which gave it an otherworldly feel.
- Peaceful winter atmosphere: Sometimes I’ve been on winter hikes that cross with the ski slopes and lifts often, and it can feel pretty busy. This is not the case at Melchsee, as the winter hiking path takes you away from the ski slopes, giving off a really calm and quiet atmosphere in the mountains.
- Unobstructed views: because this plateau is above the treeline, you have these incredible sweeping and unobstructed views of all the snowy mountains peaks around you!
- Alpine Huts: there are various cozy mountain huts and restaurants in Melchsee-Frutt and Tannalp which are perfect for a lunch stop!
Tickets and Prices
For this hike you will need:
- A return cable car ticket from Stöckalp to Melchsee-Frutt – costs 41 CHF full price. You can get a 50% discount with the GA or Half-Fare Card. (Information correct as of March 2025 – you can find up-to-date information here.)
The Route: Maps and Information
The Melchsee-Frutt winter hike to Tannalp is extremely well signposted and easy to follow. Below I’ve included the winter map for the Melchsee-Frutt resort area.
Below I’ve attached a Google Map to help you plan your hike. I’ve marked the route we took and the key spots.
My Experience of the Melchsee-Frutt Winter Hike to Tannalp
I’ll be updating this blog post soon with a full overview of my experience on this trail. Keep your eyes peeled! 🙂
FAQs About the Winter Hike From Melchsee-Frutt to Tannalp
What Time of Year is Best?
This is a winter hike and therefore usually open and accessible from December to March. In fact, because Melchsee-Frutt is so high up, its likely there will still be snow here much later than other hiking areas in Switzerland, making it a great March hike if you’re trying to squeeze some last winter adventures in!
Every year the conditions are a little different though, so it’s best to check the webcams and Melchsee-Frutt website before setting off.
What Facilities are Available?
You’ll find restrooms available for before and after your hike at the Melchsee-Frutt cable car station. Along the way you’ll find restaurants and restrooms at:
- Melchsee-Frutt village
- Distelboden
- Tannalp
What Should I Bring and Wear?
Remember that the weather in the mountains can change quickly and you should make sure you are prepared for any eventuality. For this particular winter hike, I recommend bringing:
- Thermal base layer – these are an essential layer for keeping warm while exploring the Swiss mountains in winter.
- Layered clothing – for the rest of your outfit, I recommend layers which you can easily take on and off as the temperatures or conditions change. After my base-layer, I usually have hiking pants, a fleece and down jacket, then a water and windproof shell jacket. Then gloves, hat and a neck warmer.
- Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots – these will ensure could grip on the snow and keep your feet warm and dry.
- Hiking poles – not a necessity for this particular hike, but I used them as I always find poles super helpful on a winter hike, either for balance when it’s icy, or support for if the snow is fresh and a little more difficult to walk in.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen – it can be easy to forget about these in winter, but the sun reflects back off the snow and can be extremely intense at this time of year. I’ve learnt the hand way that these are a winter MUST.
- Plenty of water and snacks: there are facilities and restaraunts on this trail, but it’s always best to be over-prepared in my experience!
Final Thoughts on the Melchsee-Frutt Winter Hike to Tannalp
Whether you’re looking for the perfect hike in the heart of winter, or you want to have one last snowy adventure at the start of spring, this Melchsee-Frutt winter hike is a great choice! I hope that you find this post helpful and please do let me know if you do this hike yourself!