Paloma
Table of contents
This hike belongs on your bucket list, but you probably don't know it yet. It takes you to five different lakes and offers breathtaking mountain views, all of this on a single trail.
While the Pizol 5-lake hike isn't a secret to locals, it's somehow lesser known internationally. Meaning that you will not be alone on the trail, but it is not yet as crowded as other well-known hikes in Switzerland.
In this guide, you will find all you need to know to successfully finish the 5-lake Pizol hike, from where the start of the trail is to the costs and opening hours of the chairlifts and gondolas that lead to it, and a detailed description of the trail itself.
Let's dive in!
The hike at a glance
Medium- Distance
- 7.1 miles (11.4 km), point-to-point
- Time needed
- 5:00 hours total (you will need more with pauses and pictures)
- Elevation gain
- 1116 ft (340 m) up & 2989 ft (911m)down
- Starting point
- Wangs gondola valley station here
- Parking
- Just next to the cable car station or behind it
- Cost
- Cable car return 64 CHF - some discount cards accepted
- Crowds
- Medium to High
- Sun exposure
- High
Trail overview
Area Map
Hiking Map
Difficulty
Although this hike is rated moderate, I would say it is moderate/challenging. It has slippery downhill sections, so I highly recommend bringing your poles.
The hike's complexity also comes from needing to watch your pace, since some chairlifts stop service as early as 4:00 p.m., depending on the route you choose.
I'll go further on all of this below, and I'll describe the hike in detail, clockwise.
Variations
You can shorten this hike by only visiting the first two lakes: Wildsee and Schottensee, and then turning back. This would let you see what, in my opinion, are the two most beautiful lakes, without having to rush down to Gaffia by 4:30 p.m.
Another way to do this hike is counterclockwise, but it will be more challenging because the steep part will be uphill. That said, the good thing about hiking this way is that most people hike clockwise, so you will encounter very few to no people at the first 2 lakes on the way up, and then fewer people at the last 2 lakes (the most beautiful to me) by the time you get there.
How to get there
By car
Drive to the cable car station parking here. There are a decent number of paid parking spaces across several areas: just in front of the ticket office (few places) and on both sides of the street leading to it.
You can also park behind the cable car station here.
By public transportation
Go to the Wangs, Pizolbahn bus stop. From Sargans train station, take bus routes 429 or 430. There are four buses per hour on weekdays and two buses per hour on Sundays.
Practical planning
Operating hours
The first gondola going up from Wangs departs daily at 8:15 a.m.
More importantly, you must be at the Gaffia chairlift by 4:30 p.m. or at the Pizolhütte chairlift by 4:00 p.m. to catch the last descent. The last gondola descent from Furt to Wangs is at 5.30 pm.
Getting tickets
You can buy tickets online or directly at the gondola station. I highly recommend getting them in advance, especially in high season.
The ticket office opens at 8:15 a.m. When I got there around 8:05 a.m., a long queue was already forming. Granted, the queue moved quickly, but for a smoother experience, buy your tickets online beforehand.
Cost
A return cable car ticket costs 64 CHF for adults and 32 CHF for children. Half-fare and GA SBB discount cards are accepted.
Note that the above-mentioned prices apply to the "5 hike lake" combo ticket, which includes one ascent from Wangs to Pizolhütte and the descent from Gaffia to Wangs. The ticket also covers the route in the opposite direction: a one-way ticket from Wangs to Gaffia, then the descent from Pizolhütte.
The trail in pictures
1 Gondola from Wangs to Furt
To get to the start of the trail, you will need 1 gondola and 2 chairlifts.
The gondola will take you from the Wangs valley station up to Furt. It opens its doors at an intermediate station: Maienberg. Do not get off the gondola here.
2 Chairlift from Furt to Gaffia
After getting off the Gondola at Furt, it's a short downhill walk to the right to reach the first chairlift towards Gaffia.
3 Chairlift from Gaffia to Pizolhütte
Once in Gaffia, walk left to the second chairlift, which takes you all the way up to the Pizolhütte.
You should be able to see the first lake, Wangsersee, on the left from the chairlift. If that's the case, congrats, you're ready to start the hike.
Although this is the 5-lake hike, I skipped the first lake, Wangsersee, because it is quite small and, in my opinion, not as beautiful as the others.
Feel free to take the detour to that lake if you want, but remember you have to be down at Gaffia by 4:30 p.m. at the latest to catch the last chairlift down to Wangs.
4 To the Wildsee
The trail to Lake Wildsee starts uphill, but it's nothing too hard. However, after 20min, you will encounter some steeper switchbacks all the way until you find the lake.
Once you reach the lake, enjoy it and take pictures from the top, but note that you most likely won't go down to approach the water on this one. Even though I saw some traces hinting at a trail down to the lake, the terrain is loose gravel, extremely slippery, and steep.
I did see 1 or 2 people at the shore; however, I wouldn't recommend it if you don't have poles and sturdy hiking shoes. I had both, and even so, I didn't dare try going down.
5 To the Schottensee
The trail after Wildsee goes downhill, with switchbacks and a few short, slippery sections.
You will be able to see the Schottensee from the trail pretty quickly after the Wildsee.
This is the lake I personally spent the most time at. I know it is pretty early in the hike, but the views are amazing, and you can approach the lake or even go for a swim.
6 To the Schwarzsee
This time, the trail goes uphill again, but nothing crazy, before reaching a lookout with stunning 360-degree views. I didn't stay here too long, as we still had a long way to go.
Then, it's time to go downhill again on a steep slope, which I felt was the longest distance between two lakes. You will find some switchbacks just before reaching the lake, but the scenery is stunning.
7 To the Baschalvasee
The way to the next lake is basically downhill.
8 Chairlift back to Wangs
After Baschalvasee, the trail goes downhill again to Gaffia, with more switchbacks just before reaching the cable car station.
Now all you have to do is take the chairlift and the gondola down to Wangs, and congratulations on finishing the hike!!
