Stunning Panoramas on the Popular Pizol Five-Lakes Hike in Eastern Switzerland

Thursday September 18, 2025 -- After the hike with overcast skies from the day before, there were a few very sunny days in the forecast, and I didn't want to waste any of them. 

There is a very popular trail in Eastern Switzerland called the Pizol Five-Lakes Trail, a four-hour hike to turquoise blue glacier lakes high above the tree line in the middle of the UNESCO Heritage Site Sardona Tectonic Arena. (Notable as it is one of the few places in the world where the general population can see the effects of the earth's overthrust up close). This hike, although requiring condition, is very popular and we had been advised to not bother trying this on weekends or in summer, as it becomes a human highway. Nevertheless, I have wanted to do this hike for many years now and we have always put it off.

On this day, though—a weekday and no longer holidays—the weather conditions were absolutely perfect to give this a try. Knowing I would be faced with large numbers of people at least prepared me psychologically (we usually avoid any trails where many people are expected), but I expected it would still be better than in summer (although I have nothing to compare it to). The hike was indeed as spectacular as I had heard, although I was surprised at how many people walk this tour, as it was definitely strenuous. 

To get to the starting point of the hike you have to take a gondola cable-way and two chair lifts, and that alone takes 45 minutes! The hike is listed at four hours, and I managed it in just over five hours, starting at 10:15 at the Pizol Restaurant and back on the cable-car in Gaffia at 3:30 p.m. Any extra time was taken up with setting up my tripod for self-timed photos, as Urs wasn't there to hold the camera!

It only takes about 90 minutes to get from home to Sargans, from where one takes a bus to the base station of the Pizol cable-way. This view from the bus shows the mountain landscape where the five lakes are located. 

Having left home at 7:15, I got to the Pizol cable-way in the village of Wangs at 9:15. To get to the station, you have to ride an elevator and pass through that walkway!

From the walkway, a look at the village of Wangs, and behind that the mountain called Gonzen which looms above the city of Sargans. 

The trip up to the starting point of the hike takes place in three sections, starting with this gondola from Wangs to Furt. (I rode with another couple, although I probably could have ridden alone because there were not a lot of people at this time). 

At the end of the first section of the cable-way is this mountain hotel called Berghotel Furt. From here you have to walk a short piece to the chair lift. 

The second section is a chair lift to the next station called Gaffia. There were not a lot of people at this time, so I could ride on my own. The chair lift passes right by the mountain hotel "Berghotel Gaffia", probably popular in Winter for ski-in / ski-out!

A look behind me on the second section between Furt (which you can see in the trees on the right) and Gaffia. At the back on the right is the Rhine Valley where the River creates the border between Liechtenstein and Switzerland, just before it reaches Lake Constance (Bodensee). 

At the top station in Gaffia, you have to walk again to the next cable-car. This is looking down at the section I had just come up on. 

The final section is another chair lift from Gaffia to the Pizol restaurant. Altogether it took 45 minutes to ride the three sections to the top where the trail starts. (My gloves fell out of my back-pack right here between the station and the first mast, and I returned to find them at the end of my hike!)

At just after 10 a.m., I reached the top where there is a restaurant called Pizolhütte. This is where the Five-Lakes Trail starts. (See the people headed out on the trail at the left?)

This is a newly-created lake next to the restaurant, and currently counts as the first lake on the Five-Lakes Trail. (This lake does not show on my map, but rather there is apparently another lake in the dip next to the hill at the back, called the Wangsersee. It would have been a 20-minute detour to go there). 

At 10:15 I was ready to start on my hike. The Five-Lakes Hike is a themed local trail with the number 931, and takes four hours of straight walking to go past the five lakes in a half loop, ending down at the Gaffia station (between the two chair lifts). The first goal is the pass at Wildseeguggen, which should take an hour to walk up to. 

This is a description of the Pizol Five-Lakes Trail. It is a 10-km stretch with a total of 640 meters of ascent (in three sections) and takes about four hours to walk. 

Starting at 10:15 at the Pizolhütte, I got back to Gaffia at just after 3:30 p.m., so it took me just over five hours to walk the whole "loop"! (Even though it took me quite a lot of time to set up my tripod for the self-timed photos, I walked quickly otherwise, to get past groups of hikers who were too noisy for me!)

The trail passes below these rocky hills called the "Schwarze Hörner" (Black Horns), and then heads up between these Black Horns and the other rocky hill called the "Wildseehörner" (Wildsee Horns). 

Here is a 300-meter climb on a zig-zag trail where there were lots of people already heading up there, hard to see on this photo. 

A look behind me to the lake next to the Pizolhütte where I started the walk. Along the trail there were many other hikers, several in groups, some with dogs, lots of chatter! It was also quite hot and I had to change into my shorts along the way!

After a tiring 50-minute uphill walk, I reached the Wildseeluggen (Wildsee Pass) along with several other hikers! Those peaks in the background are part of a geological formation called the "Grauhörner" (Grey Horns), and the one of the far left is the famous Pizol Peak (2843 meter). We are in the midst of the UNESCO Heritage Site Sardona Tectonic Arena. 

The first uphill section is done! The lake here is called Wildsee (= Wild Lake), thus the pass is called "Wildsee Pass". Even though we are at an elevation of almost 2500 meters it was quite warm!

The second lake on the Five-Lakes Trail is called "Wildsee", a beautiful turquoise colour because this is a glacier lake. The peaks at the back forming the west side of the lake are called the Lavtina Horns. The lake sits in a basin quite a way below the trail, and you cannot get down to it. 

I didn't stay here long because all these people came up to the pass just behind me, so I went along the trail for a bit to find a place to take another self-timed photo!

Here is a self-timed photo of me with the second lake called Wildsee. 

The trail continues on high above this lake. 

And trying it from a different vantage point!

A fun section, a pile of rocks to walk over, on the way to the next lake. 

Crossing the piled up rocks before the descent to the next lake. 

The third lake is called Schottensee. Behind Lake Schottensee are two smaller lakes as well (not part of the Five-Lakes). The trail winds down a mountainside of fallen rocks to lake level, then continues past the two small lakes and up the mountain again at the back. Far in the background are the Churfirsten mountains. 

Many other hikers making their way along the zigzag trail now the mountain. 

VIDEO:

Panorama of Lake Schottensee

Above us is one of the peaks that is part of the "Schwarzhörner" (Black Horns). 

At lake level, many of the people have stopped for a break for a picnic lunch, as others continue along the trail. (It's now 11:50)

Panorama view from the north side of the lake, showing where we had come down from.

I left the main trail to have a look at the other two small lakes. There was no one in this area, and it was nice to be alone here. 

A steep drop into the nearby valley! The further valley is called the Weisstannental, where we also have been many times. 

VIDEO:

Glorious Panorama

And another self-timed photo with the second small lake, before I joined the other hikers on the main trail at 12:30, to continue toward the fourth lake. 

Now is another uphill second on another zigzag trail. There were many people here again, even some passing us headed in the other direction. 

So many people headed up the hill here! The many people didn't bother me, as long as they weren't doing a lot of talking!

Close-up look at the Glarner Alps to the west, also part of the Sardona Region. (From the left: Mt.Tödi, Hausstock, and Clariden with its glacier. The little pointed one is called the Kärpf). 

On this close-up view back toward the peak of Mt.Pizol, you can actually just make out Lake Wildsee on the upper section (in the circle) and the lower lake (Schottensee). Below Mt.Pizol is the remains of a once much larger glacier, which would have filled the basin and carved out this lower section here. 

Leaving the main trail again for another photo into the Weisstannen Valley and the Glarus Alps far in the back. 

A parade of people up the hill. 

After another 150 meters, we reach the summit of Schwarzkopf, with the first views into the Seez Valley

Fantastic views from here northwards into the Weisstannen Valley below, and the Seez Valley at the back, bordered by the Churfirsten Mountains, and the Palfries upper platean on the far right. 

To the northeast is the Rhine River, which builds the border with Liechtenstein here, on its way to the Bodensee (Lake Constance). The mountains past the Rhine River are in Liechtenstein. Later, after visiting the fourth lake, the hiking trail passes along the ridge across from here (heading fom the right toward the left), called Baseggla.

Panorama view all the way to Lake Constance at the far back. The ridge across this valley is called Basellga, and is part of the Five-Lakes Trail, heading from the right toward the peak in the center, before descending on the far side to the fifth lake. 

VIDEO:

Panorama from Churfirsten to Rhine Valley to Lake Schwarzsee

And far to the east we see the peaks of the Rätikon, which form the border with Austria. Below is the trail, the final ascent from the fourth lake. 

And to the south, the trail now heads down to the fourth lake: Schwarzsee (Black Lake). The peaks at the back are, once again, part of the Black Horns. (The start of the hike was along the other side of those peaks). 

I got to the Schwarzsee at 13:35, and sat nearby for a while, to air my feet and dry out my socks!

From here at Lake Schwarzsee, it's still another 90 minutes to walk to the end of the trail at Gaffia. The final lake called Baschalvasee is about another hour from here. 

Heading up the hill again on the east side of the lake. You can see the trail on the right where I had come down before.

Now from the final rise, we can look down at the Gaffia cable car stations, which will be the end of the hike 

And to the south, a close-up view of the Pizolhütte Restaurant and the first lake where I had started on this hike four hours earlier. 

Now a long downhill section along Basellga, which we saw from the Schwarzchopf viewpoint. There were very many people walking down this stretch. 

A couple of hikers enjoying a rest and the view to the Rhine River below and iinto Liechtenstein!

Now the descent to the final lake below. This one was Baschalvasee.

A photo with the final of the five lakes: Baschalvasee. 

So now, by the time I got to the final lake at at 2:40 p.m., there is still about an hour to go to the chair lift at Gaffia. So I've now done about ¾ of the hike. 

Trying out another self-timed photo!

Final few meters to the Gaffia train station. I got there at 15:20 and was on the chair-lift by 15 minutes later. (I had to make a detour to the other chairlift to find some gloves that had fallen out of my back-pack on the ride up in the morning).

I was on the chair lift by 15:35 for the 35-minute ride back down to the valley. Here we are nearing the Furt station where I have to switch to the gondola. Nice view down the Rhine Valley where the river soon reaches Lake Constance (Bodensee). 

Bottom section with the gondola cable-car from Furt to Wangs. 

Near the valley bottom now, with the cities of Mels and Sargans at the foot of the Gonzen mountain. On the left down the Seez Valley are the Churfirsten Mountains north of Lake Walensee. 

Waiting for the 16:12 bus in Wangs (to Sargans) at the Pizol base station parking lot. 

On the bus ride from Wangs back to Sargans train station. The mountains on the east side of the Rhine River are partly in Liechtenstein and partly in Switzerland. The smaller "Fläscherberg" in the front is one we have yet to walk up to. 

Shortly after 4:30 p.m. I was on my way home by train from Sargans, for the 90-minute trip. This is a favourite view of the Sargans castle as the train leaves the station. 

What the hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. (It's too bad that the satellite image was taken in winter, so you can't see the lakes well). 

This is the first time I have been on the Pizol mountain. We have done several hikes in the Weisstannen Valley to the north, and the Tamina Valley to the south. 

Location of the Pizol Massif within Switzerland.