What is this place
Lake Davos is a compact alpine lake on the north-eastern edge of Davos by Davos Dorf. Fed by mountain creeks (Flüelabach, Totalpbach), it combines leisure use with a role in the local hydropower scheme.
Key features
- Elevation ~1,559–1,560 m, area ~0.59 km², max depth ~53–54 m – a mid-sized mountain lake.
- Flat lakeside loop ~5 km with ~50 m ascent – an ~1 h 15 min stroll.
- Summer setup: swimming, SUP, wind- and kitesurfing; the Strandbad Davosersee has free entry.
- In winter the shore loop is groomed on snow; the lake often freezes.
- Hydropower diversion sends outflow to the Landquart valley near Klosters rather than to the Landwasser.
What to see
- Promenades by Davos Dorf with views to Parsenn and the Flüela Pass mountains.
- Strandbad piers and beach – launch point for water sports.
- A level loop through forest edges and open meadows around the shore.
History
Shaped by glacial and slope processes, the basin later became Davos’s natural leisure hub. As the resort grew in the 20th century, formal bathing zones and rentals for sail and wind sports appeared.
A hydropower diversion altered the natural drainage: while Rhine-basin streams feed the lake, part of its water now runs via tunnel to the Landquart near Klosters. Today the Davosersee balances recreation and energy functions.
Practical information
Location: NE Davos, by Davos Dorf; the west bank is the closest to the railway station.
Getting there: ~650 m on foot from Davos Dorf station to the shore; bus stops serve the Strandbad and Seebüel side.
Access: Mostly level path, partly paved; piers and a gently sloping bathing area.
Visiting hours: Year-round; the Strandbad typically operates late May to early October; water sports weather-dependent.
Visit duration: ~1–1.5 h for the full loop; up to half a day with swimming or rentals.
Best time: Summer for steady afternoon breezes; autumn for crisp air and colour.
Notes: Strandbad entry is free; wind/kite surfing permitted in designated zones under suitable wind; in winter keep to the marked shore path and enter ice only when officially permitted.
