The northern shore of Lake Wohlen is a cantonal nature reserve. Around Wohlen near Bern, protected lakeshore landscapes lie alongside wetlands, trails and historic sites. During your stay, you can choose between wildlife watching, a tour by the lake and cultural discoveries.
Lakeshore landscapes and protected habitats
The silted-up Leubach Bay in the northern-shore area of Lake Wohlen is listed as an important site in the national inventory of amphibian spawning areas. Shallow-water and mudflat zones, with their islands, provide resting places for migrating waders. This landscape is therefore not just a backdrop for an outing, but also a habitat along a migration route.
Other natural areas each have their own character. The former Löör gravel pit in the Uettligenfeld provides a habitat for wild bees, digger and spider wasps, as well as specialist ground beetles and spiders. Grass frogs, natterjack toads, common toads and alpine newts have used the ponds in the Illiswil natterjack toad area for spawning. For views of the landscape, the lakeshore paths near Unterdettigen are particularly interesting: several spots along the path offer views of the wetland’s rich fauna and flora.
The Birchen site near the Aare covers around 1.4 hectares and is maintained as a diverse landscaped garden. A limited part of it is open to interested visitors as a place to visit, meet, experience and relax. Visits apply to this part of the site.
Trails, tours and places to visit
The “Along the Northern Shore of Lake Wohlen” tour takes around two and a half hours. It alternates between largely undeveloped stretches of lakeshore and woodland. A hiking trail associated with the Lake Wohlen nature reserve is rated easy. There are also numerous routes for hiking, running and gravel biking around Wohlen near Bern.
Another route option is the Frienisberg Panoramic Route: this 41-kilometre circular tour starts and ends in Hinterkappelen and descends to Lake Wohlen. By the lake, signs along cycle route 888, “Green Belt Bern,” provide information about the history of the hydroelectric power station. Alongside the lakeshore and woodland scenery, industrial history and a clearly marked circular tour are therefore also options to consider when planning your trip.
WohleibrĂĽcke is an arched road bridge offering views over Lake Wohlen. From the Kappelenring, West bus stop in Hinterkappelen, a footpath of about 500 metres leads to the bridge. There is a small restaurant nearby serving regional dishes. Ingredients such as cheese, salad, vegetables and beef come from farms around Lake Wohlen. The menu may change, so check in advance if you plan to eat there.
History and cultural activities
The historic group of buildings at HofenmĂĽhle is protected as a national heritage site. At the 2025 Swiss Mill Day, guided tours of the mill explained how grain was transported using a bucket elevator. If a guided tour is essential to your trip, check in advance whether a current date is available.
The churches also offer different historical points of interest. The church in Wohlen was remodelled in 1677 and completely renovated in 1907. A church on Lake Wohlen features Romanesque architectural elements and contains 14th-century frescoes. The per culturas association offers courses and seminars on medicinal plants, trees and working with natural materials. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these activities, check the relevant date in advance.
The wider landscape around Wohlen near Bern
The area around Wohlen near Bern comprises twelve different villages and is characterised by rolling hills and green fields. The Aare is also part of the wider landscape. This regional perspective complements the specific destinations by Lake Wohlen: depending on your interests, you can focus your stay on protected natural areas, trails, the history of the mill or a cultural activity.
Discover more destinations: Zimmerwald, Bern, Muri near Bern, Gasel, Bern, Le Fuet, Lengnau, Stettlen
Go to the main travel overview: Bern.
