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Chapfensee

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Chapfensee

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Chapfensee

Recommended by 108 hikers out of 110

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Location: Mels, Sarganserland, St. Gallen, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland

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Best Hikes to Chapfensee

4.8

(13)

159

hikers

1. Chapfenstein Viewpoint – Chapfensee loop from Flums

2.92km

00:47

30m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.8

(23)

hikers

2. Chapfensee – Chapfenstein Viewpoint loop from Mels

12.7km

04:19

610m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Intermediate

5.0

(2)

hikers

3. Chapfensee – View of Gonzen loop from Mels

5.11km

01:28

120m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

Werner K

July 1, 2022

The idyllic Chapfensee is a very popular destination for hikers, mountain bikers, fishermen and other nature lovers. Fire pits, picnic areas and benches can be found around the Chapfensee. The natural lake is suitable for excursions for young and old. Depending on the path, you can walk around the lake in around 40 minutes. There are two small islands in the middle of the Chapfensee. However, these may not be entered.

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Roger Eggenberger 🐾👣

August 1, 2025

Lake Chapfen is a reservoir near Mels in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, on the Chapfen plateau. At full capacity, the lake is 1,029 meters above sea level. The water comes from a catchment area of 17.6 square kilometers, including the west-flowing Cholschlagerbach stream. It is part of the Chapfensee-Plons power plant.

Source: share.google/wqJVSd9EnF5ZHjjnJ

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Paul

July 4, 2021

Chapfensee, Mels
The Chapfensee-Plons power plant is a reservoir near Mels in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland on the Chapfen plateau. When the lake is full, the lake level is 1029 m above sea level. M. The water comes from a catchment area of 17.6 square kilometers, including from the west-flowing Cholschlagerbach.
The buildings consist of a northern wall about 20 meters high at the original outflow of the Chapfen area into the Schmelzibach, and an eastern wall that is a little longer but only 10 meters high.
The power plant was built in 1947/1948 and commissioned in 1948, using a drop height of 550 meters down to Plons. The plant operates around 5600 hours a year and produces around 20 million kilowatt hours during this time.
In November 2015, the electorate approved a technically necessary renovation. After 70 years of operation, deficiencies in the pressure pipeline, some of which are supported by supports in two forest areas, have to be remedied. At the same time as the renovation, additional small power plants will be built, for example the supply line to the Cholschlagerbach will be turbined directly at Chapfensee.
The lake and the surrounding wetlands almost as far as Vermol are under nature protection.
Text: Wikipedia
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapfensee

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Elevation 1,030 m

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Friday 24 October

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Max wind speed: 2.0 km/h

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Location: Mels, Sarganserland, St. Gallen, Eastern Switzerland, Switzerland

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Chapfensee

1. Chapfenstein Viewpoint – Chapfensee loop from Flums

2. Chapfensee – Chapfenstein Viewpoint loop from Mels

3. Chapfensee – View of Gonzen loop from Mels

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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