Over the Schlierengrat

At the Berghotel Langis, the winter footpath, lined with lampposts, leads to Schwendi-Kaltbad. Here, spa guests in the 17th century used to draw strength from the ferruginous mineral spring contained in wooden vats until the spa house burnt down in 1970. Today, the place is a wonderful playground for families and children as well as keen cross-country skiers and biathlon athletes. The Schlierengrat is reached from there, westwards past the Andresen refuge through the forest and up to the Bärnerstig.

This ridge hike passes through gnarled old pines to Point 1718, where the trail branches off to Rorersmatt. From the ridge down to the alp, you must not leave the marked trail out of respect for the wildlife; instead, you can admire the tracks of chamois, deer, foxes, hares and, possibly, wolves. In the forest clearings, the path offers views of Lake Lucerne with the Pilatus, Rigi and Stanserhorn. On the bench in front of the alp hut, a breather is called for to enjoy the views over the Grosse Schlieren valley in absolute silence.

From there the trail turns southwards again to the little road into the Untere Schlieren valley. For a while, you share the way back with cross-country skiers up to the Oberschlieren valley, where the snowshoe trail leads down to the Schliere and meanders along it back to Schwendi Kaltbad and the Langis.