Winter walk from Euthal to Studen near Lake Sihlsee

Tuesday December 2, 2025 -- Today I did my first winter hike, and it was a real success!

Actually, I had something totally different planned: I was going to walk the snow-free valley bottom in the Linthal Valley near Glarus, but there was an issue with the trains from Zurich (several being cancelled due to damage on the tracks) so I traveled to Einsiedeln on a different line and took a bus to the south end of Lake Sihlsee, where we had once ended a different winter hike in December 2024 (photos HERE). 

This time I hiked into a different side valley to the village of Studen, walking along the Sihl River which was all magically decked out with frost and sunshine and perfect mirroring of the fantastic mountains at the back of the valley. I then returned via the higher mountain road, which afforded me some very nice views from above. 

There was not a single cloud in the sky, the view was clear, and the temperatures pretty mild. It wasn't a long hike, just 8 kilometers and a little over two hours of strickt walking time, but a great way to spend three hours outside on a beautiful day. 

View of the town of Arth at the south end of Lake Zug, as my train approaches from the west side of the lake this time. (Starting in Küssnacht today with the 10 a.m. train). Up ahead are the Mythen mountains, and my train will head up that valley to the left, right where the fog clouds are hanging!

On the way to the Arth-Goldau train station, a view of the town of Arth below at the south end of Lake Zug. On the east side is Mt. Rossberg, where the worst landslide in Switzerland occurred in 1806. 

A look back at the Uri Alps as the train heads up toward the Rothenthurm high moors. Most of the fog is gone now. 

The fog has left a lot of frost on the trees, and this is the magical winter scene that I prefer! This is a popular region for cross-country skiing. 

From the Einsiedeln train station, the bus heads southwards along Lake Sihlsee, with the fantastic backdrop of the Schwyzer Alps.

The bus travels along the west side of Lake Sihlsee. 

Now the bus crosses the lake toward the town of Euthal on the east side of the lake. 

Campground in Euthal. It is just opposite the campgroud that I will end my hike, descending from the hillside on the left. But for now I continue with the bus to the very south end of the lake where the Sihl River enters the lake, and that is where I am starting on my hike. To get here takes only 90 minutes on public transport!

This was a relatively short hike, just over two hours and only 8 kilometers, with only a little climb up the hillside after passing through the village of Studen. But for winter, a two-hour walk is just fine, especially at the best time between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. 

Here at the south end of Lake Sihlsee is where I got off the bus. First a few photos of the mirror surface of the lake, looking northwards (or rather, northwest). This lake usually has a very low water level, so on this day it was quite full!

I can also see the houses in the village of Euthal to the north, where I will catch a bus back to Einsiedeln in a few hours. It is now about 11:30, when I start my hike. 

Looking south now along the Sihl River where it enters the lake. What a perfect day with the river so still that it mirrors everything!

On the right is the first part of the trail which heads southward right next to the river. 

This view is back toward the community of Euthal

Heading out along the riverside path. 

Interesting mirror image of the houses and hillside in the river. 

It was so pretty, I had to take lots of photos!

Lots of sunshine. 

Heading south into a side valley to the little village of Studen. 

Closer to the base of the mountain there is low fog, so I am glad I wasn't walking in that region!

This is a very popular region for cross-country skiing. There are many prepared winter walking trails here as well. In the far back you can see the village of Studen. 

At noon I arrived in Studen, after just 30 minutes of walking parallel to the river. Of course I am headed to the village church, which is on the outskirts of the village, on the west side (and almost in the shadow of the mountain now). 

A little chapel on the church grounds. 

This is St.Wendelin's Church, built in 1794/1795. 

The interior has a very nice main altar and two attractive side-altars.

Crossing a small side stream on my way back through the village to head to the hills on the southeast side of the valley.

Looking up the Sihl Valley to the mountains which separate us here from the popular Pragel Pass. I was quite amused to spot a cat in the "pasture" as I always mention that each pasture has its resident cat! (Even in winter, apparently!)

(Side note: In May 2023 we did a hike starting further back in the Sihl Valley—further than the houses at the back—and walked eastward over the saddle you can see on the left of the photo, to the next valley over called the Wägital). 

Looking up the Sihl River in the Sihl Valley. 

The sign indicates that I still have to walk 90 minutes to get back to Euthal, if I head up to the higher mountain trail, instead of reaturning along the river. 

The trail passes by this farm with these cuties watching me. From here there was a zigzag road going up about 100 meters before I hit snow on the paved road. 

View toward the back of the Sihl Valley as I start my way up the hill. 

Here was a nice bench with a view, and I stopped here to eat my sandwich! Bottom left is the view I had from the bench. 

View down to the Sihl River and the village of Studen slightly higher up from the view bench, which you can see at the cross along the road below. 

Spectacular view of the Schwyzer Alps at the back of the Sihl Valley. The winding road is where I walked up, mostly snow-free to this point. 

Then the road passes through some forested sections, which are covered in snow as there is less sunshine here. This is apparently also an official winter walking trail, which has not been prepared. But I knew other people would have walked here, and there was a trodden path, although it was quite icy. 

Another view bench where I also stopped for about 10 minutes to enjoy the view. 

This was the view across the large plain (a popular cross-country skiing region) south of Lake Sihlsee, from my second view bench!

I have an App on my phone which will tell me the names of the mountains I can see from any viewpoint. So I used that program here from the little bench, to see what mountains were to my west....

.... and also the names of those beautiful mountains to the south! (I don't recognize any of those names as I might do if we had done more hiking in that region). 

This lovely building is the site of a farm that raises dwarf Zebu cows (the summer pastures). This also would have been a nice place for a picnic break!

Then I had another long stretch through the forest. All the snow-covered roads were no problem to walk in my regular hiking shoes. 

I was a bit worried about the final forest trail heading back down the mountain toward Euthal, but the trail was clear of snow here!

Now I found out I was on the official snow-shoe trail! These are no problem to walk on if there hasn't been new snow for a few days. This is also the first view again of the south end of Lake Sihlsee. 

Down below I can see where I started on my hike at the place where the Sihl River enters the lake. 

And down below is the town of Euthal, where I am ending my hike. 

Close-up view of the bridge which crosses the lake, where the bus travels back to Einsiedeln. I caught a bus near the campground slightly past the village church. 

At this point close to the valley bottom now, it is 13:50, with 20 minutes left to the bus stop. The next bus was at 14:01, so I didn't even try to rush. I opted to wait for the 14:36 bus, and find a nice place to sit in the sun for a while. 

Just before the village, I found this convenient bench next to a stream, the sound of which is much more pleasant than that of the vehicle road, so this is where I spent a 20-minute break enjoying the sunshine. 

Continuing on toward the bus stop, I opted to follow the Eubach canal to the bus stop near the campground, instead of going via the church to that bus stop. Directly at the back is the mountain called Chli Aubrig, which we passed on that four-hour hike in May 2020 when we started at Lake Wägital in the parallel Valley, and ended here. 

Between the houses I can see the little church. There is a bus stop there as well. We passed the church on two other hikes, but I cannot recall if we checked out the inside.

Just enough time before the bus arrives for a quick detour to the lake shore for a final look at the beautiful mountains at the back of the Sihl Valley. 

What my walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps. Starting at the bridge where the Sihl River enters the lake, I walked to Studen, then up the hill and back to Euthal. An 8-km walk, just over two hours of direct walking. I started at 11:30, and caught the 14:36 bus back to Einsiedeln.

These are all the hikes we have done in the region south of Lake Sihlsee. 

Now views from the bus on the way back to Einsiedeln: This is the view back to the bridge over the lake and the village of Euthal. 

Fantastic view to the back of the lake. 

Fantastic view to the back of the lake. 

And this is looking to the east side of the lake, to the next village of Willerzell, from where we have also started a few hikes. 

And by 3:40 p.m., the train descends again from the Rothenthurm upper plateau toward the train station at Arth-Goldau. The view is to Mt. Fronalpstock and the range just south of the Muotatal (Muota Valley). 

Location of Lake Sihlsee within Switzerland.