From Romoos to the Fontanne Valley in the Napf Region of Canton Luzern

Saturday May 2, 2026 -- Due to construction on various railway lines between Zurich, Luzern and the Entlebuch, we were limited on what we could do on this beautiful day; that is, where to go without having to take a bus replacement along the way and traveling up to an hour longer than usual. 

Also, we didn't want to travel too far nor do a very long hike like the one we did the day before (photos HERE). 

We settled on a trip to the Luzern back-country in the Napf region to do a fairly easy walk in the idyllic farming landscape, starting in a village called Romoos where we had once ended a hike in August 2020, and from there walking into a side valley called the Fontannental, where I had never been before. (Urs on the other hand, is very familiar with this valley as when he was younger, he knew people who lived there).

This was more of an afternoon stroll, enjoying still blossoming fruit trees, cows, sheep and goats in the pastures, nice views to the Hohgant and Schrattenfluh ranges in the south. Even though the walk out of the Fontanne Valley to near where the river joins the Emme River was two kilometers along the paved road (with more traffic than I had expected), it was bearable due to the beauty of the valley and the  comfortable temperatures for walking. One shock I did get: My first tick bite of the new hiking season, possibly picked up from the overgrown trail we had walked the day before.... 

On the bus from Wolhusen and crossing the Emme River into the Fontanne Valley on the way to our starting point in Romoos at 10:24. This is the spot where we ended our hike and caught bus back to Wolhusen later in the day. With an "unofficial" train connection in Luzern, we got to Romoos is less than an hour from home. 

This is the Hotel Kreuz in Romoos, the village's main feature. It was built in 1905/1906 and is under monument protection. 

Urs headed up the road alone to look at the other buildings in Romoos, but we had already walked down this road on an August 2020 hike which ended here in the village, so instead, I went inside the village church for a look. 

This is the Catholic Church of St.Mary Magdalene. From an Internet article I read that this is a pilgrim church, built in 1753, although an earlier church stood here in 1344, founded by Cistercian Monks.  

While Urs went to look at the village and to visit the village bakery, I had a look inside the village church. 

Organ side of the village church. 

From next to the village church, a view into the valley of the Grosse (i.e. Large) Fontanne River, where the bus made its way up. (This is not the same valley where we later descended. We descended the valley of the Kleine Fontanne i.e. Small Fontanne). 

And from here a view south into the Entlebuch Region of Canton Luzern. 

I'd never seen so many contrails at once. Some sort of atmospheric conditions must have prevented the vapours from dissipating quickly!

At 10:50 we started on our walk, heading toward Hintersäge, which is the site in the Fontanne Valley bottom where we ultimately descended to. Side note: The bus up here was very full with families and children. It seems that there all kinds of activities and small hikes for families starting from up here. 

After a one-hour trip from home via Luzern and Wolhusen, we started on our hike at 10:50, and caught the bus at the junction of the Emme River and two Fontanne Valleys at 14:30.

Heading north, we are first descending to a small side-stream, then up high toward the location of the arrow. 

Happy to see the cows in the pastures again!

Heading down to the Neumatt farm to cross two streams and head back up the other side. 

All along the way, we were enjoying so many trees still in full bloom!

A surprise feature along the way, an overhang of Molasse Cliffs which you walked under, and there was even a little waterfall!

An interesting geological feature, walking behind a small waterfall (which you unfortunately can't really see here on the photo). 

Up above the hill, the farmer is busy collecting the dried grasses which were cut a couple of days earlier, and left to dry on the hillside. 

Far to the south are the mountains which separate the Entlebuch from Canton Bern and Lake Brienz. 

We don't often see horses here. These were watching us very carefully because there was a little one in the pasture. 

As is often the case, birds of prey circle the area when the grasses are cut!

Looking to the south, this is a close-up view of the village of Romoos where we started our hike. 

View to the east. There is another village up here called Doppelschwand, where the bus passed through on the way to Romoos. 

Lovely landscape, fresh-mown pastures, blossoming trees, and haystacks in the back. 

As we are now almost at the highest point of our walk, we get a wonderful look over the countryside to the south, including the village of Romoos where we started our hike. 

Rolling landscape of the Napf Region

Passing via a farm with cows in the meadows and blossoming trees. That one cow was watching us very closely!

At this farm, the goats were lounging on top of the carport!

We are totally enjoying this landscape, still being watched by that one cow, though!

Soon it will be summer, so it is nice that we can still enjoy a bit of springtime (before the coming bad weather in May...)

These are the best cows!

Perfect weather for this hike. We are now headed into the Fontanne Valley. On the other side of the valley is a stretch of hill which we walked across in May 2021, along the "Alpine Panorama Trail" from Menzberg to Wolhusen. It's always fun to see places we've walked before, viewed from a different angle. 

Sometimes we have to find the trail among the freshly-mown meadows. 

Here we head into the forest for a steep descent to the valley bottom. 

A steep drop next to the forest trail. 

Always a bridge or two along the way!

Our first look into the Fontanne Valley. This little site is called Hintersage, a 90-minute walk from where we started in Romoos. It is now already past 1 p.m., and we hadn't had lunch yet, so now looking for a possible well-placed bench. 

No bench, but this place is good enough! We were very amused by that sheep below, that watched us carefully for the whole time we sat here, for 30 minutes! It kept lowering its head, which we took at a threat! 

Heading down past that mean-looking sheep guard 30 minutes later, all the little ones came around the corner to see what the action was about!

Now we follow the Kleine Fontanne River out of the valley for about 3½ kilometers, of which two kilometers were on the paved valley road.  

A look to the back of the Fontanne Valley. 

More beautiful trees!

When Urs was in his 20's, he knew people who lived in this valley. They told him that back when we were kids, this farming valley was so remote, and the children could not be transported to schools out of the valley, so this house became the school-house, and about a dozen children were taught here, from all grades 1 to 12. 

A very old farmhouse!

More views to the back of the valley and the former school-house. 

And this beautiful building was the old mill, now a residence, we assume, based on the mailbox.... 

A look back at the old mill. 

The farmers are busy all over, getting that grass cut and dried and harvested before the upcoming bad weather forecast. 

These little guys were so cute!

At this little farm called "Am Bächli", the trail passes right through the property and beneath the addition to that large house! Also, this is where the two Fontanne Rivers (Large and Small) join up from the two side valleys, to create the main Fontanne River. 

Cute little model houses in the flower garden. 

Off the paved road now and through some more grassy meadows, with a final look toward the back of the valley. 

Nearing the place where the Fontanne River enters the Emme River

Crossing the bridge over the Kleine Fontanne River. We passed via this bridge back in March 2024 when we walked from Entlebuch to Wolhusen along the "Emme Riverbank Trail". 

Mount Napf (1406 meters) is the highest mountain in this region. Millions of years ago, gold was brought to the region by ancient streams, and the gold is slowly being released again through erosion. All the streams draining from this region are therefore laced with gold, and it is a popular region for organized gold-panning events, such as this group of people we saw as we crossed the bridge over the Kleine Fontanne River. 

Last stretch down to the Emme River, then we head to the right to the bus stop on the main road. First a detour to the left to see where the Fontanne River enters the Emme River. 

This is where the Fontanne River enters the Emme River. 

It was a perfect and warm enough day for this family to be enjoying a day in the river!

And now we are crossing the bridge over the Emme River, looking north. The bus stop is right on the other side of the river. 

Looking south along the Emme River. 

Here comes the 15:30 bus, coming back down the road from Romoos and Doppelschwand. We had another "unofficial" connection in Luzern, and were home just over an hour later!

This map shows what is called the "Napfgebiet", i.e. the Napf region, a wide region in Entlebuch and Emmental Regions. Mt. Napf, at 1406 meters, is the highest peak in this region, and many streams head down from there in all directions. We were in the eastern part of the region in the Entlebuch, not far from Luzern. 

What our walk looks like on Google Satellite maps, walking north from Romoos into the Fontanne Valley, then along the Smaller Fontanne River, and ending at the bus stop where the river enters the Emme River. 

All the hikes we have done here in the Napf region and the Luzern back-country.