Hiking in Switzerland – Gabrielle and Urs: October 2013

(This post published December 15, 2025. NOTE: The owners of the Alpstubli Selez retired after 2020 and the little restaurant is no longer in operation.)

Wednesday October 9, 2013 -- Urs wanted to take me on one of his favourite hikes in Canton Uri near Flüelen and Altdorf, which requires a cable car ride to a high trail (part of the Schächentaler High Trail) to Biel/Kinzig, and from there you walk about 2½ hours (8-9 km) to Eggbergen where you take another cable car down to Flüelen.

On the way is a favourite restaurant, a little mountain inn called Alpstubli Selez which serves the best macaroni and cheese, Swiss Style (with Schabziger cheese sauce) and fabulous grilled pork steaks!

Unfortunately we had fog the whole way (can't win them all!) but enjoyed the walk most of the way. Along the way was a small shelter with a fountain and a supply of sirups where you could have a drink (called the Sirup Bar). This was run by a private individual who stopped doing this in 2014, unfortunately. It was a fun feature.

First we took the cable-car from Bürglen (Brügg) to Biel-Kinzig summit station, from where there is a short uphill walk, and then a fairly level and wide road heading westward. Along the way you pass this little hut called "The Sirup Bar". We got here at 12:20 after about a 40-minute walk from the cable-car station.

A local resident keeps the hut, built around a water trough, stocked with syrups and cups, and you can help yourself for free. (Side note: A year after we were here, the gentleman stopped doing this, which is a shame, because this was such a cool feature).

We didn't get much of a view, as the fog didn't lift here at all.

We got to the Alpstubli Selez at about 1 p.m. The fog hasn't let up at all. Usually you can sit outside to enjoy a meal and the fantastic view, but we were glad to be able to go inside on this day!

Once we got to the Alpstubli Selez, we could sit inside in the warmth of their "living room". We were served the best mountain macaroni (Aelplermagronen) with the even better grilled pork steaks

Ironically, our place-mats showed us the view which we should have had on this hike!

At shortly after 2 p.m., it was time to continue on our hike toward Eggbergen. This little barn is part of the Selez alpine farm.

After a long walk to the summit and then down through forested areas, we reached the first farms in Eggbergen at about 3 p.m. It's always nice to visit with the cows!