Short Local Walk from Menzingen to Baar via Lorze Ravine and Höll Caves

(This post created March 26, 2025. It was simply overlooked at the time????)

Sunday September 16, 2018 -- With all the hiking we were doing this month, this was just a short Sunday afternoon walk locally in Canton Zug, on the east side of Mt. Zug. 

Starting in Menzingen (Headquarters of the Franziskan "Sisters of the Holy Cross") just a 30-minute bus ride from our home, we walked westward via the community of Edlibach, and down a small ravine through which a stream called the Höllbach flows into the Lorze River at the location of the Höllgrotten, i.e. the stalagmite and stalactite caves of Baar. 

We had planned to have a Sunday lunch at the restaurant there, but there was a wedding reception taking place and the restaurant was "closed to the general public". But the restaurant didn't want to lose the business of the Sunday hikers, so they also offered wieners with bread and refreshments at the large picnic area next to the restaurant, which was fine by us!

After our lunch, we continued this easy walk along the Lorze River where we caught a bus near the brewery in Baar. 

Main street in Menzingen. We started here at 11:30 after a 30-minute bus ride from home. 

A very cute house front! The flower boxes on the windows are special!

There was an event going on in Menzingen, and we listened to the band for a few minutes before heading on our walk. 

Someone built a "ferris wheel" out of Lego, which operated as a water wheel!

Starting in Menzingen at 11:30, we reached the Höllgrotten restaurant at 12:50 via the small ravine of the Höllbach river. After a small lunch of sausages and bread, we continued along the Lorze River to Baar at 1:30 p.m., walking for another hour or so. It was a short, but pleasant, Sunday afternoon walk.   

Starting at this time of year, we see lots of fungi on the forest trails!

Following the Höllbach stream down into the Lorze River ravine. 

Molasse geology here (?)

Behind these rocks is the cave system of the Baar Höllgrotten. (Caves with stalagtites and stalagmites). 

Restaurant Höllgrotten down at the Lorze River. We got here at 12:50 and could tell right away that there was an event going on!

A large sign in front of the restaurant informed us that the restaurant was closed to the general public this day. It had been reserved for an event. 

We were told we could sit at nearby picnic tables and eat wieners, which is what we did! That was OK too. 

According to the sign, it would be another hour to walk along the "Lorze Riverbank Trail" to the nearest bus stop in Baar. 

We left before the band started playing the accordions! These are actually traditional Swiss instruments called "Handörgeli", or "Schwyzerörgeli" (= "small Swiss Accordions"). 

Cute little building across from the restaurant. 

I can't recall what this building was for, but the stone steps were impressive. 

A look back at the restaurant as we continue on our walk

A small trail follows the Höllbach River to where it flows into the Lorze River. 

A look at up the Lorze River from a bridge along the way. 

What our walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps.