The Rontal Valley High Trail from Honau to Ebikon

March 23, 2019 -- To encourage people to connect with nature in an urbanized area, several communities in the Rontal Valley between Lucerne and Rotkreuz just recently (May 2018) completed a very nice 13-km high trail that runs from Honau to Ebikon along the eastern flank of the Rooterberg range. Forest roads existed previously but were not connected, and so the work done recently included creating these connections, mostly via narrow zigzag paths through the forest.

Along the way we passed biotopes of national importance for proliferation of amphibians, several picnic spots perfect for grilling, playgrounds, a Kneipp Garden, and several lovely farms offering natural biological products in their little shops. 

We had come across this trail totally by chance recently as we descended from the top of Mount Rooterberg to Gisikon, one of the many communities involved in the completion of this trail. We had seen the cute little frog trail markers and looked up information on the Internet. We had determined to walk the trail soon...

Since this is close to where we live, we started after lunch, but since we spend loads of time looking at everything, and trying out the homemade apple juices and ice creams at the farms, we ended up walking right into the sunset. It was warm, pleasant, pretty, a trail easy to reach and with some very nice vistas across Switzerland's central plateau.

This chapel at the start of the trail in Honau has historical value. It was built in 1671 and has some nice restored frescoes inside

Listening to the frogs

This is called a Kneipp Garden. It's a new popular kind of water therapy

One of the newly-created trails zigzag up through the forest

The air was hazy but we had this very nice view over the Reuss River and Central Plateau for most of the hike

We came across about 30 of these birds flying over a meadow with sheep. There must have been something in the field

This farm sells self-serve refreshments. I wanted to try their wonderful home-made apple juice

Below in the Rontal Valley are several urban areas, communities which helped build this trail.

Lots of variety on this trail

At this farm we bought ice cream and visited the cows

These babies are looking forward to getting out in the meadows!

Many farms offer direct-sale homemade products. We always support them with some purchase along the way. Unfortunately they had sold their last smoked sausages earlier that day, so we had t settle for ice cream.

At one place you get a peek at the peak of Mount Rigi!

At this farm was a neat little set-up, like a café overlooking the valley.

Perhaps a type of Magnolia?

It's always a pleasure to cross little ravines

Sometimes you pass a castle along the way... this one is called Hünenberg

There were paved sections but they were not a problem, as there were so many interesting things to look at.

And just before our final descent, a stunning view of Mount Pilatus in the evening light

On the final descent back to Ebikon, another old farmyard.

This 13.5-km hike took us about 4 hours to walk. But it is very close to our home at the top end of Lake Zugersee. Took us only 30 minutes to get to the start of the hike in Honau.