Hike from Lake Wägitalersee to Lake Sihlsee, Canton Schwyz

Thursday May 21, 2020 -- After a one-day break from returning from our 3-day hike in the Jura Mountains, Thursday was a perfect hiking day anywhere in the country: "Pick any place, anywhere where we can be in the mountains", I said. I got reminded that it's actually a public holiday today, so we changed our criteria:  "Pick a place that we think people won't be going to, for example, NOT the Alpstein/Säntis area in the East, nor Interlaken / Grindelwald / Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Alps!"

So we picked something on our hiking map that looked innocuous, a "bridge" between two lakes nearby in Canton Schwyz, starting at a lesser-known lake called Wägitalersee and doing another steep hike of 800m ascent, then descending to Lake Sihlsee, also in Canton Schwyz.

Well what do you know, turns out there are two peaks along the stretch, the "small" and "large" Aubrig (Chli-Aubrig and Gross-Aubrig) that are extremely popular destinations, especially on a Sunday/Holiday, probably because of their proximity to Zürich. (More than likely we will no longer be alone on most trails, popular or not, as what else can people do with their vacation days now other than go hiking on a nice day?)

So we made the best of it and managed detours around the many people who walked toward us on the trail. On the first part -- the ascent to the highest point -- there were fewer people, as it was not part of the trail to one of the peaks. On the descent, however, we could almost not believe our eyes at how many people were sitting on the summit of Mt. Chli-Aubrig! Nevertheless, it was a splendid hike, again not too hot, and we started at 8:00 a.m. to make the most of a cool morning for the climb, which was all through thick forest, an added benefit.... and at the end we descended through a very pretty ravine called Chilentobel, also not part of the trail to the peaks, so fewer people at the end as well. Plus the views over both lakes and into the Glarner Alps was magnificent, as usual!

Another successful, 4.5-hour and 11 km hike, the fourth within five days!

First of all, whenever there is a beautiful clear day and we head northwards by train, this is how we see the magnificent Bernese Alps and Mts. Rigi and Pilatus to the South across Baar and Zug

The start of our hike was at the Innerthal Dam on Lake Wägitalersee. We had to cross the dam to start our hike up the hill on its West side. This is the view South from the dam

  

The first part of the steep uphill through the forest was kind of exciting!

The first hour of the uphill section was through the shady forest, and it being early in the morning, made the climb go by quickly

After an hour we reached the open meadow below the first of what turned out to be a popular peak: Gross Aubrig

Another hike where we were mostly on soft and comfortable trails!   

   

South of us is a ridge where we could also have ascended... Looks interesting, a challenge for another day!  

A view down on Lake Wägitalersee, where we started our hike, and the Glarner Alps in the background. On this steep section we could not find the trail so basically had to find the best way up.

At this point there were dozens of people coming toward us: They were all headed for the summit of the Gross Aubrig just behind us (there is apparently a parking lot at a restaurant nearby, which serves as a starting point for most people)

The first look at the low hills to the North, at this point Canton Schwyz and further North Canton Zurich

High above Lake Wägitalersee, this view is eastward

The first high point of the trail with the beautiful mountains to the South! Still Canton Schwyz. From here we still have a second small hill to climb  

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Panorama of the mountains between both lakes

This actually was the highest point, on a hill called Nüssen. From here we could have taken a less-traveled trail directly into the ravine, but then we would have missed to views onto Lake Sihlsee, so we bit into the sour apple and decided to navigate the exodus of hikers coming in our direction!!!

  

The more popular trail to the West meant more people, but also better views of Lake Sihlsee, which we can already see at the back

Here is probably the best view of the summit of the "small" Aubrig (i.e. Chli Aubrig). The masses of people walk up to the restaurant from the parking lot some way North of here, and then to the summit

Zoomed view of all the folks on the summit of the Chli-Aubrig. This was at 11 a.m. and it only got worse from here!

Another nice poster view!

This is a view back to the peak of the "Gross Aubrig" where the more hardy hikers climb up for a fantastic panorama view over the area. We preferred to cross from lake to lake. From here it's another 1 hr 35 minutes to Euthal on Lake Sihlsee, our final destination.

The restaurant was open for business, but we walked past quickly, to get away from the people!

What do they call this, a duck parade?

Here is the trail for descending to Lake Sihlsee. Until almost the bottom, people were coming up toward us, as there is also a parking lot at the back of the valley past Euthal (the city below and our destination)

  

We managed to find a secluded spot off the well-traveled path, to have our picnic lunch! In the background is the distinctive peak of Mount Mythen, which turned out to have been an exodus destination on this day as well.

  

Heading down toward Euthal. Our trail will take us into the little ravine on the left.

At the last house below, the trail goes into the ravine, which was less traveled, to our great pleasure.

Lovely and cool, the Chilentobel ravine had an exceptionally well-tended trail all along its length.

  

Hiking down the Chilentobel Ravine

As we got out of the ravine, we had a good look back up the valley, to the hilltop where the restaurant is. 

In the western skies, dozens of paragliders. We can't imagine where they started their jumps, somewhere near Einsiedeln?

   

Next to gentians, daisies are my favourite spring flowers

Farmers are taking advantage of the beautiful weather to mow the pastures

Lake Sihlsee is known for its low water levels

We caught the bus in Euthal and traveled North along Lake Sihlsee to Einsiedeln. This is view South along the lake. We came through the valley on the left. 

Our trek was about 4 hours 30 minutes from Lake Wägitalersee to Lake Sihlsee. An ascent to one of the peaks would probably have been nice, but not on a day when hundreds of other people are doing it. 

Total over 10 km, with almost 800m of uphill (over 2 hours on the first section), and about 4 hours 30 minutes of walking time. 

This is the area where the hike took place, pretty close to our home and fairly quick for us to get to. That way we were able to start early on our hike, i.e. 8 a.m.