A Section of the Railway Adventure Trail between Erstfeld and Amsteg

Sunday May 1st -- It seemed like a good day to walk a section of the Railway Adventure Trail in the Reuss Valley in Canton Uri from Göschenen northwards to Amsteg, but we had a bit of bad luck: Overcast and cold when we got there, contrary to the weather report; also, the trail was still closed for another week as they take down some of the bridges in winter (large danger of avalanches).

So we returned the way we had come and decided to do a different section along the Railway Adventure Trail starting in Erstfeld instead and walking southward to Amsteg. Unfortunately, we still had no sunshine. And the peak of the magnificent Mt. Bristen always ahead of us was in the clouds. I have long wanted to walk this stretch, but for sure I thought it would be with a better view.

It wasn't a difficult hike. The cows are always a treat. There were some interesting landmarks along the way, like the Jagtmatt Chapel (first Baroque church built in Canton Uri), the oldest still occupied house in Canton Uri (a wooden house was built into the original stone walls), the 12th-Century Meier Tower built for the "Silenen Nobles", and information about the railway line here. Plus we have now added another section to our goal of walking the whole National Trail no.2: Trans Swiss Trail (and the Suvarov Trail, and the Via Gottardo Trail!)

NOTE: We walked a similar stretch in August 2019, but parallel and higher up the mountainside. That was a beautiful day and these photos HERE show the Reuss Valley between Erstfeld and Amsteg from above. 

This is the what the Jagtmatt Chapel looks like from the other side of the Reuss River. We approached it from the left, from the train station in Erstfeld, and continued up-river. Mt. Bristen is the peak in the back, the peak we didn't see on this day's hike. 

The Jagdmattkapelle (Jagdmatt Chapel) is the first point of interest you reach when you start on the trail near Erstfeld. This is the first early-Baroque Church built in Canton Uri (mid 1600's). Apparently, there is a bat colony living in the upper level!

Some features of the early-Baroque Church called Jagdmattkapelle

To the North the skies were blue, but where we are headed to the South, it actually looks like rain

A very nice house along the way

A rather "short" hike for us, just over 8 km and 2.5 hours. But it was long enough on this day.

Following the Reuss River. Mount Bristen in the back is a spectacular peak, which simply got lost in the bad weather this day. 

Up above the low clouds and over the ridge is Lake Seewlisee. Urs would like to do this uphill hike some time....

As part of the "Bahnerlebnisweg" (Railway Adventure Trail), there are many such information placards about the history of the railway in the Reuss Valley.

Since 2017 there is the 57-km long Basis Tunnel from Erstfeld to Biasca, straight through beneath the Alps , but until then, the railway line had to climb to the 15-km tunnel entrance at Göschenen, using cogwheels (this line is still in use). During the time of steam engines, 50 kg of coal had to be shoveled PER MINUTE.

The magnificent Mt. Bristen ahead of us, covered in clouds

A look back to the North, down the Reuss Valley, to Erstfeld where we started. 

We found this great privately-owned bench where we enjoyed our picnic lunch. The owners were in their garden nearby, and said it was no problem for us to sit here, that's what it was for!

This wall is to prevent the river -- which comes down from the mountain above -- from flooding when the rains are strong and the snow is melting!

An interesting lane lined by dry-stone walls

This building has been neglected for a while...

Ahead of us is the community of Silenen-Dägerlohn. Behind the church and to the left is the base station of one of our favourite farmer's cable cars (Kilcherbergbahn), which we have ridden many times and given us access to the mountainside on the left. 

To the left of the church is an ivy-covered house which we discovered is oldest still inhabited house in Canton Uri. 

This is the oldest still-inhabited house in Canton Uri. The stone walls are one-meter thick. In the 16th/17th Centuries, a wooden house was built INTO the existing stone house. 

This is the wooden house that was built into the stone house in the 16th or 17th Century, and is the oldest still-inhabited house in Canton Uri

All along the way, the little curious cows always came to watch us walk past!

Next stop: The church in Dägerlohn (Silenen) which also looked to be Baroque, so I was looking forward to seeing the inside. 

A note next to the door informs us that the church is closed till October due to roof renovations. But the door was pretty!

The trail is part of four themed trails: Trans-Swiss Trail, Via Gottardo, Via Suvorov, and the Railway Adventure Trail. 

Looks like a good place to store your machinery!

Another look North down the Reuss Valley, this time just as we have left the village of Silenen. By now the clouds were clearing, but I was now dressed too warmly for that!

More cows along the way, they came racing over from the barn at the back!

VIDEO:

More cows all excited to watch us go by! 

They are probably simply excited to be out of the barn finally.

Passing under the Gotthard railway line. We did stay and watch two trains pss

The "Tower of the Noblemen of Silenen" (Meierturm), built in the 12th Century, is actually accessible to the public, but for some reason it was locked this day. At least the tower chapel was open and it had some nice murals. 

The original "Fourteen Holy Helpers" Chapel was built in 1081. After a fire in 1666 it was rebuilt and the painted murals added

Paintings inside the chapel date from after the fire in 1666

Further down the road is the old "Haus der Sust" (where travelers and their animals were accommodated on their travels in the middle ages), renovated in 1939 leaving much of the original construction. It is under national protection.

This house fascinated us. It was recently resurfaced with small wooden shingles, all by hand!

Further along is the former fortress "Zwing Uri", assumed to have been built in about the year 1200, and occupied till the 14th Century. It was strategically placed to guard the Gotthard Passage. We planned to have a coffee break here.

There was not a lot of the tower left, just a 3-meter high "ring" of stones, which we had to climb to get to the top. 

The Zwing-Uri fortress, or what is left of it. 

Continuing on the trail toward Amsteg, we came across a sign which shows that this location is part of another regional trail: No.43, the St.James Trail Graubünden

The St.James Trail passes over this passerelle over the railway line and into the Maderaner Valley

We were impressed by the stone walls built to support the gardens on this pretty chalet

Final stretch to the bus stop in Amsteg

What the 8-km walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps

An easily-accessible region for us, that is why we have done a lot of hikes here in the Uri Alps! The small cable cars offer us easy access into the mountains. 

The Erstfeld-Amsteg Region on a Swiss Map

This is what Mt.Bristen looks like, as seen from Lake Uri further to the North