Lesser-Known but Fabulous Wägital Valley in the Schwyzer Alps

Wednesday May 11, 2022 -- We try not to make any appointments on Wednesday, which is a day off for both of us, because that is usually the best day for us to go hiking. But I had an important appointment in Zurich at 8 a.m. that day, there was no way around it. As luck would have it, it was one of the best days we have had so far to do some really good hiking! 

On such a day we would normally leave quite early for a 3-hour trip to somewhere, but of course that was out of the question. And yet on this day we managed to find a beautiful location in the Schwyzer Alps, a gorgeous reservoir lake with a fabulous mountain backdrop, and less than 90 minutes to travel from the place of my appointment... which meant we were still able to start on our 4-hour hike by 11 a.m.!!!

The valley (Wägital) is accessed by a narrow road through an equally narrow ravine formed by the Wägitaler Aa River, but then opens up into pretty pasturelands at the village called Vorderthal, which was the goal of our 4-hour hike. Further up the road and past the dam is the jewel of a lake called Wägitalersee, and the tiny community of Innerthal, the start of our hike. 

Most hikers who come up this way (of which there were few this day) cross the dam and the mountain on the West side of the lake, to descend to the Sihlsee lake one valley over (a hike which we have also done, those photos are HERE). This time we ascended on the East side of the lake, a tough 500m ascent in the heat (luckily there was a cool breeze), with the first 2.5-km along a paved road. But the view was worth the effort!

Usually we love ridge hikes, but the ground was so wet and soft and churned up by last year's cows, so that the going was tough. And the final 4.5 kilometers on the descent were also on paved roads, which I normally would find tedious, but these are roads to access mountain farms and therefore there are rarely cars traveling here. It wasn't as bad as expected. The view was good, and the entire air smelled of lovely newly-mown grass, which is always a treat. In all, it was a good choice for this day!

Heading up by bus toward Lake Wägital, a look back to the village of Vorderthal which we just passed. Up on the ridge is where we came down from at the end of our hike. 

Up at lake level is the tiny community of Innerthal, the final bus stop, and where our hike started.

First along the way after a short climb is the village church called St.Katharina. A quick look inside, and a good place to change into shorts before the long uphill hike, as it is already a very warm day!

The first St.Katharina church at this location was a smaller chapel built in approx. 1300. A newer church was dedicated in 1502, but has been renovated since then. Not sure, but this one might be from 1924.

Above the local village church

First stop: A small home shop out of their carport, offering local and homemade goods. We purchased some sheep-sausages. It is always self-serve on the honour system, and you put the cash into the little cash box on top of the fridge.

Starting at Innerthal, we walked the first 2.5 kilometers and 200m ascent on paved roads. Then another 250m uphill to the farm at Schwarzenegg where we had our picnic lunch. Along the crest, the trail was quite muddy. On the descent after the farm at Rötstock, it was over 4 km also on paved road, but quite comfotable to walk. End of the hike was the church at Vorderthal. Total 12+ km and 4 hours of walking time. 

Old farmhouse and still a few blossoming trees!

Everywhere they were doing the first mowing of the pastures, and the air smelled lovely of fresh-mown hay!

A look down at the little community of Innerthal where we started our hike, and the dam in the background. Straight ahead is the mountain called "Gross Aubrig" and the crossing to the left of it into the next valley over: Sihltal. 

Loads of pollen on the water

A short break along the paved road

A last look toward the back of the lake before starting on the steep uphill section through the forest. In the center at the back is the pass called "Schwialp Pass", which we crossed in 2015 from the other side. 

After a long uphill section through the forest, we finally get a view of the stunning crags of the "Bockmattlistock", part of the Schwyzer Alps. 

This looked like a good place to take a self-timed photo. I didn't realize I hadn't set the camera for "3x photos" as I usually do, and I only got this one of me running to the water trough!

With many breaks along the way, we got to the farm at Schwarzenegg by 1 p.m., a wonderful place for our picnic lunch!

Here we are, eating our sandwiches! We had seen this place from further below and were glad that it was free for us for these 10-15 minutes!

Looks like a playpen... it's to keep the cows from destroying the cross and the bench. 

So nice to see the little blue gentians again!

A couple of minutes above our picnic bench, we reach the ridge. We are headed left, but you can also cross a ridge into the next valley to the East from here. (Followed by a very long descent into the Linthal Valley)

What a spectacular backdrop! From here we could see a steep zigzag trail heading up the couloir on the right. We really wanted to go up there, but it only leads to a trickier and more exposed ridge trail, marked in blue for really experienced hikers. 

A panorama view to the East from the ridge.

Heading north now along the ridge. This view is back toward where we came from 

It's always exciting to see the first Gentians! I particulary like these large trumpet-shaped ones. 

Most of the view along the ridge was blocked by trees. Here, before the descent to the farm at Rötstock, was the first view we had to the north, to Lake Zurich. 

Another look back along the ridge before our descent. The signage poles are wrapped with barbed wire to keep the cows from pressing against them!

Meadow flowers

Another view of Lake Zurich at the Rötstock farm. From here it's just over an hour to the end of our hike at Vorderthal, 4.5 kilometers along paved roads. 

Very pretty farmhouse at Rötstock

This was the cleanest watering trough we had ever encountered! It made you want to take a swim in it! We are always glad to find these troughs, so we can fill up our water bottles. (or to dip our heads in if it is really hot). 

Cows along the way....

We did try a shortcut for a small section, to avoid all the paved road, but it was actually through private property. 

End of our hike at the church in Vorderthal. I had a look inside, but its best feature, the pipe organ, was blocked with some plastic sheets. 

Vorderthal church.

Our 12-km hike as viewed on Google Satellite maps, starting in Innerthal at the lake Wägitalersee, and ending in Vorderthal

The other hikes we did in this valley: 1) In pink, the crossing from near Pragel Pass via Schwialp Pass in 2015, and 2) In yellow, the crossing from Wägitalersee Lake to Euthal on Sihlsee Lake. 

Location of the Wägital Valley in Switzerland, close to Zurich in Canton Schwyz and part of the Schwyzer Alps.