Short Hike along the South Shore of Lake Lucerne (Emmeten to Beckenried)

Saturday April 2023 -- Just a short hike nearby today, as the day was supposed to get overcast very quickly. But we were lucky and had quite a bit of sunshine, as we escaped the fog in Zug and headed to Seelisberg on the south side of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee). The plan was to walk from Emmeten down to lake level via a lovely ravine we've walked before, and then walk along the "Waldstätterweg" (a themed trail around the entire lake) westward to Beckenried and further if we felt like it. (We didn't manage more, as this part of the trail which we have yet to complete is all on paved roads, which we can manage for mostly about one hour). All the while we had some nice views across the lake to the Rigi range and the Mythen mountains in the east, and Mt. Pilatus in the west.

We got to Beckenried at 14:20 (three hours after starting on our walk) just as the sky became overcast and a boat was docking, so we ended the excursion with a boat trip back to Brunnen.

Funny thing about going to Seelisberg/Emmeten for us. The fastest connection from home takes 90 minutes, and involves the following public transport: Bus/Train/Bus/Boat/Funicular/Bus.

It's a fun trip full of all kinds of lovely Swiss experiences.

Note: Here are the photos of the last time we walked down this gorge, but going eastward back to Treib, the base station of the funicular --> HERE.

Getting on the boat in Brunnen for the short ride (8 minutes) over to Seelisberg

Crossing over to Seelisberg, this is the view south down the Uri arm of Lake Lucerne (Mt. Gitschenen in the center, part of the Uri Alps, and which featured in two of my solo hikes early April)

Arriving at Treib, which is the base station of the Treib-Seelisberg Funicular

They sent us up on the 7-minute funicular ride as the boat from Luzern was pulling in, ahead of schedule, anticipating lots of people on this boat

Down below is our boat heading toward Luzern. In the back is Mount Pilatus

Crossing of the TSB = Treib-Seelisberg-Bahn

Such a pretty landscape here going up to Seelisberg. From the top station we took a bus to the start of our hike, just before Emmeten

The section through the ravine down to lake level is one we have done before. Most of the section along the lakeshore (once we reached the level of the Seelisberg freeway tunnel) was on paved roads. The whole hike was less than two hours.

The Sacred Cross Chapel in Emmeten was the start of our hike this time. It was built in 1791 and contains one of the most important pieces of votive art in Canton Nidwalden. (Not a widely known fact)

The 5-meter wide "Dance of Death" painting on a wooden panel is older than the church itself. Dating from about 1700, it was transferred to this chapel from a former ossuary

On this panel, Death tells the Duchess that her beauty will rot in the ground...

The 40-m bridge over the ravine was built in 2003, and no more than 10 people are permitted on it at a time. And no jumping on it!

Walking into the ravine

A glimpse down the ravine to the lake, and the village of Gersau on the opposite side

We were confused about this construction on the narrow trail next to the cliff wall. We figure it is to prevent bikers from trying to use this walking trail, as there is no way at all to get a bike through, over or around this.

Heading down into the ravine

A first glimpse across Lake Luzern to Mt. Bürgenstock (direction Luzern to the west)

We love bridges!

VIDEO:
The river through the ravine.

Below the bridge

When we were here last time in 2018, we headed East up these stairs along Trail no.98 (after checking out the lower waterfalls). This time we continued westward once we reached the lake level.

VIDEO:
First waterfall

More bridges

A very nice picnic spot once you reach the lake level. We had planned to stop there for our lunch, but by the time we got there, a large group of people had arrived for a grill-fest.

Another look westward, this time we can see Mt. Pilatus. Later we followed this shoreline to the town of Beckenried.

A close-up view of Beckenried where we ended our hike, and Mt. Pilatus in the background.

I wasn't expecting this kind of congestion when we got to the second waterfalls. This isn't really a tourist area! It irked me somewhat that no one moved out of the way for others passing through.

My turn now for the photo shoot!

The triple-waterfall is beautiful. And the others are still taking pictures.

VIDEO:
Second waterfall

Down at lake level is a dredger which seems to be a permanent fixture here.

Some cute water birds!

After eating our sandwiches at lake level, going up these stairs was hard work!

It is quite impressive to stand beneath the concrete structure which supports the two double lanes of the freeway which enters the Seelisberg tunnel here. From this point until Beckenried, we walked parallel to the freeway and along paved roads.

There were several barges like this one along the shore. Across the lake is Gersau (where our boat docked next, after it left Beckenried)

Seems logical that we also passed several harbors.

Always an interesting sight in spring is how the farmers mow the meadows, especially when they are on a steep hillside

On these steep hillsides, this is how they mow the grass, to make hay for the cows

VIDEO:

Mowing mountain pastures:

A look behind us. Even though the last 3.5 kilometers (more than half of our hike) were along a paved road, it wasn't so bad as there were lots of things to see. Especially attractive are the blossoming trees, although not yet in full bloom.

On the far east side of the lake we can see the Mythen Mountains. This pasture has been cleared of grass by a flock of sheep.

Fabulous blossoming trees

Just a short distance now to the pier in Beckenried, just past the church. We had decided to end our hike here, and take a boat back.

Close-up view of Beckenried

Another look to the east

Close-up of the Mythen Mountains. The boat there is approaching Beckenried on its way to Luzern, but we are catching a boat back to Brunnen.

As usual, we got to the dock just a minute or two before our ship arrived. This one is called "Gotthard". It was a good thing we decided to take the boat here, as all of a sudden the sky became fully overcast, and we lost our sunshine.

A look at our short 6-km hike along Lake Luzern, seen from the satellite. 3.5 kilometers along the paved road was the maximum we could manage. The boat went from Beckenried to Gersau to Treib and then Brunnen.

Heading back the way we came, we get a look at the shoreline we walked, parallel to the freeway. The mountain in the back is called Niederbauen.

Urs is the one who really wanted to ride the boat. But having now lost the sunshine, the wind was cold!

Across the lake on its north side is the village of Gersau, the next docking station

Gersau claims to be one of the prettiest villages in Switzerland!

Heading back to the south side of the lake, here is what the Seelisberg hillside looks like. This is exactly the barn where we sat and had our picnic lunch back in 2018 when we did the hike down the ravine and back to Treib. (PHOTO from then)

Next docking station: Treib, where we took the funicular three hours earlier (you can just see it in the building on the right). The beautiful steamboat called LUZERN is just leaving the dock, on its way to Luzern. (The boats cross here and in Beckenried)

VIDEO:

Steamboat LUZERN

Docking in Treib, before heading to Brunnen.

Heading from Treib back to the north side of the lake again, here's another view south down the Uri arm of Lake Luzern (i.e. Lake Uri). This time we can see the magnificent Mt.Bristen.

Our last stop with the boat: Brunnen. From here it's a short bus ride to the train station, and then home again by train.

We have just about done all the sections of the "Waldstätterweg", or "Trail around Lake Lucerne". The missing sections are mostly paved roads, that's why we haven't done them yet.

On the train ride back to Zug along Lake Zug, we admired all the beautiful blossoming fruit trees. This is such a nice time of year.