A Section of the "Emme Riverbank Trail" from Entlebuch to Wolhusen

Sunday March 3, 2024 -- I went back to the Entlebuch region again, this time with Urs, as the weather forecast was for sunshine until about 1 p.m., and we didn't want to spend a lot of time traveling. The town of Entlebuch (same name as the entire UNESCO region) is only an hour's travel for us, and there was an approximately 2-hour hike we could do along the "Kleine Emme River" there, which was the perfect distance for the sunny morning. 

Back in May of 2015 we did a short (7 km) walk along the 65-km long regional themed trail no.83: "Emmenuferweg" (Emme Riverbank Trail) from Schüpfheim to Entlebuch, but found it too boring. Looking on our map though, the next section north of there, starting in Entlebuch and ending in Wohlhusen (a 10-km stretch) looked to be more interesting as the river here passed through a gorge. We thought we'd attempt that, and in fact, doing it at this time of year before the trees have their full coat of leaves was more interesting, as we saw more of the flowing river water through the bare branches than we did on our May 2015 hike, as the row of trees between the path and the river totally blocked any nice views of the water.

We started in Entlebuch at 10:30 (any early and there would have been too much shadow from the eastern hills) and reached Wohlhusen train station at about 13:40. We were very lucky that the sunshine held that long, and the sky became overcast only as we were making our one-hour trip back home by train. 

(Interesting note: The "Wald Emme" River has its source on the north side of Mt. Brienzer Rothorn near Sörenberg, flows down the Sörenberg Valley to Schüpfheim where it meets with the "Wiss Emme" and becomes the "Kleine Emme", which then flows via Wohlhusen toward Luzern, where it enters the Reuss River at Emmenbrücke. This is not the same Emme River which gives its name to the Emmental region of Canton Bern). 

On the train from Wolhusen heading south through the Entlebuch, we get this view of what might be the Abnistetteflue (Schafmatt), but I am not 100% sure. We didn't see much of the mountains as we were on river level most of the time. 

Here we are passing the location where the Fontanne River enters the Kleine Emme. Later, we walked here, but had to walk a short piece into this side valley to cross the Fontanne River, then climb out of the valley a bit to continue along the trail shown by the arrow (upper right). 

Another view from the train as we continue parallel to the river heading south. This farm is called Emmenmätteli and there was a small biotope here which we passed on our way heading north. (I also later took a photo of that row of weirdly-shaped willow bushes). 

All along the way from the train we could see the path that we would be walking along. When the trees have more leaves, one can barely see the river. So it was a good time of year for us to walk here. 

We started our walk here at the Entlebuch train station at 10:30

Along the "Emmenuferweg" (Emme Riverbank Trail), we have a hike of 2 hours and 20 minutes ahead of us.... to Wolhusen. (Previously we had done the section from Schüpfheim to here). 

The description on the left mentions in particular that this 10-km stretch of the trail from Entlebuch to Wolhusen offers lots of variety. We started in Entlebuch at 10:30, and got to Wolhusen with a few minutes to spare for the 13:45 train. 

This is the first section of the trail after starting in Entlebuch...

It was a good time to start, as any earlier there would have been shade here.

Several nice picnic spots along the way, where you could also do outdoor grilling. 

Around a bend in the river we could see the trail head uphill a bit

The bend in the river

A good place for a photo!

There were also several places along the trail where you had to go up and down the stairs. 

A look at river level

Someone had to cut off trees here, carved seats right into the trunk so you can stop and rest for a while!

Here above this pond was a bench, where we stopped for a snack break and enjoyed the view on the water. 

Taking a break on a well-placed bench!

Here's the train going by, on the railway line which we had ridden to get to Entlebuch

Now we got to the farm called Emmenmättli, which we had seen from the train. 

A massive storm in August 2005 caused major flooding here (175 liters per m3 of rainfall!... average flow of water in the Kleine Emme here is 25 m3 per second, and during the storm it was 520 m3 per second!). Through a great effort, the marsh-land and biotopes were rebuilt. 

These are the funny willow arches I saw earlier from the train!

Colour is slowly coming into the drab countryside

Another look at the Kleine Emme River at river level. 

Always these neat bridges along the paths

Regional Trail no.83 is the "Emmenuferweg"

This time it's the"Kambly Cookie Train" passing by (this railway line passes the Kambly Cookie Factory further west). 

Crossing to the west side of the river over the Chappelboden Bridge (view upriver)

View down-river from the Chappelboden Bridge

Now we are headed to where the Fontanne River enters the Kleine Emme. We have to ascend a bit on the left side here and cross a bridge further up the Fontanne River. 

Arriving at the exit of the Fontanne River, this sign warns that we should stay clear of the riverbank because the ground has become unstable due to recent weather conditions. The warning is mostly directed at people who want to lounge on the riverbank or pan for gold. Since we were doing neither, I risked passing the red tape for a photo.... 

This is where the Fontanne River enters the Kleine Emme. Not sure what the danger is here.... I think it is meant for further upstream, where there was no riverbank at all. 

Looking south now where we crossed the Chappelboden bridge, one of the few times we saw the mountains here. 

This is the bridge where we had to cross the Fontanne River

Crossing the Fontanne River from south to north. 

On the north side of the Fontanne River we had to ascend a bit. Unfortunately, the trees blocked the view, and this was the best we could see up the Kleine Emme River looking south. 

Heading back down to the Kleine Emme River again. 

This farm is called Klungelisei. 

There was a fascinating geological formation here. Most of the rock so far has been Molasse (like the upper section on this photo), but below the overhang, the striped section looks like sandstone. 

Continuing north on the west side of the river. 

Much of the land here is molasse geology. 

Before crossing the river to the east side again, shortly before the city of Wolhusen, we found a place to sit and eat our sandwiches. Right now it's 12:45. 

Urs is pointing out to me that we have another example of a rural "Bridge of Sighs" here! (See also Venice, Bridge of Sighs)

The small bridge connects the farmhouse to the barn, so that the farmer doesn't have to walk out in the cold to feed the animals!

Looking behind us as we head into the city of Wolhusen.

Looking past the gravel factory to the cliffs on the other side is interesting for us, as we once descended from there at the end of the fabulous hike we did on the "Alpine Panorama Trail" in May of 2021 (Photos are HERE)

A huge old farmhouse on the outskirts of Wolhusen

Crossing the Kleine Emme River into the city of Wolhusen. The train station is past that church building in the background.  

This building always impresses me when we pass through Wolhusen. Among other things, there is a Kindergarten in there. 

The Evangelical church in Wolhusen. We pass this on the way to the train station. We got to the train station at 13:40, just a bit early for the 13:45 train home. 

All the hikes we have done in this part of the Entlebuch Region. The green line on the left was one half of the hike from Sörenberg along the Waldemme River (April 2021), and in 2015 we did the section from Schüpfheim to Entlebuch. 

Location of the Entlebuch region of Canton Luzern

Description of the 65-km long "Emmenuferweg" Trail.