Winter Walk over the Schützenried Moor from Unteriberg to Euthal

Thursday December 26, 2024 -- Based on the forecast for the coming week, we were expecting pure sunshine all over the country, and decided to do our first snow-walk on a large open plain at Lake Sihlsee near Einsiedeln, a short 90-minute trip for us. The region is popular for cross-country skiing, but there are also prepared walking trails, a 14-kilometer loop between Unteriberg, Studen and Euthal, and we were looking forward to lots of sunshine on our planned 10-km walk along this trail. 

We were greatly disappointed as we started out on the trip there, as there was, once again, a thick blanket of fog in our region. All the way there we were really hoping that the fog would lift, which it didn't really, until the bus got to Unteriberg where we decided to start on our hike. We spent about an hour in the sunshine with the most lovely winter landscape, always hoping the fog cloud which hung between us and our destination of Euthal would dissipate.

Unfortunately the fog did not lift, so we shortened our hike and walked directly to Euthal through the very thick fog, mostly along the Minster Canal, which surprisingly had its own charm with snowy frost on all the bushes, and it wasn't particularly cold except when we got to the stretch along the lakeshore, a lake we could not see at all. 

In the end, this was just over 6 kilometers of walking for us (about two hours), but we had 2½ hours of fresh air, and an understanding that if we wanted sunshine this week, we would have to head up into the mountains and brave all the masses there. 

On the way by train toward Einsiedeln, we pass by the Rothenthum High Moors, which also offer loads of walking and cross-country skiing trails. We were hoping that by the time we got here, the fog would have lifted, as it is often fog-free here in winter, when we have fog around Lake Zug. 

The Rothenthurm High Moor is a popular region for cross-country skiiers, who are not deterred by this fog. We have also done several winter walks here, the most recent being December 2023 when I walked here alone, without fog! (those photos are HERE).

Because the sun hasn't reached here yet, the trees are still draped in snow, which looks very pretty!

Is that a bit of blue sky in the direction we are headed? As it turns out, it was one exception  right here, and then the train headed back into the thick fog again. 

Having left home at 10:15, we got to the southernmost bus-stop in Unteriberg at noon, and were pleased that there was no fog (The bus left the fog blanket at just about "Salzgruben"). We could enjoy some sunshine here, and start walking toward Euthal in the hopes of the fog lifting, which it did not. The original plan was to cross the Minster river and walk via Studen, but because of the fog, we continued directly to Euthal, arriving there at 14:20.

Starting in Unteriberg at noon, we had to walk a stretch along the paved road to where the snow-trail started, but at least we had sunshine. 

Away from the main road, this is how we want our winter snow-walks to be: Prepared trails, cold crunchy snow underfun, blue skies and lots of sunshine, and snow still on roofs and trees. 

The cows have the option to leave their barns and spend time in the forecourts, and these girls are watching us as we walk past. 

This is the view to the east in the direction we eventually are headed. The hope is that the ribbon of fog there (which we passed through by bus), would evaporate by the time we headed that way. 

At least we can enjoy some real proper winter trails here! Heading up to a small suspension bridge over the stream on the right. 

Cliché: "Winter Wonderland", the day after Christmas. 

It's always fun to cross bridges. 

A small suspension bridge here. 

View of the Niedlaubach stream as we cross the bridge!

Close-up of the snow's surface, with lots of glittering crystals. So pretty!

A look behind us to the south, totally fog-free! Unteriberg lies at the junction of two valleys, one of which goes up toward the Ibergeregg Pass on the right (where I had recently done a hike, before the snow), and toward Hoch-Ybrig on the left, both of which are ski regions and might have been overrun by sun-seekers as well. We thought we'd be out of the crowds here, which we were, but later we also had to brave the fog, instead of the crowds. 

A close-up look past the church in Unteriberg into the Hoch-Ybrig region. 

Perfect walking trails. 

Many lovely houses here as well. 

The fog still isn't lifting, and it is now 12:30, so we need to look for a nice bench to sit on to eat our sandwiches.... it's hard to find a place to sit that isn't wet!

A look up the hill behind us, so pretty!

Still above the fog, we discovered the St.Ottilia chapel, with two perfect small benches, dry, in the sunshine, one on either side of the door, and no one sitting there yet! We spent 25 minutes here, but in retrospect should have stayed longer, as shortly afterwards, we entered the fog.... 

The St.Ottilia Chapel was built in 1758. The little door was unlocked, and people could go in and light candles or leave mementoes. 

The path we are walking on is also part of a themed trail called "Cultural Trail Unteriberg" with lots of interesting information. For example, legend has it that a local man with eye issues had a dream, that he would be healed if he built a chapel here, which he did, and then received perfect sight. Since then it has become a kind of pilgrim site. 

Continuing on our walk, the trail goes through a lovely alley, bordered on both sides by dry-stone walls. We discovered that this is an old travel road, existing since at least 1669, and usually the walls deteriorate over time, but these walls have been properly kept up, and the path has been taken up in the Swiss Inventory of Historical Transport Routes. 

This information explains that the reason the alley was able to be kept up was that a wider and straighter road was built in 1855, and the path was less used. 

After heading down through the alleyway to the main road, we crossed onto the moorland at 1:15 p.m. and entered the fog blanket. The following photos are from the rest of our walk, about an hour to Euthal, mostly along the Minster River, then past a small lake, over a couple of bridges, and then along the lakeshore, with no view at all of the lake!

Still a bit of sunshine as we enter the fog blanket. 

After crossing the main road, we joined the prepared trails on the Schützenried Moor. With a bit of sunshine filtering through, it wasn't altogether too cold. Best of all, the snow was dry and crunchy!

A look behind us to where we entered the fog blanket.

Other hardy people out enjoying the "sunshine"!!!!

There are several kilometers of cross-country trails here. The fog isn't holding these people back either!

Crossing the first bridge over the Minster river, where we then head to the left and walk along the river. 

It was nice to walk here, as all the tree branches were covered in ice crystals!

The fog has its own charm!

Just before the delta where the Minster river enters Lake Sihlsee is a small lake, which we can barely see!

We are following part of the Trail no.560: "Schützenried Rundweg".

The "Schützenried Rundweg" is a 14-km loop walking trail, where the paths are prepared for hikers every winter. We started in Unteriberg and originally planned to walk via Studen, but we went directly on to Euthal. 

A final bridge (Minsterbrücke) to cross right about where the river enters the lake, although we could see nothing of the lake. 

A sign next to the bridge had informed us that the wooden bridge here, called the Minsterbrücke, was built in 2003. From here on we walked another two kilometers along the lakeshore to the bus stop across from the church in Euthal, and it became uncomfortably cold. 

A sign at the entrance of the village of Euthal wishes us some "Happy Holidays"!

This is all we can see of Lake Sihlsee. 

This is a bird-watching terrace, as there are reeds all around the lakeshore

Final stretch along the lake, before turning to the main road. It's now 14:13 and we knew we'd have to wait about 20 minutes for the bus back to Einsiedeln, but there was another bus heading back to Unteriberg at 14:20, so we hurried to make that one, and rode it to a bus stop where there was no fog, to wait for the next one heading back. 

At 14:20 we were at the bus stop in Euthal. Having started at noon in Unteriberg, this means we got about 2½ hours of fresh air, some sunshine and exercise. One positive is, that it's only a 90-minute trip from here to back home. 

What our walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps, only with snow!

These are the hikes we have done in the region of Unteriberg and Lake Sihlsee. In March of 2015, I did a walk here with better visibility, walking along the west side of Lake Sihlsee, and ending in Unteriberg (Dark Pink Trail). 

Where the Schützenried Moor is located in Switzerland, pretty close to where we live in Zug. It only takes about 90 minutes for us to get there by public transport.