A Favourite Hike from Unterschächen to Witerschwanden in the Schächen Valley

Easter Monday April 21, 2025 -- Today the region to our west was to be quite cloudy, but in the Reuss Valley in Canton Uri to our south, some pretty good weather was expected. So we headed to our favourite valley of Schächental (which is the west side of the Klausen Pass, and where Urs' grandmother grew up) to walk a trail we've done a couple of times before but really enjoyed at the time and was worth doing again. The first time, in June 2021, we took the Ratzi farmer's cable-car from Spiringen toward the Schächen Valley High Trail, and descended back to valley bottom via Urigen. It was the Urigen-Witerschwanden section which we wanted to do again, but it was only about an hour of walking, and buses run only every few hours to Urigen at this time of year, so we opted to start at the valley bottom in Unterschächen, walk up to Urigen (about an hour) and then do the long descent out of the valley.

Indeed we had the best sunshine (we could see thick clouds in the west), mild temperatures, and superb views. We also totally enjoyed the cows and goats which look to have just been put out into the pastures, and were enjoying the fine weather as much as we were.

It's a beautiful valley, and the bus ride and any hikes we do there never get boring. And "unfortunately", I always have too many beautiful photos!

Leaving home at shortly after 8 a.m., we get to Altdorf in the Reuss Valley at 9:17, and continue by bus into the Schächen Valley. This view is from the town of Bürglen at the entrance of the Schächen Valley, looking back toward Altdorf.

Heading up the beautiful Schächen Valley, one of our favourite valleys.

The bus winds up the road through the village of Spiringen, which we walk through later on our way out of the valley.

This bus ends its run in Unterschächen, where we will start on our hike. At the back of the valley is the Klausen Pass. The pass road is not yet open to traffic, and the bus won't be running up to there until the third weekend in June.

Unterschächen, the start of our hike. We have been here many, many times. After leaving home, it takes only two hours by public transport to get here!

A look up the hillside where were walking up to the village of Urigen.

This was not a long hike for us as to time and kilometers, but a very pleasant walk in a spectacular countryside. We started at 10:10 in Unterschächen, got to Urigen an hour later, and then ultimately got to Witerschwanden at 1:30 p.m.

Heading up the hill now with a view to the church on the hill in Unterschächen.

A view into the side valley called Brunnital. And below, the Schächen river flows out of the valley, from the region of the Klausen Pass, to enter the Reuss River at Altdorf.

We love these mountain trails.

Above us the Klausen Pass road winds its way up the mountain. The mountains are gorgeous.

We did have to walk along a winding paved road here, but it was no problem because of the wonderful landscape.

This is definitely a happy place!

Looking down below us at the road we walked up.

Wonderful trail to walk on!

The clearing on the other side of the valley, which you see in the center of the photo here, is called Eggenbergli. There is a small cable-car from valley bottom to up there, and we rode that cable-car and walked back down to the valley bottom back in August of 2022 (photos HERE).

Last stretch before reaching the curve in the road at Urigen. Down below, at the entrance of the Brunni Valley, is a cluster of homes called Bielen, which just now, at 11:00, finally emerged from the shadow of the mountain!

The little side village of Bielen is just emerging from the shadow of the mountain at the junction of the Brunni and Schächen Valleys. It was just near there where we started on our uphill climb.

Up at the main road now, the sign advertises Schächen Valley Cheese!

This is the highest point of where we are hiking up to this day. From here we will gently head downhill back toward the valley bottom. Behind Urs you can see the beautiful mountains of the Brunni Valley.

The old Post building in Urigen. This is now a hotel and restaurant, but closed this day.

The old Post Building in Urigen.

From the road at Urigen, a look up at the beautiful Schächentaler Windgällen mountains. The popular Schächen Valley High Trail passes below those cliffs.

Ahead of us just a short way along the trail is a little chapel where we stopped last time to have a picnic lunch. We plan to do the same this time. That clearing across the valley is called Eggenbergli, and there is a small cable-car which give the farmers access to their properties there. We rode that cable car and walked down the clearing back in August of 2022. (Those photos are HERE).

Zoomed view of the little chapel we are headed to. The little hamlet is called Getschwiler.

Until end of June, the bus into the Schächen Valley comes only as far as Urigen, up the mountainside here, but it only runs every three or four hours, so we preferred to take a bus ending in Unterschächen and starting earlier in the morning. This bus, for example, gets up here at 11:20, and the earlier bus is 8:20, too early for us.

Off we go, leaving Urigen and heading westward along the trail, out of the valley.

These little cows have just been let out into the pastures!

Beautiful mountains!

More beautiful mountains, behind us.

A nice easy walk through this beautiful landscape.

The cutest babies.

These little cows were curious about us and came running over to say hello!

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These little cows must have just been let out of the barn, because they were racing around the pasture, and came running to see us!

Another look back into the Schächen Valley, and the excited little cows!

I am loving the flowering meadows.

It will be long time still until we can walk those high trails on the opposite side of the valley!

Reaching the little chapel in the hamlet called Getschwiler. The chapel is called "Sieben Schmerzen Mariä". It is a pilgrim chapel built in 1571.

Inside of the little pilgrim church

Details of the little chapel.

At 11:45 we had our picnic lunch on the bench in front of the little church.

This was the view we enjoyed across from the little chapel!

After a 20-minute break here, we continued on our walk.

These are the cutest goats! They are called Boer goats and are originally from South Africa.

This time the goats are watching us walk past!

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The goats got all excited and wanted to follow us on our walk!

Continuing down the trail westward

Another look behind us.

The meadows are starting to flower, it looks so pretty!

There is a tradition here in Switzerland called "Easter Trees", where small shrubs or vases of branches get decorated with colourful eggs.

Such a beautiful valley.

Below us is the base station of the Tristel cable-car, one of many small farmers' cable cars in the valley. We have traveled on this one twice. The last time was in October 2022, when we walked a section of th Schächen High Trail, starting at the Klausen Pass and ending at the bus stop here in Spiringen. (Those photos are HERE).

A look up the valley as we descend to the town of Spiringen.

These are my favourite blossoming trees!

The wall lizards are enjoying the sunshine as much as we are.

This is the village of Spiringen. We have been here often. (To the west the sky is clouding over, but we still have lots of sunshine here!)

Information about the town of Spiringen.

The larger house on the right is the village school!

We had a quick look into the town church, but it is fairly modern.

Lots of colour starting now in the gardens!

Pretty house.

Spring babies.

On the final stretch from Spiringen to Witterschwanden, where we catch the bus on the main road near the valley bottom.

The village of Witerschwanden comes into view. We are catching a bus at the far end of this village, on the main road.

The chapel in Witerschwanden is called St.Wendelin's. It was built in 1621. We got here at 1:30 p.m. and sat here on the bench under the tree for about 10 minutes after visiting the church because we were too early for the 13:54 bus.