Panorama Views in the Napf Region from Menzberg to Menznau

(This post completed on April 21, 2025)

Thursday April 10, 2025 -- As the lovely weather continues, and because we only did a short afternoon walk near home the day before, I decided to go on another hike on my own. 

Heading to the always beautiful Luzern back-country, I traveled to the mountain village of Menzberg, the highest elevation village in the Mt.Napf region. In May of 2021 we did a 13-km walk along the National Trail no.3: "Alpine Panorama Trail" starting here and walking down to Wolhusen. As I remembered this hike as a definite panorama hike, I knew I'd have some nice views on my choice for this day.

The view for the first part of my hike this day was similar to the one from 2021, although the air was not as clear as I had hoped. I did take a bit of a separate trail than the first time, and at the point where I stopped for my picnic lunch, I headed north to Menznau, a town on the railway line between Wolhusen and Willisau. It was a beautiful day, not too hot, and I enjoyed the view over the entire Central Plateau to the north and all the way to the Jura mountains in the west, as well as the Bernese Alps to the south. 

It was an easy 9-kilometer walk, and I was out in the fresh air for 3½ hours. It only took me just over an hour to get home from Menznau. 

I got to Menznau at 11:20, and had to wait about 15 minutes for a bus up to the village of Menzberg. The parish church is across from the train station, so I went there to look around. The magnolia is in full bloom! 

Parish church of St.John the Baptist. This is the third church built here on this site: The foundation stone was laid in 1628. 

Organ side of the church. 

Two side altars on the front of the church, and the main altar (center photo).

I noticed that there were several hand-made information panels all around the artistic decorations. These seem to be information researched and recorded by school children! So I didn't have to do my own research! According to this information, the side altars date from late 18th Century. 

Other interesting features in the church. 

Front of the church as I head to the train station to catch the 11:38 bus for the 20-minute ride up to Menzberg, the highest altitude village in the Napf region.  

The bus left Menznau at 11:38 (full of teenagers on the way home for lunch! Good thing it was only a 20-minute bus ride). This is a view of the landscape to the west on the road toward Menzberg. 

The bus got to Menzberg at just before noon. Back in 2021 when we started here for the hike to Wolhusen along the "Alpine Panorama Trail", we didn't go to look at the village church. (We had headed in the other direction for some better views of the mountain). 

Inside the village church in Menzberg I was able to walk up the stairs to the balcony for a photo of the interior. 

Organ side of the church in Menzberg. 

A view to the north from the site of the church. The path I have chosen for this day's walk passes by those houses across the valley (Gutenegg) and there was a hiking trail directly from here, down into the small ravine and back up to that farm, but I didn't want to walk up the hill, so I followed the road (off the photo to the left) instead, almost totally level. 

I started on my ca. 9-km walk in Menzberg shortly after noon, and got to Menznau at 3:15 p.m. By the time I got home, road construction was pretty well completed for the day. 

Heading back now to the road where the bus had come up, this is the major business here in Menzberg: Hotel Menzberg. 

On the way up to Menzberg by bus, I had seen that there was major forestry work being done here. But I had assumed that by the time I passed here, they would be done for lunch break (it was now 12:07), but they were just finished cleaning up, and I got dusted by the leaf-blower!

The first little farm I got to was called Rütli, and I loved the sign on the fence: "Chickens and Cats Crossing"!

Behind the house, these cute little goats were watching me!

A look at the village of Menzberg from the road. There was a walking trail descending directly from the church into this ravine and back up again, but I chose to do this stretch on the paved road. 

Close-up view of the little church in Menzberg. 

Far to the southeast you can see Mt.Rigi. Too bad the air is quite hazy this day. 

This farm is called Hasenrank. There is a bus stop here. 

More views into the mountains: This time it is the Mt.Pilatus massif. 

Another close-up view of the village of Menzberg, from a different angle now. 

About here at "Gutenegg" I join National Train no.3: "Alpine Panorama Trail", walking a short stretch of the same trail we walked in May 2021. At that time we walked to Wolhusen, and this time I am walking to Menznau (via Twerenegg). 

This place definitely looked familiar, as we had passed by here last time!

Next to the little house was a stone wall, perfect for setting up my camera for a self-timed photo. 

A bit further on I got to the next farm called Tschoppen, which I immediately recognized from last time. At that time there was a picnic table in front of the kiosk, where we had our picnic lunch which we had brought along, but we also purchased cold Panachés and ice cream bars here!

Above the Tschoppen farm, with a final view of the Alps to the south, I sat in the grass and had my picnic lunch here at 1:15 p.m., and spent some time enjoying the view. 

A close-up look at the Tschoppen farm and the last view of Menzberg on the left. Menzberg is the highest altitude village in the Napf Region (the Napf might possibly be that darker peak on the right). 

The view is all the way to the Bernese Alps, with Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau on the right, and possibly Mt.Schrekhorn on the left. 

Close-up look at the north face of Mt.Eiger on the left. 

This is now where I leave the Alpine Panorama Trail and head north instead of east. I'm headed to Menznau, although there is another way to get to Wolhusen from here, but heading down into a side valley. 

This is a new trail and new landscape which I have not walked before. 

The view to the west is all the way to the Jura mountains

After rounding a little hill, I get the views to Mt.Pilatus again, only from further North this time. Down below is another run of the Postbus toward Menzburg, two hours later than the one I came up on! (It's now 13:46). 

Well here's another conveniently-located bench for another 10-minute break! 

Trying out another self-timed photo from the little bench where I had taken a break. 

At Twerenegg at 2:15 p.m., the sign says 55 minutes to Menznau. I am aiming for the 15:35 train, so I don't have to hurry!

Another view over the rolling landscape of the Napf region, to Mt.Rigi in the southeast, and the snow-covered mountains of the Central Alps. At the back on the left is the city of Wolhusen. 

Past the farm at Guggischwand, I start on my descent to Menznau (past the building on the left).

I saw this cross up on the hill when I was down at the church in Menznau. 

The sign on this building reads "Guggischwand", which is either the name of the house, or the general name for this cluster of about seven buildings.

This cat which crossed my trail thinks it is hiding from me!

Another view of the Pilatus Massif (Mt. Pilatus is the highest peak on the left). 

Those cows below were all kinds of colours!

These curious llamas came racing up to see me!

The brown one has an interesting fringe on its forehead!

Making my way down the mountain now on comfortable footpaths. 

Final look at Mt.Pilatus before I can't see the mountains anymore!

Back down in the main square in Menznau at 3:15 p.m, I can see the cross up on the mountain which I had seen from the Guggischwand farm!

Another look at the parish church as I head to the train station. 

This interesting building was right next to the train station

The date on this beautiful wooden house is 1794.

My 15:35 train for the one-hour trip home from Menznau!

These are all the hikes we have done around the region of Mt.Napf. The blue path is the one I did this day, starting in Menzberg and ending in Menznau

View out of the train window on the way back to Wolhusen: Already the farmers are doing their first cutting of grass. 

This cute little pond is called Tütisee, between Menznau and Wolhusen. 

Beautiful flowering trees everywhere!

I always enjoy the sight of the Werthenstein Monastery just after leaving the train station in Wolhusen, and heading toward Luzern. The river here is called the "Kleine Emme". 

Location of the Napf region within Switzerland.