Short Afternoon Walk Nearby from Kappel a.Albis to Blickensdorf

Wednesday April 9, 2025 -- On this lovely day, Urs' day off, he had appointments in the morning and in late afternoon, so we couldn't really go far for our mid-week excursion. This was OK with me as I had done a 14-km walk the day before (photos HERE). So we headed into the hills north of our home, to the village of Kappel below the Albis mountain range in Canton Zurich, a 30-minute bus ride from here.

From there we walked a path we hadn't walked yet (we have done a lot of walking in this region!), a 6-kilometer walk on both forest and pasture trails, down to the community of Blickensdorf near Baar. It was only a 90-minute walk, but it was a hot afternoon and Urs still has pain when walking. It was just fine for a nice afternoon walk.

Kappel am Albis, the start of our hike, is the site of an ancient Cistercian Monastery, grounded in 1185, and we have visited the church building there twice before, so didn't go in this time. (November 2023 and August 2017). 

Along the way we enjoyed a large variety of flowering trees and bushes, some nice half-timbered houses, cows in the pastures and a buzzard on a branch much too small. Also, and always interesting, we crossed Canton border lines along the way, starting in Canton Zurich, and ending in Canton Zug.

It takes only 30 minutes by bus to get here, to the Monastery buildings in Kappel a.Albis. The bus stop is right next to this pond. 

The Cistercian Abbey church in Kappel, built in the 13th and 14th Centuries, is apparently one of the best preserved early Gothic buildings in Switzerland. We did not stop there this time, as we have seen the interior twice before. (2017 and 2023)

Houses in Kappel am Albis

One of many large blossoming trees we saw along the way. 

And here was a magnificent magnolia tree. 

A look back at the buildings surrounding the Abbey Church as we start out on our walk at about 2:30 p.m. 

At about 2:30 p.m. we started our walk in Kappel am Albis in Canton Zurich, via Uerzlikon (where I had ended a hike in April 2015) and through the forest, crossing the Canton Border into Canton Zug, and ending in Blickensdorf. Originally we wanted to walk to the train station in Baar, but there was a bus coming within a few minutes of our arriving there, so we ended the hike there. 

A look behind us as at the road we came down. Behind the village is the mountain range called Albis, which separates this region from Lake Zurich. 

Another close-up look at Kappel am Albis. 

My Dad used to have a tractor almost exactly like this. 

Past these large-growth trees we spotted a large bird high up on the skinniest of branches!

It always amazes me that these large birds can sit on such skinny branches!

A gorgeous bird of prey: The Common Buzzard. 

We are enjoying all the blossoming trees during this beautiful spring season!

After a stretch through the forest, we got to the next village called Uerzlikon. There were many pretty houses here.  

I also love the way many of these homeowners decorate their properties. So many loving details!

Another fabulous blossoming tree, pink this time. 

This cute little building is across from the bus stop in Uerzlikon. This is where I ended a my short walk from Knonau back in April 2015. 

More Magnolias

More white blossoms

More half-timbered houses. 

And the daffodils are at their peak right now!

More very pretty houses, still in Uerzlikon

What a fantastic house

This one is particularly cute because of the tiny half-timbered house next to the flag-pole!

At this time of year, the new leaves on the willow trees add a special green to the countryside. And it's so nice to see the cows out in the pastures again. 

Soon all of these trees will be blossoming as well. And far to the south we get a glimpse of the peaks in the Schwyzer Alps south of Lake Zug. 

At this point we have reached the Canton border. I am standing in Canton Zug, and Urs is still in Canton Zurich, taking a photo of me. 

Originally we were going to walk all the way to the Baar train station, at least 20 minutes more than the bus stop at Blickensdorf, where we then ultimately ended the hike (90 minutes instead of two hours) because there was a bus just arriving there. 

A view over the city of Baar as we descend to the bus stop in Blickensdorf

Such pretty blossoms!

And now the tulips are starting to show their colours!

This is what our walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps (blue trail). We had done several other walks in this region close to our home, but other than a short piece near Kappel am Albis, it was a path we had not yet walked before.