Waldnacht Valley and a ride on the Zieriberg Cargo Cable-Car

Wednesday August 26, 2026 -- In Canton Uri (as well as Nidwalden/Obwalden) are dozens of small cable cars which are privately owned by mountain farmers or farmers' co-ops, which the farmers need to transfer cargo, animals, or even their children up and down steep mountainsides to their mountain farms. Many of these cable-cars are offered to the public as well, after undergoing rigorous controls and getting permits to do so. 

We have a goal to have tried out every one of these (public) cable cars at least once, and one of the few remaining cable-cars which we had not yet tried is near the town of Erstfeld in the Reuss Valley, not far for us to travel. It is called the Ripshusen-Zieriberg cable-car, one of those open cargo cars which can transport only three people at a time. But to make it worth our while, we plotted out a three-hour hike which we ended by riding this cable-car down to the valley bottom at the end of the hike.

Starting with another small cable-car from Attinghausen to the mountain hamlet called Brüsti (which is along the popular Swiss Via Alpina Trail and saves hikers a 3-hour uphill slog of 1000 meters elevation gain if they prefer to use the cable-car), we did a loop hike first into the Gross Valley, where we had not yet walked even though we have been up here several times already. From there into the Waldnacht Valley and across a stunning ravine, we made our way down to the cable-car at Zieriberg.... and after realizing we had gotten wrong information and should have called the night before, we almost didn't even get to ride it, and would have had to walk another hour and 450 meters to the valley bottom, which would have been a great disappointment. Fortunately we found the farmer by knocking at the doors, and she was so lovely to operate the cable-car for us, and got a very large tip for that!

PART I: 1000 meters uphill from Attinghausen to Brüsti via two Small Cable-Cars

The excursion starts in Attinghausen at the valley bottom at 9:30 a.m. near where the Reuss River enters Lake Uri. Two separate small cable cables give access to a mountain hamlet called Brüsti and the nearby Waldnacht Valley, 1000 meters above the valley. This first cable-car travels only a short distance, and carries only four people at a time. (It takes us just over an hour to get here). 

As the first little cable car heads up the hill, we look north to the south end of Lake Uri. 

We are now waiting at the top of the first cable-car line... The second cable-car can transport 8 people, and as there were exactly 8 of us who had taken the bus from Altdorf, the other four had to wait for the second run of the smaller cable car, and we, the first four, now have to wait for them to get up here. 

There is a parking lot here between the two cable cars, and on weekends this is very busy. We once had to wait quite a while for the second cable car when coming up from below, as the people who came by car were already in line for the second section. This is a nice view down to the city of Altdorf at the entrance of the Schächen Valley. 

Here comes our cable-car for the second section to the top! The popular Via Alpina Hiking Trail ascends from here and continues on over the Surenen Pass to Engelberg, and if hikers want to save a three-hour uphill climb here, they can use this cable-car to get closer to the pass!

I always try to get a photo of myself with the cable cars, in the hope of one day creating a collage of all the cable-cars we have ridden on! It was here at the mid-station that we had to pay for our tickets. This cable-car can carry eight people. 

The other four people joined us and we started on the second section of the trip. At about the half-way point, the other car passes us! At the top, you can see the restaurant. 

It takes about 10 minutes to reach the top, and this is the fantastic view from the top station of the Attinghausen-Brüsti Cable Car. On the left is the town of Flüelen at the south end of Lake Uri, below is Attinghausen on this side of the Reuss River, and Altdorf and Schattdorf on the other side. Heading eastward is our favourite valley: Schächental.

Close-up view of the south end of Lake Uri (which is the southern arm of Lake Lucerne). 

Up here in Brüsti is another such cargo cable car, which we had hoped to ride down into the Waldnacht Valley, which is where we are ultimately headed. But we phoned ahead and found out that they are no longer licensed to transport the public, only the owners and their cargo. Which is too bad, because we have been here on three previous occasions where we might have been able to ride it, adding it to our list of cable-cars we have been on. 

Our ultimate goal is the Waldnacht Valley and then further down the mountain to the Zieriberg-Ripshusen cable-car, which we could have accessed directly from here in 90 minutes. But this was too short a hike for us, so we chose an additional one-hour loop via the Rämseli and Chäserli Alps to the north, where we had not walked before. We have done three other hikes from here, including over the Surenen Pass in August 2017.  According to the way-marker, the cable-car at Fürenalp, where we had hiked just three days earlier (photos HERE), would be a 5½-hour hike from here.  

PART II: One-hour Detour over Upper Alpine Pastures to return to the Via Alpina Trail. 

The popular Via Alpina Trail through Switzerland (National Trail no.1) passes through here (you can save a three-hour climb if you use the cable cars) and continues mostly along a ridge to the Surenen Pass, and then down to Engelberg, where were were just a week earlier. To the south is the Waldnacht Valley, where we later descended, and to the north are more alpine meadows in the Gross Valley, which we walked first for an hour to get back to the ridge. 

Starting at 10 a.m., we headed up the hill a bit, with a view down to the cable-car station and the restaurant at Brüsti, as we head north instead of West along the crest. Also down below is the Bockitobel (ravine) where we are ultimately headed, and very far below is the Reuss Valley, in the direction of the Gotthard Alps. 

A great look-out spot to stop for a first break and to change into shorts! From here you get the best view into the Schächen Valley to the east, our favourite Valley. 

From the look-out point, another view down below us to the Reuss River and the entrance to the Schächen Valley. (Altdorf on the left, Schattdorf on the right). 

Now we head away from the Reuss Valley, westward below the Chräienhöreli crest. We are walking via the alpine meadows straight ahead, with a view to the upper plateau just below peaks which are called (I believe) Brunnistock and Gitschehöreli. 

A close-up view of the peaks to the west, and the hillside we ultimately hiked on, passing below the small building in the center, and heading up to the crest on the left. Directly in the center on the upper plateau is a farm called Alp Grat, where we overnighted on the August 2017 hike over the Surenen Pass, and also passed by twice more on our way into a side valley to the north called Gitschital. (Some photos HERE). 

Down below is the Rämseli Farm, which they have advertised with different-coloured roof tiles!

This path is part of a lovely loop trail from Brüsti via Chäserli where we are headed now. From here you can also walk all the way back down to Attinghausen, about two hours.  

Some lovely upper meadows. There were several cows grazing up here as well. Our trail took us right to that farm house. 

This farm is called Hinter Chulm. 

These chickens came racing out to greet us!

Now we start on the only uphill section on our hike! It was only another 175 meters ascent back to the ridge. We were also lucky that there was a cool breeze blowing, because till now, this part of the hike was a bit warm!

View behind us over the lovely alpine meadows which we just crossed. This upper alp is called Grosstal. 

After a steep section we came face-to-face with these girls relaxing on the mountainside!

Uphill section is finished!

By 11 a.m. we were back on the crest, after exactly an hour's walk. What a pleasant surprise to run into these girls on the Via Alpina Trail!

Standing on the Via Alpina Trail, with a view of Alp Grat Farm where we spent the night in August 2017 on our way to the Surenen Pass. 

Close-up view of Alp Grat below the Gitschenhöreli Peak. 

Everybody gathered on the Via Alpina Trail!

A final look down into the Grosstal and the alpine meadows where we just hiked up from, and into the lovely Schächen Valley, before we head down from the crest to the south into the Waldnacht Valley. 

A look into the back of the Waldnacht Valley as we head down along the lovely trail. 

The trail went lightly downhill for a long stretch toward the back of the valley. It was a small footpath with nice variety. 

At 11:50 we found a single shady spot for our picnic lunch! From here we headed away from the back of the valley, continuing lightly downhill toward valley bottom. 

Just above us the cows were grazing and we had our lunch to the sound of the cowbells. The peak on the very left is called Blackenstock, a peak which dominated our hike toward the back of the Surenen (Engelberg) valley (on the other side of the Surenen Pass) just a week earlier (photos HERE). 

Now the trail heads out of the valley, but we are still high up above the valley bottom! The Waldnacht Valley is the largest privately-owned alpine valley in Canton Uri with over 100 head of cattle that spend the summer up here. 

Silver thistles indicate that autumn is coming!

The mountains on the south side of the Waldnacht Valley rise over 1000 meters almost vertically from the valley bottom!

It was such a nice hike in this valley, with a cool breeze so it was never too hot. It was a good time to do this hike now, as soon, with the sun getting lower in the sky, the valley will be in shadow of those steep mountains to the south. 

Now we get a look at the reservoir lake at the front end of the Waldnacht Valley. Our trail meets up with west end of the lake at the road below. 

Up ahead we can see where we are going to descend past the ravine and down toward the small cable-car station. 

Now we've made it down to the road. The Waldnacht Valley is the largest privately-owned alpine meadows in Canton Uri. Along this road you can walk right to the back of the valley and continue on over the Surenen Pass. 

The reservoir lake has the most beautiful turquoise colour. 

VIDEO:

Walking along the reservoir lake in the Waldnacht Valley,

to the sound of cowbells.... 

and a view up toward the Surenen Pass

Some of the cows were struggling to walk along the bank, and we thought they might have gotten out of the fenced area where the other cows are walking!

According to the way-markers, we still have an hour an 10 minutes to get to the Zieriberg Farm from here! (It's now 12:40, and we did make it there by 14:05)

Had we started down into this valley directly from the Brüsti cable-car, we would have passed by the little chapel here. You can also just make out the bottom shed of the little cable-car which we had seen further up, and which we may no longer ride! The farm here is called "Waldnachter Berge". 

A look across the reservoir lake to the back of the Waldnacht Valley. 

PART III: Descent via the  Bockitobel Ravine to the Zieriberg Cable Car

On this second leg of the hike, we descend from the Waldnacht Valley into the Bockitobel and then to the farm at Zieriberg, where there is another small cable-car which we can ride to the bottom of the Reuss Valley, about an hour to walk and a descent of 500 meters. The cable car saves us an additional 450 meters of altitude. Then we still had to walk 20 minutes to the nearest bus stop. 

First views of the Bockitobel as we leave the Waldnacht Valley to head down toward the Reuss Valley. 

On the map it looked like this might be a tricky section, but it was an easy level trail along the upper part of the Bockitobel Ravine. 

Looking down the ravine toward the Reuss Valley, our trail continues through the forest on the right. 

Heading down along the Bockitobel Ravine. 

A long downhill stretch through the forest. It was comfortable and cool. 

And now we can see the valley bottom in the Reuss Valley, with the entrance to the Schächen Valley. 

Just up ahead behind the trees is the Zieriberg Farm where we are planning to ride the small cable-car to the valley bottom. 

Passing a family sawmill, we can see the little cable-car up ahead. Urs had spoken to someone earlier in the week about the Brüsti cable-car, who had mentioned that this particular cable-car can be operated ourselves with coins, but this turned out to be misinformation. We were supposed to call the day before to arrange for a ride!

Contrary to what Urs had been told by someone unrelated to the Zieriberg farm, we were not able to operate the cable-car ourselves. Urs went to knock on the doors of the nearby houses, and lucky for us the owner of the cable-car was home, and came down to operate the cable-car, even though she had troubles walking. It would only have cost 6 Fr. per person for the ride, but we gave her a good tip!

On the ride down, we get a great view toward the town of Erstfeld and even to where we are walking afterwards to the bus stop near the REGA helicopter site. We also pass over another farm called Hüseriberg.  

To the north we can see down to the Reuss River below and over other mountain farms. If we had had to walk down, it would have been another 450 meters descent, and a full additional hour of walking to the Erstfeld train station. (In the other direction). What we see here is, once again, the entrance to the Schächen Valley. 

These cable-cars receive regular inspections and certifications for transporting persons as well as cargo. This one is certified for a maximum of 3 people or 250 kg of material. For us it saves us an hour of extra walking down to the level of the river!

A final look back at the smaller cable-car "shed" in Ripshausen as we start on our way to the nearest bus stop in Erstfeld, which is 20 minutes from here. It is 14:40 and there was a 14:56 bus which we wanted to catch, so we walked quickly!

This is new. Built into the vertical cliff walls here is a former military bunker which has fairly recently (May 2025) been converted into the cheese distribution center for Canton Uri. The facility has room for 13,000 wheels of cheese (of which 9,500 spots are already taken) and robots to take care of the cheese wheels as they are ripening. The facility was officially opened in May of 2026. (See also HERE). 

Crossing the Reuss River with views to the south toward Mt.Bristen. 

Right in the middle of the valley floor is a base for the REGA rescue helicopters. There was one just landing as we walked past to the bus stop (which we reached just a couple of minutes before the bus came).

This is the full map of the "two" hikes we did this day, the first via the farms further north of the Brüsti cable car (Grosstal), then into the Waldnacht Valley and down to the Zieriberg cable-car. A total descent of 900 meters descent. (Had we not been able to use the cable-car, it would have been another 450 meters down to river level). Including the 20-minute walk to the bus stop, this was an 8½-km walk, about 3 hours.  

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps, starting in Brüsti at the top of the Attinghausen cable-car, first walking via Grosstal, then into the Waldnacht Valley and down to Zieriberg. (Followed by a 15-minute walk across the Reuss River to the bus stop). 

All the hikes we have done around the region of the southern end of Lake Uri in the Reuss Valley. (And all the cable-cars we have used to access the higher trails!)

Location of Attinghausen / Surenen Pass / Waldnacht Valley within Switzerland.