Easy Walk near the Albis Range, from Lake Türlersee to Affoltern am Albis

Saturday May 15, 2021 -- The weather forecast for the weekend was for more sad weather, so we weren't planning any outings at all.... until Saturday morning actually surprised us with very local blue skies. So we made a quick decision to take a one-hour trip by train/bus to Lake Türlersee in Canton Zurich, just north of where we live, and do an easy little walk from there along the Jonen stream, which is a small river that has its source near the Albis Mountain Range (actually, just below Hausen am Albis) and runs for several kilometers to join the Reuss River at the town of the same name. We got back on the train at Affoltern a.Albis.

We often enjoy these simple forays into the Zug or Zurich farmlands. There are always some great pastoral landscapes to admire, streams to follow, cows to greet, and if we are lucky, some nice places where we can see the Alpine Foothills, i.e. the local mountains we know so well: Mt. Zug, Mt. Rigi, Mt. Pilatus and so on. 

The sky did then cloud over, but we were lucky that there was no rain until we got back home! Although this is not the first time that we walked along the Jonen River, and THAT time we actually did walk in the rain!  (Those photos can be viewed HERE)

Just a photo of the houses near the bus stop at Lake Türlersee. This is a typical construction for this region.

Our chosen trail took us around the South end of Lake Türlersee (we've walked the entire perimeter on a different occasion)

Fishing on Lake Türlersee

Before heading South away from the lake a look back toward the Albis Mountains (the Albis Pass is straight ahead to the North, from there you can get to Lake Zurich).

We were surprised to see a couple of hardy folks swimming in the lake! The water can't be too cold...

Soon is the season for lots and lots of Narcissi. They are blooming late this year. 

We were surprised to find this spot with a great view South to Mt. Rigi and Lake Zug. A bench right here meant a convenient place for us to eat our picnic lunch...

A close-up view of the cute little farm below us (All the farms have names. This one is called Linden). Our trail detoured to the left, then along the tree line below the farm (heading to the houses on the right). At the back is Mt. Pilatus, whose peak is in the clouds today. 

Panorama shot with Urs enjoying the view! We considered ourselves pretty lucky that we could even do this excursion today!

A lot of grass for these dudes to mow!

Walking toward the small village of Herferswil, which we want to look at before heading down to the Jonen River on the right.

There are always pretty and unique buildings to look at.

Always interesting to admire is when a house is owned by two separate parties, one of which has done some restoration, and the other not. 

This is a particularly pretty house

Here is another house where half has been renovated, and the other half is original. The effect is actually quite nice, in my opinion.

Under someone's overhang we noticed these swallows' nests and watched the birds fly in and out for a while. They are quick!

One little swallow just getting ready to leave the nest

Cows are always fun! They always take interest in people walking by.

While we were up on the bench earlier, eating our lunch and enjoying the view, we had seen smoke coming from this direction, quite a bit. We thought someone was burning brush. Turned out to be a chimney fire. Many ambulances and fire engines zoomed past us as we were headed in this direction. 

What is any Swiss landscape without cows in the pastures?

After leaving the village of Herferswil, we walked for the next four kilometers along this small river called the Jonen, which flows into the Reuss River about 10 km to the northeast.

This is an "unofficial" trail on the Swiss Trail Network, but fabulously well-tended and a real pleasure to walk. 

There is still lots of Bear Garlic (I just love how green this makes the forest floor!!) but it is flowering now and will soon retreat into the ground. 

Bridges are always a highlight.

Finally some colour

At this point where the Jonen River reaches the city of Affoltern a.Albis, it has been redirected through a hill with  a funnel on top to divert flood waters. No laughing matter, as in August of 2007, just three months after completion of the flood control reservoir, massive rains caused this little stream to rise 12 meters, and major flooding of the city was avoided. 

Photo taken in the morning of Aug.10th(?), after major rains, showing how high this little stream rose. Flooding of the city of  Affoltern a. Albis was prevented, due to the recently completed flood control reservoir.

Walking from the flood detention reservoir to the train station in Affoltern took 20 minutes, with nothing particularly interesting other than the prison. But in all, even with the bad weather this weekend, we still managed an almost 10-km hike!

Since this area is only about one hour from where we live, we have done a lot of excursions here.

Along the Crest of the Albis Range between Lake Zug and Lake Zurich

(This post published December 9, 2023)

Saturday March 26, 2016 -- What a beautiful day it was for a 10 km Spring hike across the low mountain range just north of where I live, called the Albiskette. The range separates the valley of Lake Zurich from our Lake Zug, and we had some superb 360 degree views from the lookout tower near the Albis Pass, where we started our hike. Along the way we had a peek at a little fortress ruins on one of the peaks of the range. Altogether: Total ascent was 470 meters, and descent was 715 meters, on this 9-kilometer walk. My feet hurt, not being used to a lot of walking yet! 

From the Albis Pass, a look at the north end of Lake Zurich. The city of Zurich is at the very top end (top left)

Our plan is to walk to Sihlbrugg Dorf (Village), just over 2½ hours, via the look-out tower and the Albishorn restaurant. 

An almost 9-km walk along the crest of the Albis Range. We started at the Albis Pass at about 2:30 p.m., ending in Sihlbrugg at about 6:30 p.m.

The Albis look-out tower with superb 360-degree views!

It was a superb day for the views from the look-out tower. This view is to the south to Lake Zug, with Mount Pilatus on the right, and the Central Alps in the middle, plus the Schwyzer Alps on the left. 

And this view is a panorama view on the east side of the Albis range, to Lake Zurich and the Glarus Alps to the south. 

The look-out platform on the Albis tower

As we continued our 9-km walk across the crest of the Albis range, we often got this view to the south, to Lake Zug. 

There used to be a little fortress up here (Schnabelburg), but now there are only a few short walls remaining

This is all that is left of the Schnabelburg fortress. In the late Middle Ages, the old mule trail from Zurich to central Switzerland passed through here. 

This rock is a marker to show that this is the highest elevation spot on the Albis Range! 915 meters above sea level. 

Here we've reached the restaurant at Albishorn. 

At the top of Mount Albishorn

View to the south and east end of Lake Zurich from the Albishorn restaurant. The snow-covered mountains at the back are the Glarner Alps. 

Close-up view of the Glarus Alps from the Albishorn restaurant

At 4:45 p.m. we are at the Albishorn summit. We've been on our hike for over two hours now! We really took our time getting here.... still have 90 minutes to our destination.

The little town of Oberalbis with the Glarus Alps in the background.

Another grandiose view across the city of Zug and Lake Zug, with Mount Rigi on the left, and Mt. Pilatus on the right. 

From here it's all downhill now

A forested section leading to a farm called Schweikhof

This farm is called Schweikhof. It's already 5:50 p.m., and we still have sunshine!

Another 20 minutes to our bus stop in Sihlbrugg Dorf

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. We took almost four hours for the 2½-hour hike.