The Reuss Delta at the south end of Lake Uri (Urnersee, part of Lake Lucerne)

Thursday November 23, 2023 -- I didn't have a lot of luck with the only two nice days in the north this month: The first nice day was our regular Wednesday hiking day but Urs had to work till noon, so we could only do a short afternoon hike before the sun started setting at 3:30 p.m. (those photos are HERE). And on this Thursday, a glorious day, I had a 3 p.m. appointment, so that didn't leave me much time for a solid outing on my own.

Furthermore, much of our area was covered in fog, but luckily not far south in our favourite hiking area of Canton Uri, around Lake Uri (Urnersee), the weather was perfect. I had an errand to run there anyway, and had a window of just over two hours to do an easy walk (10 km) in the region (Schattdorf to Flüelen via the Reuss Delta). Most of it was along paved roads, and I even passed through the shadow of the western mountains as early as 12:45 p.m.! But the path through the Reuss River Delta, where the river enters Lake Uri from the south, was particularly pretty. 

The best views were from the train ride there and back!

Heading south on the train toward the village of Brunnen, this is a close-up look at the summit of Mount Pilatus far away to the west. 

Always a wonderful view from Flüelen across the lake to the winding road that goes up into the Isenthal Valley, one of our favourite valleys.

Continuing south on the train, we pass the open plain of the Reuss Valley with a view of Mount Gitschen. Later, I walked parallel to here along the base of those hills. 

Changing to the bus at Altdorf train station, we pass through the main square of the town of Altdorf, with the well-known Tell Monument and the old 13th-Century tower. 

And a look into the Schächental (Schächen Valley) to the east, another one of our favourite valleys. 

I had to hand in some papers to a business in Schattdorf, so that is where I started my hike at 11:30 a.m. The suggested time for the route I wanted to walk was 2 hrs and 20 minutes from there, and I had to be in the train station in Flüelen for the 13:44 train back home! So just exactly the right amount of time, but I walked quickly, and still made it with a few minutes to spare. 

This is the Reuss River, looking up the Reuss Valley (to the south). The Reuss is Switzerland's fourth longest river. With its source in the Gotthard Massif, it flows into Lake Uri from the south at Flüelen, and flows out again from the lake in Luzern. 

My path is on the west side of the river this time. Across the bridge is the village of Attinghausen. 

Church at Attinghausen, and the funeral chapel next to it. 

Inside the small funeral chapel next to the church. This is usually a building where a deceased person is placed for a final viewing by family members before the burial. 

As I head away from Attinghausen, I look back at the church and school there. 

The view to the North across the rooftops of Attinghausen as I head toward Lake Uri. 

Another view to the East into the Schächen Valley. 

Near another tributary stream, I came across a Biotop, a specially-created habitat converted from a slurry pond (originally created from quarz sandstone mining). The purpose of this biotope is the conservation of the yellow-bellied toad (bombina variegata) 

Crossing the Palanggenbach stream, a tributary to the Reuss River, which originates in the Gitschi Valley (behind those smaller hills). 

In that massif on the East side of the Reuss River is a high plateau (Haldi) which receives a lot of sunshine in winter, when there is fog over the lake. I had considered walking up there, but there was a lot of snow already. (In winter, great for snow-shoeing, but no prepared walking trails). We hiked in this massif in 2020, crossing over from the other side to the Haldi plateau at about the center. (Those photos HERE)

The next community I passed through is Seedorf (translation = "Village on the Lake"), at the foot of Mount Gitschen. The shadow from these western mountains was quickly approaching the community. 

In Seedorf is a Benedictine Monastery with Baroque buildings (erected in ca. 1700 after the original 13th Century buildings were used by monks from the Lazarus Order and then by Benedictine nuns from the mid-16th Century). The buildings are under National Monument Protection. 

The information panel at the monastery gateway informs that the original foundation for this building was laid by monks from the Order of Lazarus in the 13th Century, but the order "died out" in the early 16th Century and the building was empty till 1559, when six nuns from the Claro Monastery in Bellinzona emigrated here and continued with the Benedictine order. They had a tough life until they got permission from the government to build the new buildings in early 1700's. 

It's now 12:30 and I have to be at the train station in Flüelen at 13:44, so that gives me an extra 15 minutes to take a detour through the Delta. 

A look behind me at the Seedorf Monastery buildings

The next place of note is the A-Pro castle in Seedorf. The 1555-built castle is considered one of the prettiest late-gothic moated castles in Switzerland. It features a collection of minerals from the Uri region and a restaurant, open to the public three days a week. (Information about the castle HERE). We've never visited the castle, so here's an idea for another nice winter day, but in the morning before the place is in shadow!

The view south from the A-Pro castle, to the church in Seedorf, all in deep shadow at 12:45 at this time of year!

From Seedorf I cross into the Reuss Delta, where there is still sunshine. The view is up the Reuss Valley to Mount Bristen.

The Reuss Delta, at the south end of Lake Uri, is one of the favourite "local recreation" areas in Switzerland. There are 500 varieties of plants here, and 225 species of European birds which like to spend time here.  

The main trail through the delta area is part of National Hiking Trail no.2: "Trans Swiss Trail" as well as part of the Regional Trail no. 99: "Weg der Schweiz", or Swiss Trail, which passes all around Lake Uri. Up ahead are the mountains called the Rophäien. (About 1/3rd below the crest is a lovely hiking trail called the "Wild Hay Trail" which I have walked twice. (Here in 2019))

A look toward the upper plateau of Haldi, and into the Schächen Valley on the left. 

Because there are so many birds in the marshes here, it's not surprising to find a a "bird-hide" here (for observing the birds without them seeing you!) 

The view from the "Bird-Hide". So beautiful!

What I also didn't know is that there is an observation tower on the lakeshore! Obviously, I had to take the time to go up there to admire the 360-degree views!

From the observation tower, this is the view to the south

And this is the panorama view to the north. We are here at the south end of Lake Uri, which is an arm of Lake Lucerne (or "Vierwaldstättersee"). You can just make out the town of Flüelen at the base of the Rophäien, but it's not as far as this photo makes it look. 

Continuing along, I saw deer grazing in this pasture, but I think they are not from the wild. I think they might be in an enclosure here. 

Heading south along the trail, to where I have to cross the Reuss River again.

Crossing the Reuss River again, from the west side back to the east side. This is looking south again.. 

I found a spot to take a self-timed photo!

The village of Flüelen and the train station aren't too far off now!

In the winter, most of the birds here will be ducks and sea gulls! (Maybe some swans too). 

Another good location for a selfie!

The trail crosses another small canal before the final stretch to the train station.

This is the large boat dock at Flüelen train station, where the large passenger ships which navigate Lake Lucerne (mostly in summer) will dock. I got here at 13:40, four minutes early for the train I had to take, so I could get back for my 3 p.m. appointment in time!

What my 10-km and 2½-hour walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps.  

A look down at the Reuss Delta from the "Wildheuweg" ("Wild Hay Trail) which I walked in June of 2019)

And another view of the delta from the other side of the valley, from when we walked in the Gitschital Valley in October 2021.

One of my favourite views on the train trip back home, near the city of Goldau, a look across Lake Lauerz (Lauerzersee) to the two Mythen mountains, landmark of the town of Schwyz (capital of Canton Schwyz)

Heading north along Lake Zug. Such a rare beautiful day this month. 

Location of the Reuss Delta in Switzerland. This is very close to where we live, and we can easily and quickly get here. 

From Brüsti to Gitschenberg via the Gitschital Valley near Lake Uri

Saturday October 2, 2021 -- First hike of October and perhaps the only one for a while? (Massive rains expected again, and snow to low elevations, and cold temperatures...)

We ended up doing a hike we had done once before, but many years ago (August 31, 2016 -- one of my first albums, those photos are HERE). It wasn't our intention to do the same hike, but once we got to the start of our excursion, we could see that the valley we wanted to visit had too much shade.

The start of the hike in Brüsti near Altdorf in the Reuss Valley is accessed by two cable cars which cover an altitude of over 1000 meters. This is the starting point for the 6-hour hike across the Surenen Pass to Engelberg (a hike we've also done, those photos are HERE), a hike into the Gitschital (Gitschi Valley) to the North, and another hike along the mountainside to the South, which we had wanted to do, because it involved riding two more of those farmer's cable cars which we have not yet ridden, and a walk into a remote high valley below the Pass. But once we reached Brüsti we could see that most of the lower valley was in shadow from the steep mountains to the South, so a hike best done earlier in summer. We decided it was time to redo our 2016 Gitschital hike, one that we had enjoyed at the time.

With the exception that we had thick cloud cover and the winds started up by the time we got to the cable car at the end of the hike (any more wind and the owner would not have let us use the cable car!), we had lots of sunshine and enjoyed walking at the base of these Uri mountains as much as we enjoyed it the last time. There were no cows on the alpine pastures this time, but we did see a couple of marmots again, enjoying a final bask in the sun before heading down for their long winter naps. 

To reach the start of our hike we took two cable cars from Attinghausen, which is in the Reuss Valley near Altdorf and across from the Schächental Valley.  

The two cable cars were took: The first little red one holds 6 people, the blue one holds 8. These cable cars take us about 1000m above the valley bottom.. 

On our way up, we saw deer grazing in the pastures. 

Our original plan was to go left to Alp Waldnacht, but we could tell there was a lot of shade further back in the valley, so we decided to redo the hike to Gitschenberg, just over three hours. 

Even though we had a total of almost 600 meters of ascent, the hike was not particularly strenuous. The descent into the Gitschital Valley is steep and in the shade, so wet and slippery, and we had to be careful there. 

It's nice that the cows are still out in some mountain pastures!

This little vacation house is called Sonnenblick, or "View of the sun", which lives up to its name!

Down below is Alp Waldnacht which we had planned to visit, but the rest of the valley (to the right) is very shady, so we decided to stay higher up.

A view down into the Reuss Valley. 

A view up into the Waldnacht Valley. The steep mountains to the South cast a lot of shadow at this time of year, so we will go there sometime in Summer.

Heading up along a section of the Via Alpina Trail (no.1) which passes over the Surenen Pass to Engelberg. 

This interesting passage along a narrow ridge is called Chräienhöreli. Down below in the back is the Waldnacht Valley. Still in shadow. 

Awesome view into the Schächental Valley toward the Klausen Pass (we had considered going there, but were worried there would be too many people going there. There is popular high trail called "Schächentaler Höhenweg" for which the weather today would have been perfect.)

Behind us is the Gitschen Massif and the little farm called Alp Grat where we had a meal last time we did this hike. (The farmers have gone back to valley bottom as of end of September. They are usually up here from June/July to September)

Here is the saddle where we cross into the Gitschital Valley after passing Alp Grat farm. 

Looking down into the Gitschital Valley. Behind that is Lake Uri, an arm of Lake Lucerne. 

Zoomed look at Alp Gitschenberg, where we will take the other cable car down. 

Panorama view of the Gitschital Valley. The descent into the valley is also on the shady side. We had to go carefully as the trail was slippery in places. 

Descending carefully on the shady side of the Gitschital Valley

Superb view of the (Rophäien) massif above Flüelen (there is a popular trail there called "Wildheuweg", or "Wild Hay Trail" which I walked on my own in 2019, the photos are HERE) and Mt. Fronalpstock behind that.

Above us is the peak called "Gitschenhöreli", approx. 2900m at the summit. Behind it is a glacier and an alpine hut where one can spend the night.

Heading down the Gitschital Valley. Instead of walking all the way out of the valley, we are going through the forested area on the left. 

A look at where we descended from Alp Grat on the other side. 

It was a surprise to catch sight of a couple of marmots. They usually head off to their winter hibernation at the end of September. So this is the last time they will be enjoying the sunshine!

Two cute marmots enjoying the last rays of sunshine before their winter sleep

It is so overwhelming to stand below these massive rock formations. 

A final look back at the Gitschital Valley before we head up the hill through the forest. 

Autumn Saffron (Herbstzeitlosen) remind us that winter is coming... 

No, wait, here is a last look into the Gitschital Valley behind us!

And now we get a stunning clear view into the Schächental Valley, all the way back to the Klausen Pass. The plateau at the front is called Haldi, where we have also been often. The hills on the left are also a favourite. 

Ahead of us is Gitschenberg, the cable car which we are going to ride back down on. 

A close-up look of Gitschenberg, the cable car station, and behind that Lake Uri (Urnersee) and the city of Brunnen at the back. 

Pretending to be enjoying the view.... It now quickly got cold and windy with the start of the Föhn winds.

We discovered that there is only one cable car which runs on these cables, and it was currently down in the valley. So first we had to call Mrs. Arnold to operate the cable car. She has to drive there from her home, and then it took at least 10 minutes for the cable car to arrive!

Lucky we got here first! Five people arrived right after us, and three of them had to wait a full 20 minutes till they could ride down (i.e 4 people per trip), meaning that it was 30 minutes before they got to the bottom!!!

It's a steep 900-meter descent to valley bottom, and the cable car is slow. It's a full 10-minute ride! (At the arrow is the base station of the cable car!)

The ride is slow enough you have lots of time to enjoy the view of Lake Uri and the Reuss Delta at Flüelen. 

A lovely view over Altdorf / Schattdorf / Bürglen... i.e. the Reuss Valley area near Flüelen

Down below is the lower cable car station. (The castle is called Schloss A-Pro)

Castle "Schloss A-Pro" is a restaurant

After 20 minutes, the second cable car finally arrives at the bottom with the three other people who waited with us. Good thing there are not very many people who use this cable car! Mrs. Arnold has to wait there also, until everyone is down!

A final photo with the cable car before we catch the bus back to Altdorf

What our hike looks like on Google Earth Satellite Maps. 

Location of this hike, not far from where we live in Zug

This photo was taken from the other side of the valley, when I walked the "Wildheu"Trail. From here you get a good view right into the Gitschital Valley.