Another Walk in the Entlebuch from Heiligkreuz to Hasle

Thursday July 2, 2026 -- Finally the heat wave broke on Monday and we had rain and thunderstorms (also on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, in some places less, and others with flooding!) and the air got cooler so we could finally cool down our houses and apartments before the next period of heat expected soon...

But Thursday was a lovely day and I did want to take advantage of another excursion, but not too far away. Recently we were in the Entlebuch region west of Luzern, and I noticed many trails we hadn't yet tried, so I headed out that way again. In 90 minutes I was up in a small mountain village called Heiligkreuz (with a pilgrim church) where we'd been twice already, but I headed north this time and descended to Hasle along the Kleine Emme River and the Wolhusen-Bern railway line, with great paths, lots of forest so comfortably cool, views of the lovely rolling hills. I even spotted a wild hare, which doesn't happen often. In the end, it was another almost 10 km, and it was only a bit hot when I reached the train station.

I was the only one in the small bus-van from Schüpfheim train station (about 100 people taking two buses from there to Sörenberg, though!), and the only person out hiking on this trail, which is just the way I like it!

It is at the town of Schüpfheim where you have to transfer to the bus to Heiligkreuz Village (and also to the popular Sörenberg Line). This is a view down onto Schüpfheim (8:30 a.m.) as the small van-bus makes its way up the hill to the east. 

Having left home at 7:20, I was already here at the start of my hike in the hamlet called Heiligkreuz at 8:42. So not even 90 minutes to travel with public transit!

The village takes its name from this pilgrim church called "Heiligkreuz" ("Holy Cross"). We had visited this church before, on our circular hike to Mt.Farnere just above here in October 2023, but I went inside again just the same.

The original church here was built in 1588, but this updated Baroque version is from 1754. The site itself is a popular pilgrim site since 1344. 

Frescoes and wall-paintings on all the walls, as well as a series of paintings depicting the "Stations of the Cross". 

A look toward the organ at the back of the church, i.e near the entrance (on the left). 

There is also a restaurant up here, which, as I learned most recently, gives this site the official designation of "VILLAGE" (A place of worship + a place to gather socially). 

This ended up being an almost 10-km, three-hour hike, but very easy, and very pleasant as I had lots of forest trails and cool breezes. Starting at about 9 a.m. at Heiligkreuz village, I got to the Hasle train station at almost exactly noon. To get here and back home is about 90 minutes each way by public transport.

A look back down at the village of Heiligkreuz as I start on my way up the mountain at 9:05. The air is comfortably cool and even though I walked up along the mountain road, I had enough shade that it was not too strenuous. 

A look back down to Heiligkreuz and the beautiful Entlebuch Region where the Kleine Emme River flows in the valley below. (The Entlebuch is one of Switzerland's UNESCO Heritage Sites). That large building below is a Spa Hotel, so more than just a small village!

After a 25-minute climb, I reached the highest point of my day's hike, a crest from where you can head in two different directions. Twice we have walked south from here, but this time I am headed north to Hasle, about another two hours' of walking from here!

From this crest we have walked south on two other hikes: In October 2023 when we went to the highest summit here past the ski-lift building on the photo, and the next time in August 2024 when we then descended (to the left) just a short distance along the trail here. 

Heading northeastward now mostly through cool forests, I get a glimpse once in a while of the Schafberg "massif", or rather a series of narrow crests called "Flue" to the south.  

I really enjoyed these lovely forest trails

And once-in-a-while I got a glimpse of the lovely Luzern Back-Country landscape to the north. 

I had thought this might be a nice spot in the early morning to catch sight of a deer maybe, but suddenly I spotted this wild hare! This is only the second time in all of our hikes that I had seen a hare. I was able to watch him for a long time from behind the trees, as he wasn't totally sure that I was there. 

These hares have really long ears and legs, and very large eyes! He took off immediately after I emerged from behind the trees. 

Continuing toward the east now. I believe this mountain is the Schimbrig, which we had seen from the north on our recent hike in the region in May. (Photos HERE). 

It's not easy, but I try to find places where I can set up my tripod for a self-timed photo! The view is to the "Flue" crests and Mt.Schafberg to the south. We have never hiked up there. 

Down below I spied a whole heap of bodies seeking shade under a very large tree! It hadn't even started to get warm yet, poor things. 

At the most eastern part of my hike (Schwarzenbergchrüz), I get a view of the western outlier of the Pilatus range. From here my trail heads westward up the hill again. 

A look back at a magnificent linden tree as the trail passes through the Schwarzenbergchrüz farm. They had a little self-serve fridge selling cheese etc, which I might have checked out, but the farmer was standing right near it having a chat with neighbours (maybe?) and I found that awkward.... especially when they can see that you wouldn't buy anything!

More lovely forest trails....

... till I reached a few houses and farm called Vorderschwandi and was greeted by an enthusiastic Bernese Mountain Dog! From there the trail heads down even more into a little gorge aptly named "Löchli" ("Little Hole"). 

Down in the little ravine called "Löchli" was the perfect place for a snack-break at 10:40! There were two little streams here, and it was perfectly lovely, so I rested here for 10 minutes. (I would have stayed longer, but I wanted to catch the noon train in Hasle, and still had over an hour to walk from here!)

Two little bridges over two little streams down here: Schwändibach and Chienisbach. This is all part of the UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch.  

Living dangerously crossing my trail and being pretty well camouflaged! (I have unfortunately stepped on a couple of these beauties). 

10:52, and 55 minutes to go. I want to catch the 12:03 train back to Luzern, because the trains stop only once an hour in Hasle, and I didn't feel like hanging around there for another hour in the heat. 

Thick clouds forming over the Pilatus Range to the east. When it's so hot, there are often thunder storms in the mountains in the afternoon. 

I am now heading down toward a farm called Dürrenegg

In regions where there are cow herds with babies in the pastures, there are often warning signs as the mothers can become dangerous when you get close to their young. What I saw here for the first time is a sign warning that the bull is in the pasture as well!

(I am actually heading the other way, but this is a nice photo of me returning to get my camera after setting it up for a self-timed photo!!)

Well there he is, the bull, and how carefully he is watching me!

What a massive beast, keeping watch over the babies! I am always amazed at how cute the calves are, whether male or female, as well as the cows... but the bulls are massive and ugly!

The dad notices I am no danger, but the babies are still very curious!

A look back at the Dürrenegg farm. 

More nice trails, more beautiful rolling hills. 

I always get a kick out of the meadow cats who think you can't see them. 

As I approach the town of Hasle now (to my left) I can see the town of Entlebuch to the north, where we ended our May 27th hike, having descended into the ravine which separates this hillside from the one to the north. 

A convenient view bench along the paved road above the town of Hasle is a good place to set up my tripod for another self-timed photo! (The train station is further down past the town and I have to walk through it and past the church). 

Town of Hasle in the Entlebuch, near the Kleine Emme River. 

Heading down main street in Hasle, past the Gasthof Engel. On the right is the village church, which I detoured to, but the best part, i.e. chapel with lots of frescoes, was under renovation. 

Too bad that there were renovations going on in the church here. It was a side chapel with what looked like very nice wall frescoes, but as I peeked inside, it was also full of scaffolding. 

A quick look into the town's church as I always do if I can, even if time is running short, and then off for the final stretch to the train station nearer to the river. 

As is most often the case, I just reached the Hasle train station with a few minutes to spare for the 12:03 train. Along this train line, the train stops only once an hour here, and I didn't want to wait around in the heat for another hour. 

Here comes the 12:03 train from the BLS line, heading to Luzern. I was back home by 1:30 p.m., having had the best part of the day for this lovely 3-hour walk!

What my 9-km walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps, starting in Heiligkreuz and ending in Hasle, on the south side of the gorge where the Grosse Entle River flows. Four weeks earlier we took a bus ride up the valley of the Grosse Entle River, and walked down to Entlebuch. 

These are all the hikes we have done so far in the Entlebuch Region near Luzern. 

Location of Hasle etc. within Switzerland. 

Mannenberg Loop Trail in the Emmental

Sunday March 28, 2021 -- Another beautiful day, so this time we traveled to Canton Bern, which is a really, really large Canton and has a large variety of hiking landscapes, not just snowy Alps. 

We again chose a themed trail which we read about on our main hiking map, and this one promised stupendous views. The trail is an 11-km loop trail called the "Mannenberg Rundweg", and even though at first glance the hill seemed so small we could hardly imagine any view at all, we were wonderfully surprised at the magnificence of the entire Bernese Alpine range from East to West with all the famous peaks, including Mt. Finsteraarhorn which is the highest peak in the Bernese Alps, and my favourite: Mt. Schrekhorn. The air was just slightly hazy, but we really had a tremendous view.

Besides the view, the round tour provided a lot of variety of forest trails, meandering through farming hamlets with the typical Bernese houses, and a final long (and always monotonous) return walk along the Emme River back to the train station in Hasle. (It's this river that gives its name to the Emmental region of Canton Bern). We could have gone the other way, to a nearer train station in Oberburg, but as we arrived in Hasle earlier in the day to start the hike, we happened upon an information placard which informed us that the allegedly LARGEST wooden covered arch bridge in Europe was to be admired 800m downstream from its original location at the new concrete structure that crossed the river from Hasle to Rüegsau. (The original wooden bridge was not able to deal with the increase in traffic, so they dismantled it and re-erected it 800m downstream!). So we really wanted to see this bridge on the return trip!

See, the description promises stupendous views!

Although I often wonder why we need to travel away from Zug for the stupendous views, as this is what we see from our lake access near where we live! (In the center are the same Bernese Alps we went to see!)

It took us 2 hours 20 minutes to the train station in Hasle by Burgdorf. We're heading up the hill to Rachisberg, where the trail loops back down through the farms.

The first view of the Bernese mountains on our way up the hill. Slightly hazy, but still a good view. On the right is Mount Finsteraarhorn, the tallest of the Bernese Alps.

First of many beautiful Emmental farmhouses

And another house with a fantastic roof, a little different than most of the ones we saw otherwise

Here is the spot we picked for our picnic lunch, with this view from far East to far West

The Emmental landscape and the Bernese Alsps

A close-up of my favourite peaks: Wetterhorn, Schrekhorn, Finsteraarhorn

This is Rachisberg farm, where our loop now takes us away from the view of the Alps

Heading along the edge of the forest

One last look south before heading down through the forest to the farms

A few of the animals we saw along the way. Turns out the sheep is a rare and endangered breed from Wales (UK) called the "Balwen Welsh Mountain Sheep". The goat is a rare and protected Swiss Breed called the "Capra Grigia" originating from the Ticino and Canton Grisons. And the cow, well it's just cute!

Another fantastic farmhouse. They all have a small balcony tucked under the overhang, which, among other things, was used to hang up clothes to dry. But any upper rooms would have gotten very little light.

A display of cow bells!

Always lots of buzzards

A particularly old farmhouse totally made of wood

A look back at the several clusters of houses we walked through, admiring the typical Emmental structures

Rounding the corner before our descent to the Emme River, another view of the famous Bernese Alps, including the Eiger North Wall. The mountains are clearer in the later afternoon light.

Mount Schrekhorn

Looking down at Hasle

Spring flowers

Heading down to the Emme River. The town in back is called Oberburg

The final three (boring) kilometers were along the Emme River. Lots of pretty flowers like these on the forest floor

Finally, the first glimpse of the wooden bow bridge. At 68.7 m, this is thought to be the largest wooden bow bridge in Europe. In the center it is 7 m above the river.

Crossing the wooden bridge (which also accepts vehicle traffic) to see if we can get a better view from the other side. In 1955 it was completely dismantled and moved here from its original location 800m upstream. 

 A view of the bridge from the other side of the river

And here we are back at the train station. The bridge behind Urs is where the wooden bridge used to be. The wooden bridge was dismantled in 1955 and rebuild 800m further downstream.

Location of the Mannenberg Loop. Not too far for us to travel. The Bernese Alps that we saw where in the area South of Interlaken.