From Oberrüti in the Freiamt Region to Inwil, with views of Mount Pilatus

Sunday December 24, 2023 -- The morning started with blue skies locally so we decided at very short notice to do a walk nearby, only 30 minutes by bus and train to where we wanted to start the hike.

We walked from the village of Oberrüti in the region of Canton Aargau called the Freiamt, to the town of Inwil, which is actually in Canton Luzern. At first we had some nice views of Mount Pilatus and the Central Alps with lovely blue skies as a backdrop, but about half-way through our approximately 10-km walk, the skies became overcast. Still, it was not a boring walk, through farms and along forest trails, and most interesting once again was crossing Canton borders a couple of times.

As a side note, back in April of 2020 we started one of our 10+ kilometer hikes in the town of Inwil where we ended this time, and at that time we took the opportunity to visit the town church before starting on the hike. This time we ended at the church, but didn't have time to pop into it again. The photos from the April 2020 hike are HERE.  At that time we also passed through the town of Waldibrücke, which is where we caught the train this time. 

Heading past Lake Zug on our way to Rotkreuz at 10 a.m. (a 30-minute trip to the start of our hike), we get a really nice view of the Bernese Alps, looking really close again this morning. 

From Rotkreuz we crossed the Reuss River from Canton Zug into Canton Aargau. From the train station in Oberrüti, we first had to walk for 15 minutes into the town, as the buses don't run there on weekends. 

Part of our hike was on a themed trail called the "Freiämterweg", and from here, the shortest route to Inwil is 2 hours 10 minutes. So altogether, this would amount to a 2½-hour walk.  

Passing the church in Oberrüti, which we also did not visit this time. We did start another hike here, also in April of 2020, and visited the church at that time. Those photos are HERE. 

Starting at about 10:30 at the Oberrüti train station, we walked for 2½ hours to Inwil. We did have nice weather for most of the way.  (Note, the Reuss River to the east of Oberrüti is the canton border between Zug on the East, and Aargau. About half-way along our hike, we crossed the border into Canton Luzern. Inwil is in Canton Luzern)

Starting off on our hike southwards from Oberrüti, we still have some very nice views this morning. Straight ahead is Mount Rigi. On the left of Mount Rigi are the Uri Alps. 

Looking eastward toward Cham and Zug (and Mount Zug). It's neat to see the sheep still in the green pastures. Look, there is a tiny newborn in the middle of the pasture! Also, we are being watched....

A tiny sheep in the middle of the pasture.

Entering the first short stretch of forest (about half of the walk was through forested section)

There were a few carved tree trunks to admire in this section of forest, including this Christmas display (on the right is a small Nativity scene). 

This was a funny sight: A toy tractor in front of a house, but not just a tractor, but also the attachment for distribution of liquid manure!

On our approach to a small hamlet called Sulzberg which lies right on the Canton border between Aargau and Luzern. 

And here I am standing exactly on the Canton border. Now we have a full view of the Central Alps to the south. 

Walking through the hamlet of Sulzberg, along the Canton border.

We stopped here for a short break. This was a real actual well with water in it!

Summit of Mount Pilatus peeking out above the rise. 

Slightly northwest we spied a farm (from our map we determined it was called Desoleh) with a cute little structure called a Spycher that intrigued us. 

A closer look shows the little Spycher has been converted into a bee-house. 

The next farm we came to at shortly after noon was called Sürpfen. To the north, the sky is already overcast. 

A neat old barn structure in Sürpfen

To the south we can still get some very nice looks at Mount Pilatus and the Uri Alps with a blue-sky background!

The next farm along the way is called Rütihof. We think there might be a horse ranch here, as a couple of horses being exercised had passed us along this road. Those buildings look new and modern, and it can't have been cheap to build a wall around that property!

The rusty silos from the farm on the far side of this walled property make an odd contrast! 

A red kite up in the tree.

The final 2½ kilometers before reaching the bus stop at Inwil were through the forest along an interesting variety of trails. So not boring, even though no more view. (By the time we were out of the forest, the sky had darkened in the south as well.) 

Admiring the exposed roots of some VERY large trees along the trail. 

We got to inwil at 1 p.m., from where we took a bus to a nearby train station called Waldibrücke, and headed home from there via Luzern. We didn't stop in the church here, as we'd been in this town once before where we started on an 11-km walk in April 2020 (Right at the start of COVID, when they encouraged us to get out for exercise but not travel far from home. Those photos are HERE)

I kind of liked these "imitation" reindeer!

Connecting our walking trail between Oberrüti and Inwil, not very far from home! Canton borders are rather close here: Besides starting our travel in Canton Zug, the hike in Canton Aargau and finishing in Canton Luzern, not far to the south is the border with Canton Schwyz as well. 

Heading by bus from Inwil to Waldibrücke train station (a 6-minute ride), we see that inside of 30 minutes, the skies to the south have turned very dark. 

Waiting at the Waldibrücke train station, we still can clearly see the Alps from the Engelberg Valley to the south, even though the sky is now quite overcast. The mountain on the right is Mount Titlis

A zoomed view of the famous Mount Titlis and its tower, a favourite destination for Asian tourists (I have never been up there...)

End of our ca. 3-hour excursion on the 13:13 train to Luzern. In all, it was a 1¼-hour trip home by public transport. 

Passing our own Lake Zug on the way home (Mount Rigi in the back), the entire farmland between lakeshore and railway line is flooded from all the recent rain. 

Flooding of Lake Zug (shoreline is the strip of reeds in the center). 

A Walk through the Countryside near the City of Luzern

Wednesday April 15th, 2020 -- For our Wednesday outing we went slightly further afield, although still only about 20 km from home. We decided to start in Inwil near Rotkreuz (Canton Luzern) and walk along a variety of streams and rivers (Waldibach, Rotbach) to a town called Rothenburg, basically a stroll through the countryside parallel to the Reuss River, but not along it, as we have done so often recently. This time the air was clearer than recently and although we were viewing the horizon from a low altitude, we still had a very nice backdrop of mountains, mainly of course the nearby Mounts Pilatus and Rigi, as well as the Central Alps with the distinctive peak of Mount Titlis near Engelberg.

The walk started, of course, with a look inside the church at Inwil, and ended with NOT a look at the church in Rothenburg, as that one appeared too modern for my taste. In all it was actually a simple, pleasant ca. 12-km walk with a variety of trails (paved roads, forest trail, narrow trails along the creeks) and lots of other things to see besides the mountains, namely freshly-ploughed fields, blossoming fruit trees, large farms, marshes, horses, wooden covered bridges,... and best of all the weather was perfect for this walk, mild but not hot. This kind of walk would have been uncomfortable in the heat of the summer. 

Oh, and an added plus: The walk we did took us right past the Emmen military airfield (home of the Patrouille Suisse military jets) which can get quite noisy under normal circumstances, but we had the luck that at this current time not a lot of flying is going on, so other than some of the car noise from the freeway, it was a rather peaceful afternoon!

As has become tradition, most of our hikes start with a quick look at the local parish church. Although there was a church here in Inwil (documented) in the mid 13th Century, this building was built in 1777.

Lovely bright inside with a very attractive organ (parish church in Inwil, Luzern)

From Inwil we headed in the direction of the Reuss River, but then walked West along the Rotbach River, then left it to follow the Waldibach Stream, and later joined the Rotbach River again for a pleasant final 2½ kilometers in the Rotbach Gorge before reaching the train station in Rothenburg

In the 13th Century there was a fortress here. Usually they are found on higher elevations, but this area near the Reuss River offered a good observation point for traffic through the Seetal Valley

This is the Rotbach River, parts of which we are following toward the town of Rothenburg. To the right is the location of the old fortress and the former town of  Alt Eschenbach.

We were very happy with the clear view we had of Mount Pilatus to the South, and the Central Alps

Small marsh area next to the Rotbach River

There is a blue heron in the meadow

A small section through a forest along the Waldibach Stream

More nice views of the Central Alps to the South, including the recognizable peak Mount Titlis, where there is usually year-round skiing (the white slope on the right)

The road, though asphalt, had little traffic and was quite enjoyable to walk

Large farm areas, and below is the Seetal train emerging from the tunnel

We are still able to enjoy the blossoming fruit trees. This stage of spring usually passes by too quickly

Fruit trees blossoming, Mount Pilatus in the background

Entering the gorge through which flows the Rotbach River

Final 2½ kilometers along the Rotbach River through the cool forest  

Just before heading to the train station in Rothenburg, we discovered there was a wooden bridge over the Rotbach River, so we had a quick look. We decided not to check out the church above on the hill, as it looks too modern

Walking back across the bridge to head to the train station. This particular bridge was built in 1715.

12-km walk along the Rotbach River near the city of Luzern