Short Walk above Lake Zurich from Hütten to Richterswil

Saturday July 6, 2024 -- This was a tough one to plan, as only the morning till noon promised nice weather, so did we want to travel far for a three-hour hike and then be caught in the rain? We knew we'd be safe if we stayed around Lake Zurich, which we can reach in about an hour, so we settled for a short two-hour walk from the farmlands on the southwest side of the lake ending at Richterswil on the lake. (We started early at 8:30 a.m, and were already on our way home by 11:15).

In retrospect, we could have done a lovely 3-hour hike in the hills between Lake Sihlsee and Lake Wägitalersee just slightly to the south of where we were, as the skies remained blue there till at least 1 p.m. We had started early and could have finished that hike in time. In the end, this was simply a very easy morning walk for us, not far from home. We started near a lake called Hüttensee surrounded by lovely marshlands, walked through the industry of Samstagern and down to a reservoir lake, and from there into a lovely ravine which we followed for 20 minutes. That ravine was pleasant, as it was really a hot morning. On the short walk through Richterswil to the train station we saw some quaint houses, but didn't really feel like going up to see the town church for a change... 

The trip starts with a bus ride from Wädenswil on Lake Zurich up into the hillside on the west side of the lake. 

To the south we can see the Glärnish mountains. This is where we could have done a nice 3-hour hike in the mountains, and it wouldn't have been much further to travel to. 

Heading down from the main road toward the lake called Hüttnersee

This was a very short walk for us, just under 8 kilometers, starting in the village of Hütten and walking down to Lake Zurich, where we caught the train back home (it is just an hour's trip). 

Heading down from the main road toward the lake called Hüttnersee

A lovely house on the way to the marshlands

Enjoying the marshlands near Lake Hüttnersee

When we see these beautiful snails crosing the road, we help them along by putting them in the grass on the side they are headed to!

A look back up to the village of Hütten. 

At this house the owners had set up what they call a "Besenbeiz", which is just a place where you can sit and enjoy some refreshments and light homemade snacks in their garden.

At the far end of the lake was a spot where people could go swimming. 

Right next to the warehouses and factories in Samstagern are pastures with cows!

We sat on a bench under a very large walnut tree and enjoyed a coffee break and the view of Lake Zurich to the south. 

Our trail passes under the railway line. 

We came to a little reservoir lake called Sternenweiher. 

A walk around the little lake. This is like Urs making a large detour around the cows which we usually run into on our trails!

A look at the dam side of the lake, which we crossed before entering the ravine. 

Crossing the dam at the Sternenweiher lake. 

The ravine we walked through was called the Mülitobel. 

Walking through the forest in the Mülitobel Ravine. 

Walking through the forest in the Mülitobel Ravine. 

Walking through the forest in the Mülitobel Ravine. On a hot day it is nice to walk along a stream or river!

We always enjoy the bridges. 

Pretty waterfalls

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The sound of water is always lovely!

Walking through Richterswil toward the train station. 

This house was built in 1746-1749 by a citizen of the village who was a vintner and butcher. There were four apartments in the house. Over the years, the family had various businesses in this house, from textiles to hat making to a bakery. 

Quaint shops

That's an interesting building..

A look up at the main church (there are three) as the train leaves the station. It was too hot and we weren't in the mood to walk up there to have a look at it. 

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps

Short Section of the Lake Zurich Round-Trail from Schindellegi to Richterswil

(This post published on November 21, 2024, almost exactly two years later! Looks like I simply missed this one... As it is so much later, I don't recall all details, other than it was a nice day and Urs had to work, but I still wanted to walk, so I traveled to the Lake Zurich region to do a short hike above the lake).

Wednesday November 23, 2022 -- Urs had to work this Wednesday (he had Thursday off instead), but seeing as the weather was nice and mild with no snow yet, I decided short notice to do a little walk near Lake Zurich, expecting to have some nice mountain views as the air was clear.

I started in Schindellegi on the railway line from Lake Zurich to Biberbrugg (and Einsiedeln) and walked a 90-minute (5½-kilometer) stretch downhill to Richterswil on Lake Zürich along a themed trail called the "Zürichsee Rundweg" (i.e. "Trail around Lake Zurich"). It was an easy and pleasant walk through residential areas and some farmland in between, with some clear views of the snow-covered peaks of the Glarus region and most wonderfully, of the Alpstein Massif and Mt.Säntis far to the East. This is so close to home and takes only one hour for the trip each way. 

Having left home at about 11:40, this is a view heading up the mountain by train from Wädenswil (on Lake Zurich) at about 12:30

This is a view of the Glärnisch mountains in Canton Glarus to the south, as the train heads up to the starting point of my hike at Schindellegi. I was hoping to have a view like this all along the hike, but only saw these mountains again about half-way down. 

I started in Schindellegi at 12:45 and got to the train station in Richterswil at about 2 p.m. (It took me less than the 90 minutes to walk the 5-kilometer trail).  

15 minutes from the train station in Schindeleggi, you come to a little community called Aesch. From here it is just over an hour to my goal in Richterswil. I am walking along the themed trail no.84: "Zürichsee Rundweg". 

From here near the start of my hike, I get a close-up view all the way to Mount Säntis and the Alpstein Massif. This is so beautiful!

Always a look down at Lake Zurich as I continue down the hill. 

Passing through pasture lands as well as residential areas (and beneath the Autobahn). It is so nice that the grass is green all during the winter here! 

A look behind me at Schindellegi, where I started my hike. 

Pleasant paths to walk on the way down to the lake. 

More glimpses of beautiful snow-covered Säntis and Alpstein Massif. (According to my map, this could have been a small hamlet called Altenbach, near the freeway). 

More nice paths and still some lovely fall colours as I cross a small side section of the Mühlibachtobel in Wollerau. 

Some lovely houses on the outskirts of Richterswil, before I make my way through a long residential section before getting to the train station at the lake. 

This is the community hall in Richterswil, near the lake. 

I arrived shortly after 2 p.m. at the Richterswil train station on the lakefront at Lake Zurich, and had about 10 extra minutes to enjoy this view before the 14:18 train home. 

And this view from the lakeshore in Richterswil is to the St.Gallen Alps (Mt.Speer) to the south.

What my hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps, from Schindellegi to Richterswil. All the other lines are trails we have hiked in the region between Zug and Lake Zurich. 

As the train heads north along Lake Zurich, a final look at Mt. Säntis

And this view of the Glarus and St.Gallen Alps, from the train between Thalwil and Zug, is always a favourite view.