Easy Walk through the Luzern Farmland North of Pilatus

Thursday July 25, 2024 -- The weather continues to be nice but hot, and since we didn't go far the day before for our short walk, I figured I would do another "short" walk on my own. I returned to the north side of Mount Pilatus as this is pretty close to where I live, and would get me back home quickly after my walk, because I was near the city of Luzern with good train connections.

I started in a town called Schwarzenberg (which had been the start and end of several other hikes we had done) and walked eastward for about 8 kilometers. Unfortunately the day was pretty hazy, so I should have had better visibility once I got closer to Lake Lucerne. And furthermore, this would have been a much better walk through the farmland of Canton Lucerne had it not been such a hot day, because much of it was out in the open. The few forested sections were very welcome! Furthermore, to the south I should have been able to see the Pilatus Range, but just like what happened on our hike a few weeks earlier in the Eigenthal Valley nearby (photos HERE), there was a blanket of low clouds blocking the view of the mountain once again! (In fact, I was the only person starting a hike in Schwarzenberg. The bus was full of people continuing on to the Eigenthal Valley, and I can only imagine that they had to hike without sunshine, just as we did at the time!)

As it turns out, I brought another tick home, found it right when it stung me. That's five tick bites this summer so far!

Heading by train to Luzern, you always get this view of Mount Pilatus. At 8:45 a.m. the sky is blue and it's looking like I might have some good view of the mountain's north side during my walk (on the right of this photo). 

On the way from Malters by bus to Schwarzenberg, this is a bus driver's worst nightmare, a group of bikers on narrow winding roads, where the bus can't pass!

I started in Schwarzenberg at 9:45, went to the church for a quick look inside, and then headed eastward in the direction of Luzern. There are many such lovely large farmhouses in this part of Luzern farming country. 

Hahaha, this figure looks familiar! It's Bender from a cartoon called Futurama.

A look back at the village church as I head out from Schwarzenberg. 

Starting at 9:45 in Schwarzenberg, I walked 8.7 km to catch the bus in Obernau, back to Luzern train station (There's a bus every 10 minutes). I was done the hike at 12:50, and back home by 1 p.m.  

A look toward Mt. Pilatus to my right as I  head eastward. The clouds are starting to move in around the summit. 

A look to the northwest to the town of Schachen, where there is a lot of industry. 

I passed several huge trees such as this one. They were maple trees. 

Most of the hike was along such small paths through pastures and forests, so quite nice except for the heat and the hazy view!

During this hot weather, the grass dries quickly, so the farmers were all out cutting and drying the hay (and also using leaf blowers, unfortunately!)

Another lovely farmhouse, except the flower boxes with geraniums are missing!

Lots of clouds now hanging in the valley in front of the Pilatus Massif. That's also a very neat-looking "Spycher", a typical outbuilding of these old farms. 

At this farm called Scharmoos (before I had a bit of an uphill climb to the forest), I noticed this very old chapel and another old outbuilding. But these buildings were on private property and not directly on the path, so I was not able to look inside. 

Heading uphill from the farm called Scharmoos. (This was actually a shortcut. The trail was a wide road in a curve, and I wanted to get to the shade of the forest more quickly). 

Now I'm on a crest trail with a lovely forest path, and welcome shade. In the meantime, the clouds have moved far down into the Eigenthal Valley, so I think there's no sunshine there anymore! And certainly no view of the Pilatus Massif for me. 

I caught sight of the cutest little red squirrel!

A small detour to the summit of a hill called Chruzhubel. This would have been a lovely spot to relax for a while, but it was too hot in the sun. I did sit on one of the benches for a while. (11 a.m.)

View to the Nidwalden Alps and Mt. Bürgenstock

Down there is the bus returning from Eigenthal. 

Taking a snack break on the hill called Chruzhubel. 

First view of Lake Luzern and Mount Rigi. Below is the community of Kriens, a "suburb" of Luzern. 

Another huge maple tree. 

The path continues along the crest of the hill here. It was actually a very nice walk. 

Fields and fields of cut grass drying. The hill ahead is called Sonnenberg, a popular place for the city people to spend a Sunday afternoon (we have been there once before, on another such hot day, those photos are HERE). 

Directly to the south now, and almost hidden in the forest, I spot the "towers" of the Hergiswald church, a lovely building with the most beautiful ceiling made of painted wooden panels, each one with its own story. We had the good fortune to visit it last year, on another short walk on another very hot day, as we walked from Eingenthal to Obernau, where I was headed once again. (Those photos HERE. On that hike we saw much more of Mount Pilatus!)

Last stretch now, heading down to Obernau. 

Crossing the river called Ränggbach. The river is fed by 30 streams from the north flank of Mount Pilatus, and there are apparently 700 of these steps to prevent major flooding when there is a lot of rain. 

The Ränggbach was greatly feared by the locals in Kriens and Luzern in Medieval Times. During thunderstorms, the stream would quickly transform into a murderous river. From 1530 to 1598 the town of Luzern experienced 14 floods. After many more floods, the city hired the renowned Engineer Conrad Escher to find the solution to tame the stream.

What my almost 9-kilometer walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps. This is pretty close to where I live, so I didn't have to travel far. 

We have done many hikes along the north side of Mount Pilatus, and around Lake Lucerne.

Location of Schwarzenberg and Obernau within Switzerland. 

Webcam from the summit of Mt. Pilatus at noon on July 25th! There are those clouds on the north side of Mt. Pilatus, just like the last time we were there. 

Round Tour from Schwarzenberg at the foot of Mount Pilatus near Luzern

Friday June 16, 2023 -- (No hike on Thursday) For the 8th hike in the 12-day period we kept it short and easy and close to home, only 2.5 hours of walking, and 8 kilometers, at the foot of Mount Pilatus near Luzern. We started early again, in case the day should become hot, and it was actually very pleasant to walk, even a bit cool at the start because of the cloud cover.

This region near Luzern to the starting point of our hike in a town called Schwarzenberg, takes only 1 hour and 15 minutes from home with public transport, and so we were back home by 1:30 p.m. in time for an afternoon nap and to enjoy the rest of the afternoon on the balcony.

Highlights of the walk, besides the rolling hills and pasturelands, were the many newborn lambs we encountered in one particular field, some of which must have only been born this night, as they were still trying to get their legs steady. What was also interesting is that on previous occasions we had done hikes both directly to the South and to the North, and I really like to look at our other hikes from the "outside", to see where we had been. 

Another nice day in the Luzern Region as we travel by bus from Malters to Schwarzenberg. 

Loop hike around a couple of small hills near the town of Schwarzenberg, Luzern. We started at 8:45 and got back on the bus at 12:05.

Start of the hike just on the outskirts of Schwarzenberg. The date inscribed just below the roof of the house on the right is 1799

Elderberry is now in full bloom. It smells very nice

To our south is the drawn-out ridge called Mittaggüpfi, this is part of Mount Pilatus, which is more to the left. 

A nice mix of forest sections and pastures. 

They are always so curious!

The trail took us to the top of a hill called Arnehubel. From here we looked down on the town of Schwarzenberg, where we started.

Heading back down the Arnehubel. 

Heading back down the Arnehubel. Later the trail passed by the farm buildings below. 

One of many farms in this region

The trail continues past that farm ahead, and around the next hill. 

There was a bench at the farm, so we sat for a while, and admired the Arnehubel hill which we had walked down from. Look how cleanly it is mowed! Every inch of grass used.  

The tour we were doing is called "Grosse Welt", or "Large World" as opposed to "Kleine Welt" or "Small World". 

Falcons and Swallows

It was interesting to study the landscape to the south of us, as we had once crossed the hilltops straight ahead, coming from further south, walking from there to Schwarzenberg. Those photos are HERE. 

Most often, sheep have twins. These are some of the lambs we saw in a pasture. Those upper left looked fairly newborn, the mother still had the umbilical cord hanging from the back. 

VIDEO:

The lambs are watching us carefully; they've probably not see a lot of humans yet.

As we round some more hills, the view to the west, into a gorge

It was a pleasant morning for this walk, not too hot yet. 

A look behind us to the south, to the trail we walked on the left, and the peak we had crossed in April 2018

Taking an early lunch break. (11:10)

Now we're heading back in the direction of Schwarzenberg

Down below in the valley of the Kleine Emme River is the city of Malters, from where a bus takes you up to this hillside. 

We had seen a deer in the forest just before getting here, but it ran so fast I couldn't photograph it. I was so excited then, to catch sight of this deer here, which didn't run away even though I took several photos. Turns out this is a deer farm, and the deer aren't wild at all. In other words, not so exciting!

Back below the town of Schwarzenberg. We didn't walk back up into the top but rather caught a bus on the road near here. In the background is Mount Pilatus. 

The loop hike we did this day is in blue, and the hike starting in Finsterwald to the south, ending in Schwarzenberg, is the one we did in 2018.