From the Back of Sihl Valley to Lake Wägitalersee in the Wägital

Saturday May 27, 2023 -- With lots of sunshine in the forecast, we wanted to do a mountain hike, something that hadn't really been possible till now. 

In May of 2020 we did a very satisfactory hike starting at Lake Wägital, a lesser-known lake in Canton Schwyz not far from where we live, hiking up and over into the next valley to another lake called Sihlsee (Those photos are HERE). On that hike we saw a farm on a crest (this one HERE) and figured we'd come back one day and walk past there. Also, the backdrop of the Schwyzer Alps was spectacular. 

And then in May of last year we were in the region again, on another beautiful day with great visibility of the snow-covered peaks and the beautiful lake (those photos are HERE), and since those two trips I have wanted to go again. This day seemed like the perfect day, and we picked a different route, starting past the south end of Lake Sihlsee on the western side, and walking to the Fläschli Pass, and across the crest down to Lake Wägitalersee to the east. 

Perhaps we should have waited another month and not made it a May hike once again. From last year's hike I remembered that the trails were wet and muddy, and this was the case again (it is generally a marshy region). But it would have been OK if we'd only had the sunshine we were promised! For 90 minutes uphill through lovely forests we did have sunshine, but once we got to the pass, the sky was suddenly and quickly overcast, and a cold wind was blowing, and just on this day I had forgotten my jacket. 

At the end of the hike, on our last descent to the lake, is where we finally had the afternoon sunshine. 

From Einsiedeln we take the bus across Lake Sihlsee, which has so much more water now than when we were here in February (those photos HERE)

There are two valleys South of Lake Sihlsee, and this village of Studen is at the junction. Our hike to the Fläschli Pass (off photo on the left) starts just past this village in the Sihl Valley. We were disappointed that the air was so hazy, as we were hoping for clear views again. 

Our first goal is the Fläschli Pass (or Fläschlihöchi). 90 minutes is the general time it takes to walk up the 460 meters (altitude) to the pass. We did it in 1 hr. 45 minutes, with a stop to change into shorts!

Heading east across the pastureland toward the forest for our ascent to the Fläschli Pass

This was a very long hike for us, 4 hours and 20 minutes. We started at the final bus stop into the Sihl Valley at 10:15, and made it to the bus stop at the dam at the north end of Lake Wägital at 15:45. We didn't have any views of the lake until Eggstofel. The crest hike would have been more enjoyable if we had had sunshine there, and less wet trails. 

30 minutes after starting out, and following forestry trails, we reached the narrow forest trail up the mountain. 

The first section up the mountain was on a good forest trail along a kind of ridge. At some points it was quite steep. Looking down in the ravine to the North, we even saw a chamois.

One of just two glimpses we had of the Sihl Valley where we started on our hike (to the left of the village below)

After the first uphill section, we had a 1-km flat section along a forestry road, and there were dozens of these HUGE Roman Snails on the road (I moved a few to the side, but am never sure that's the direction they were planning to go!). Most of these were about 5 cm in diameter!

One kilometer along this road, with dozens of Roman snails on all sides, before the next ascent

A single view to the West past the other valley (called Alptal), and you can just make out the peaks of the Mythen mountains. 

On the second 10-minute ascent to the pass, we were already getting into marshy territory. These wooden walkways were good to walk on

Steps all the way up to the pass

With the sun at this point, it was a pleasant ascent

We got to the pass just after noon, and had our picnic lunch here. We were so hoping for a really clear view of the mountains to the east. But the low clouds over the lake were a real disappointment, and they soon blocked the sunshine. 

From the Fläschli Pass, we still had some uphill climbing to do. A lot of the trail was wet and peaty

It's always a thrill to see the first Gentians of the season

These wooden walkways were welcome in the marshy regions, but many of them were so rotted away that the boards were non-existent

A moment of sunshine

Finally a dry section as we make our way along the crest

Up ahead is the Eggstofel Farm, which had looked so idyllic from the hillside further north, where we had walked in 2020. There was sunshine there, but here we had shade and it was cold!

The popular Chli Aubrig peak on the left is all bathed in sunlight!!!! (That's where there were so many people up there on our 2020 hike). Our trail takes us to the right. 

Finally we have reached the "level" of sunlight, where the clouds were no longer in the way. This is the Eggstofel farm. 

Eggstofel Farm

To the south, the clouds are still low on the peaks. We caught a bus at the dam 20 minutes short of Innerthal, so 1 hr. and 15 minutes from here. 

First glimpse of Lake Wägitalersee as we make our final descent

Like snow in the fields

I looked all over the Internet to find out what breed of goats these are, but could not find any information. Many of them looked pregnant and fairly ready to give birth. 

A bit more of the lake, 

Continuing down a forestry road

Finally we reached lake level. Directly across is the village of Innerthal

Close-up look at Innerthal, where the bus ends its run up the valley from Lake Zurich. 

These goats are easier to identify, they are Boer Goats (Burenziegen) imported from South Africa

Another 20 minutes to go along this road, and across the dam

Water from the mountains enters the lake here

View from the bridge

Crossing the dam, a view to the back of the lake. We descended via that red building on the right

A look down the north side of the dam

Waiting for the bus at the stop near the dam. We got here at 15:45, slightly too early for the bus. We were already home just after 5:30 p.m.!

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. View is to the south. We started near Studen near the back of the Sihl Valley, and walked to the north end of Lake Wägital. 

The various hikes we have now done around Lake Wägitalersee

Location of Einsiedeln, Lake Sihlsee, and Lake Wägitalersee in Switzerland. This is under two hours by public transit for us. (Return was 90 minutes)

Lesser-Known but Fabulous Wägital Valley in the Schwyzer Alps

Wednesday May 11, 2022 -- We try not to make any appointments on Wednesday, which is a day off for both of us, because that is usually the best day for us to go hiking. But I had an important appointment in Zurich at 8 a.m. that day, there was no way around it. As luck would have it, it was one of the best days we have had so far to do some really good hiking! 

On such a day we would normally leave quite early for a 3-hour trip to somewhere, but of course that was out of the question. And yet on this day we managed to find a beautiful location in the Schwyzer Alps, a gorgeous reservoir lake with a fabulous mountain backdrop, and less than 90 minutes to travel from the place of my appointment... which meant we were still able to start on our 4-hour hike by 11 a.m.!!!

The valley (Wägital) is accessed by a narrow road through an equally narrow ravine formed by the Wägitaler Aa River, but then opens up into pretty pasturelands at the village called Vorderthal, which was the goal of our 4-hour hike. Further up the road and past the dam is the jewel of a lake called Wägitalersee, and the tiny community of Innerthal, the start of our hike. 

Most hikers who come up this way (of which there were few this day) cross the dam and the mountain on the West side of the lake, to descend to the Sihlsee lake one valley over (a hike which we have also done, those photos are HERE). This time we ascended on the East side of the lake, a tough 500m ascent in the heat (luckily there was a cool breeze), with the first 2.5-km along a paved road. But the view was worth the effort!

Usually we love ridge hikes, but the ground was so wet and soft and churned up by last year's cows, so that the going was tough. And the final 4.5 kilometers on the descent were also on paved roads, which I normally would find tedious, but these are roads to access mountain farms and therefore there are rarely cars traveling here. It wasn't as bad as expected. The view was good, and the entire air smelled of lovely newly-mown grass, which is always a treat. In all, it was a good choice for this day!

Heading up by bus toward Lake Wägital, a look back to the village of Vorderthal which we just passed. Up on the ridge is where we came down from at the end of our hike. 

Up at lake level is the tiny community of Innerthal, the final bus stop, and where our hike started.

First along the way after a short climb is the village church called St.Katharina. A quick look inside, and a good place to change into shorts before the long uphill hike, as it is already a very warm day!

The first St.Katharina church at this location was a smaller chapel built in approx. 1300. A newer church was dedicated in 1502, but has been renovated since then. Not sure, but this one might be from 1924.

Above the local village church

First stop: A small home shop out of their carport, offering local and homemade goods. We purchased some sheep-sausages. It is always self-serve on the honour system, and you put the cash into the little cash box on top of the fridge.

Starting at Innerthal, we walked the first 2.5 kilometers and 200m ascent on paved roads. Then another 250m uphill to the farm at Schwarzenegg where we had our picnic lunch. Along the crest, the trail was quite muddy. On the descent after the farm at Rötstock, it was over 4 km also on paved road, but quite comfotable to walk. End of the hike was the church at Vorderthal. Total 12+ km and 4 hours of walking time. 

Old farmhouse and still a few blossoming trees!

Everywhere they were doing the first mowing of the pastures, and the air smelled lovely of fresh-mown hay!

A look down at the little community of Innerthal where we started our hike, and the dam in the background. Straight ahead is the mountain called "Gross Aubrig" and the crossing to the left of it into the next valley over: Sihltal. 

Loads of pollen on the water

A short break along the paved road

A last look toward the back of the lake before starting on the steep uphill section through the forest. In the center at the back is the pass called "Schwialp Pass", which we crossed in 2015 from the other side. 

After a long uphill section through the forest, we finally get a view of the stunning crags of the "Bockmattlistock", part of the Schwyzer Alps. 

This looked like a good place to take a self-timed photo. I didn't realize I hadn't set the camera for "3x photos" as I usually do, and I only got this one of me running to the water trough!

With many breaks along the way, we got to the farm at Schwarzenegg by 1 p.m., a wonderful place for our picnic lunch!

Here we are, eating our sandwiches! We had seen this place from further below and were glad that it was free for us for these 10-15 minutes!

Looks like a playpen... it's to keep the cows from destroying the cross and the bench. 

So nice to see the little blue gentians again!

A couple of minutes above our picnic bench, we reach the ridge. We are headed left, but you can also cross a ridge into the next valley to the East from here. (Followed by a very long descent into the Linthal Valley)

What a spectacular backdrop! From here we could see a steep zigzag trail heading up the couloir on the right. We really wanted to go up there, but it only leads to a trickier and more exposed ridge trail, marked in blue for really experienced hikers. 

A panorama view to the East from the ridge.

Heading north now along the ridge. This view is back toward where we came from 

It's always exciting to see the first Gentians! I particulary like these large trumpet-shaped ones. 

Most of the view along the ridge was blocked by trees. Here, before the descent to the farm at Rötstock, was the first view we had to the north, to Lake Zurich. 

Another look back along the ridge before our descent. The signage poles are wrapped with barbed wire to keep the cows from pressing against them!

Meadow flowers

Another view of Lake Zurich at the Rötstock farm. From here it's just over an hour to the end of our hike at Vorderthal, 4.5 kilometers along paved roads. 

Very pretty farmhouse at Rötstock

This was the cleanest watering trough we had ever encountered! It made you want to take a swim in it! We are always glad to find these troughs, so we can fill up our water bottles. (or to dip our heads in if it is really hot). 

Cows along the way....

We did try a shortcut for a small section, to avoid all the paved road, but it was actually through private property. 

End of our hike at the church in Vorderthal. I had a look inside, but its best feature, the pipe organ, was blocked with some plastic sheets. 

Vorderthal church.

Our 12-km hike as viewed on Google Satellite maps, starting in Innerthal at the lake Wägitalersee, and ending in Vorderthal

The other hikes we did in this valley: 1) In pink, the crossing from near Pragel Pass via Schwialp Pass in 2015, and 2) In yellow, the crossing from Wägitalersee Lake to Euthal on Sihlsee Lake. 

Location of the Wägital Valley in Switzerland, close to Zurich in Canton Schwyz and part of the Schwyzer Alps.