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Ridge hike Stanserhorn-Engelberg

Hiking Trail · Switzerland
Logo Engelberg-Titlis Tourismus
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Engelberg-Titlis Tourismus Explorers Choice 
  • Arvigrat
    Arvigrat
    Photo: Switzerland Tourism / Silvano Zeiter, Engelberg-Titlis Tourismus
A challenging hike with breathtaking views from the Stanserhorn to Engelberg.
difficult
Distance 25.5 km
9:55 h
1,507 m
2,371 m
2,157 m
995 m

Before the actual hike begins, it starts directly with a highlight - from Stans, it goes with a world first, the two-story CabriO-Bahn, up to the Stanserhorn. At almost 1,900 meters above sea level, the start of the hike offers a breathtaking panoramic view. Then the descent follows down to the Ächerlipass before, after a short flat section, the ascent to the Arvigrat begins. The path leads over partly rooty and steep passages through the Arvi forest up to about 2000 meters above sea level. Once at the top, a magnificent view opens up into the Engelberg valley, the Sarner valley as well as the surrounding mountains and the Alps.

The Arvigrat is followed directly by the Gräfimattgrat, which leads further in the direction of Schingrat/Schluchberg. Now comes the key point of the hike - the rocky embrasure at Wagenleis (Charren). This requires good surefootedness and a head for heights. For safety there are ropes to hold on to. By the way, in the area of Schluchberg/Wagenleis there are often sheep. The special thing about this is that llamas are used to protect the herd.

Over the Schluchigrat and the Lachengrätli the route goes to the Storeggpass and then on to the Lutersee. Here it is worth taking a break to recharge your batteries for the last ascent. The ascent starts on the right side of the Lutersee and leads up to the "Bocki" and to the highest point of the hike, at 2155 meters above sea level. From now on it's all downhill. The path is steep and once again requires the highest concentration. Passing Ober- and Unter Arni, we descend to the Haltenhütte. Here the surface changes to asphalt and the path becomes flatter. The alpine cheese dairy Untertrübsee and the restaurant Untertrübsee invite you for a culinary break before tackling the last section down to Engelberg.

Author’s recommendation

Due to the long distance, the hike is best suited as a two-day tour with an overnight stay in a tent on Alp Laucheren.

Further information: www.engelberg.ch/ridge-hike

Route variants:

  • If you want to shorten the route, take the more direct route at Lutersee towards Alp Zingel and on to Engelberg. From Lutersee it is then 7.2km, approx. 2.5h, 72m ascent, 812m descent to Engelberg.
  • In the Engelberg valley there are various small cable cars, so-called "Buiräbähnli". These are ideal if you only want to do a part of the route. For example, you can hike from Storeggpass directly to "Eggen" instead of going to Lutersee and then take the Buiräbähnli via Rugisbalm down to Mettlen. A one-way ride costs CHF 9.
    Distances: Storeggpass-Eggen: 2km, 40min, ascent 0m, descent 326m
    Mettlen-Station Grafenort: 1.9km, 30min (flat)
    Train ride Grafenort-Engelberg: 15min
  • For the last section down to Engelberg, scooter bikes can be rented at the intermediate station Gerschnialp or at the restaurant Untertrübsee. The 3.5km ride goes through the forest down to the valley station of the TITLIS cable cars.
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Author
Engelberg - Titlis Tourismus 
Update: June 13, 2021
Difficulty
difficult
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
2,157 m
Lowest point
995 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Asphalt 1.62%Forested/wild trail 23.33%Path 61.66%Road 12.74%Unknown 0.62%
Asphalt
0.4 km
Forested/wild trail
6 km
Path
15.7 km
Road
3.3 km
Unknown
0.2 km
Show elevation profile

Rest stops

Restaurant Untertrübsee

Safety information

  • Information Mountain Hiking Trail:

    Mountain hiking trails are predominantly steep, narrow and partly exposed. Surefootedness, a head for heights, a good physical condition and mountain experience are required. Sturdy shoes with good grip soles are necessary.

  • At the Wagenleis, also called "Charren", is the key point of the hike. This requires good surefootedness and a head for heights. For safety, there are ropes to which you can hold on.
  • In case of rain, special caution is required because the path is partly sloping and there is a risk of slipping.

Tips and hints

The ridge hike Stanserhorn-Engelberg is part of the Tell Trail (stage 5). The new Tell-Trail long-distance trail takes walkers right through the picturesque Lucerne – Lake Lucerne region from Altdorf to the Brienzer Rothorn. It can be completed in eight stages and takes in glittering mountain lakes, historic villages, world-famous destinations and the “Big 6” of the Central Swiss mountains: Stoos, Rigi, Pilatus, Stanserhorn, Titlis and Brienzer Rothorn. Constant companions on the way include the widely varied flora and fauna and the spectacular mountain panorama. More information: www.luzern.com/telltrail

Start

Stanserhorn
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'668'830E 1'198'084N
DD
46.930288, 8.342464
DMS
46°55'49.0"N 8°20'32.9"E
UTM
32T 449945 5197627
w3w 
///joys.fall.appealed

Destination

Engelberg

Turn-by-turn directions

Stanserhorn-Ächerli-Arvigrat-Gräfimattgrat-Schluchberg-Wagenleis (Charren)-Storeggpass-Lutersee-Bocki-Ober Arni-Unter Arni-Untertrübsee-Engelberg

Public transport

Public-transport-friendly

Stans ist von Luzern aus in ca. 20 Minuten mit dem Zug erreichbar. Vom Bahnhof Stans sind es knapp 5 Minuten zu Fuss bis zur Stanserhornbahn. Von hier aus geht es zuerst mit der Oldtimer-Stanserhornbahn und dann mit der CabriO-Bahn hinauf auf das Stanserhorn, zum Start der Wanderung.

Directions

Stans ist von Luzern aus in 20 Minuten über die A2 erreichbar.

Parking

Coordinates

SwissGrid
2'668'830E 1'198'084N
DD
46.930288, 8.342464
DMS
46°55'49.0"N 8°20'32.9"E
UTM
32T 449945 5197627
w3w 
///joys.fall.appealed
Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

Equipment

  • good footwear
  • enough food

You will find the right equipment in the sports stores in Engelberg.

Similar routes nearby

  • Gratwanderung Arvigrat, Etappe 1: zur Alp Laucheren in den Urner Alpen
  • Nidwalden high-level path: Stage 1, Stanserhorn-Storeggpass
  • Southwards along the ridge
  • A high-altitude hike (multi-day tour)
  • Tell Trail stage 5: Stans-Engelberg
 These suggestions were generated by our system
Difficulty
difficult
Distance
25.5 km
Duration
9:55 h
Ascent
1,507 m
Descent
2,371 m
Highest point
2,157 m
Lowest point
995 m
Public-transport-friendlyScenicInsider tipLinear route

Weather at the route's trailhead

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  • 6 Waypoints
  • 6 Waypoints
Distance km
Duration: h
Ascent m
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Highest point m
Lowest point m
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