Great Melchaa Path Sarnen - Stöckalp

The route starts at Sarnen train station. Follow the hiking trail signs towards Flüeli-Ranft. Shortly after crossing the motorway and the Melchaa, you reach the Lourdes Grotto Sarnen where you can experience a special silence.

The path then continues to the Hohe Brücke. Before you continue walking along the forest edge to the well-known pilgrimage and holiday resort Flüeli-Ranft, be sure to take a look from the wooden bridge at the Melchaa flowing 100 meters below.

From Flüeli-Ranft, follow the signs towards Melchtal. Via the old Melchtal path you pass the Leh water intake to the Büel junction. Depending on the season and time of day, you can often observe deer and chamois on this section.

At the Büel point, stay on the western side of the Melchaa and continue directly towards Stöckalp. (At Büel, you can also take a small detour to the village Melchtal)

With or without detour, you will soon reach a beautiful rest area with a fire pit in the Flüemätteli/Mürli area. After the break, you soon reach the Turrenbach bus stop. Immediately afterwards, the path leads down again to the Melchaa and crosses it. The last section to the destination Stöckalp, mostly across alpine pastures, again runs exclusively on the western side of the valley.

At Stöckalp you can, as a "bonus", take the cable car up to Melchsee-Frutt or return directly to Sarnen by PostBus. In both cases, note that the cable car and the PostBus only operate seasonally (approx. mid-June to mid-October and mid-December to early April).

Of course, the approximately five-hour route can also be done in reverse or only in individual sections. The well-known places Flüeli-Ranft and Melchtal, with their dining options and year-round PostBus services, are very suitable as starting or ending points.