Tell Trail stage 5: Stans-Engelberg

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28.62 km long

difficulty: difficult

condition: very difficult

Great panorama

Hike

09:55 h
1,501 m
2,375 m
453 m
2,159 m
1,706 m
28.62 km
start: Lower terminus of the Stanserhorn aerial cableway
destination: Engelberg village

The fifth stage of the Tell Trail starts on the Stanserhorn. Then you hike along the newly opened ridge path over the Storegg pass to Engelberg.

The CabriO open-deck / double-deck cable car takes you high up the Stanserhorn and opens up a panorama of the mountains of Central Switzerland. Soon, however, it's time to turn your back on the Pilatus and Lake Lucerne, because stage 5 is demanding. You follow the Nidwaldner Höhenweg (high-level trail) to the Storegg pass and continue past little Lake Luter, via Bocki and Lake Untertrüb to Engelberg.

The highlight of the route is the newly opened ridge walk between the Stanserhorn and Engelberg.

Walking time: approx. 10 hours | Distance: 25.1 km | Total elevation gain (including cable car): 1,501 m | Total elevation loss: 2,375 m

Best season

suitable

depending on the weather

Directions

You start off with a world record-breaking cable car ride: the double-deck CabriO cable car with its open upper deck whisks you from Stans up the Stanserhorn for a spectacular panorama of the mountains of Central Switzerland. Soon, however, it's time to turn your back on the Pilatus and Lake Lucerne, because stage 5 is demanding. After the descent to the Ächerli pass, the ascent to the Arvigrat at alt. 2000 m follows. The panoramic views of the Engelberg and Sarnen valleys and distant Alps are magnificent.

After this vista, the real highlight of stage 5 follows. You follow the Gräfimattgrad in the direction of Schluchberg and reach the key passage. The rock passage Wagenleis is made safe with thick ropes to hold on to. However, surefootedness and a head for heights are still a prerequisite. The hike continues over the Schluchigrat to the Storegg pass. Nearby Lake Luter is a tempting place for a break and gives you renewed strength for the last steep ascent to the Bocki. From the highest point of the hike at alt. 2155 m, it's downhill all the way, past the Haltenhütte refuge and the Lake Untertrüb alp dairy. Stage 5 ends in the village of Engelberg.

Tour information

Stop at an Inn

Equipment

Sturdy footwear.

Directions

By car, take the A2 (Basel-Gotthard) to Stans Nord. There are various parking facilities available in the village of Stans.

There are various parking facilities available in the village of Stans. There are also parking spaces at the valley station of the Stanserhorn cable car.

National and international connections (from Zurich airport connections every half hour with approx. 1h travel time) to Lucerne. From Lucerne you take the Zentralbahn to Stans. The valley station of the Stanserhorn cable car is only a five-minute walk from the station.

Additional information

This stage is part of the long-distance Tell Trail, which runs through the whole of Central Switzerland in eight stages.

Further information on the Tell Trail: www.luzern.com/telltrail

Author

Laila Bosco

Organisation

Region Luzern-Vierwaldstättersee

Website

Recommendation

Due to the long distance, stage 5 is also worth tackling as a two-day tour. The TentCamp on the ridge in Alp Laucheren is probably one of the most impressive places to for a stop-over on the entire Tell Trail.

Tip No. 2: Get a treat at the Untertrübsee alpine cheese dairy, where you can buy traditional Sbrinz cheese, among other things.

Safety guidelines

T3: demanding mountain hiking.

• Good surefootedness

• Average navigation skills

• Elementary alpine experience

The key Schluchberg/Wagenleis section is made safe with thick ropes.

Event