Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
C7
Altdorf » Engelberg
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10h20 |
25.9 km
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1812 m
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1260 m
Leave Altdorf via the Reussebene plateau heading to Attinghausen and climb steeply up to Brüsti, or take the cable car. The ridge trail leads directly to the Surenen pass. From here, pass the Blackenalp on a gentle decline towards the valley. A walk along the right-hand side of the Engelberger Aa river takes you to Engelberg, the stage destination, with its famous Benedictine monastery.
From Altdorf train station, first head to the left along the railway line into the valley and then turn right through the underpasses below the railway line and the motorway and over the Reuss bridge to Attinghausen. Follow the wide village road to reach the valley station of the Attinghausen-Brüsti aerial cable car. Those who wish to spare themselves the steep climb of over 1,000m can take the Brüsti aerial cable car. From Attinghausen, walk along the left-hand bank of the Chummetbach stream on the uphill mountain trail, passing houses, the St. Onophrius chapel and continuing on a paved pass trail. This leads in steep bends through the mountain forest and over Höchiberg to the mountain station of the Brüsti aerial cable car. From here, there is a beautiful view into the Reusstal valley and over to the Urner mountains. Head westward through sparse mountain woodland to subsequently arrive on the ridge trail over meadows to the Angistock. This airy ridge walk offers a magnificent view over the Urnersee lake, the Gross Windgällen, the Oberalpstock and the Bristenstock. From here, the mountain trail winds its way over boulder-strewn terrain and snowfields, most of which are still there even in mid-summer, uphill towards the rock faces of the Blackenstock and on to the Surenen pass. The Titlis with its ice-armoured crown greets you from afar. From the pass, the alpine trail leads down onto the wide valley floor of the Blacken Alp, framed by the Schlossberg mountain, the Stotzigberggrat ridge, and the Wissigstock and Blackenstock peaks. Several hundred cows graze here in the summer months. Continue on over alpine pastureland, passing to the left of the chapel and walking along the young Stierenbach stream down the valley. Cross the stream at Stalden and continue on the right-hand banks of the Stierenbach stream down to the Stäfeli inn. Follow the old, gently downward sloping Surenenweg trail, past the rubble of the rock fall in December 1961 from the Klein Spannort peak, soon crossing the cantonal border into Obwalden and the Alpenrösli mountain inn. The alpine trail on the right-hand bank of the Engelberger Aa river now leads through a lovely mountain wood slightly uphill to the Herrenrüti Alp and the mountain station of the Engelberg-Fürenalp aerial cable car. Finally, you will reach the monastery village of Engelberg on the right-hand bank of the Engelberger Aa. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Natural and cultural heritage
Attinghausen The village of Attinghausen built on debris deposits from the Chummetbach stream lies on the left side of the Reusstal valley. The castle ruins, once one of the most important castle complexes in the canton of Uri, rise up on a rocky hilltop in the middle of the village. The castle was used by the barons of Attinghausen-Schweinsberg from the Emmental valley as a family seat and place of residence. The barons’ servicemen were probably lodged in another three hilltop castles, now the castle ruins of Schweinsberg, Bürgli and Schatzbödeli. The size of these complexes would suggest that this was a place of great significance in the Middle Ages for movement from north to south. In around 1360, the castle must have been destroyed in circumstances that to this day have not been indisputably established. Surenen Pass The Surenen is a well-known pass crossing. As far back as the 13th century, Alp Surenen situated on the other side of the watershed was used by the farmers of Uri, thus leading to fierce and to a certain extent violent conflict with the Engelberg monastery. Documents make reference to the fact that in such a dispute, the future chief of cantonal government Baron Werner II of Attinghausen appeared as a witness in 1275. Legend has it that the disputed Alp Surenen was also the scene of the following event: in Surenen, a young shepherd had become so fond of a lamb that he decided to baptise it. He obtained some holy water and baptised the animal. It immediately transformed into a terrible monster, the “Greis”, which not only killed the boy but also other people, not sparing even the cattle, and rendering the alp out of bounds. An itinerant student heard of the plight of the locals and advised them to raise a silver-white bull calf in such a way that in its first year it fed on the milk of one cow, in the second on that of two cows and so on until its ninth year. This bull was then to be led by a virgin from Waldnacht to the pass and released there. And so it happened. Once the enormous bull was off the rope, it trotted down towards the Blacken Alp and met with the monster at a stream. A terrible fight began and the earth shook under the hooves of the angry animals. When all became quiet again and the frightened dairy farmers approached the scene of the fight, they saw the Greis lying dead in its own blood. But the mighty bull was also lying there lifeless at the stream. From that day forth, the stream has been called Stierenbach (“stream of the bull”). In the late summer of 1799, in other words when Switzerland was a sparring ground for foreign armies and the then Helvetic Republic was powerless, a French battalion under General Lecourbe crossed the Surenen pass from Engelberg with two canons and attacked the Austrians. However, when General Suworow then advanced with his army from Gotthard, the French were forced to retreat. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Useful topographic maps
246 T Klausenpass ~ Swisstopo (1:50'000)
245 T Stans ~ Swisstopo (1:50'000)
Useful guidebooks
20 Bergwanderungen Region Zentralschweiz ~ Werd Verlag TA Media AG (ISBN 3-85932-375-X)
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
Arturo Ciórraga - 2020-07-20
Hay algo que no va bien en la medida de la longitud y desnivel de esta etapa. Según la organización suiza, son 30 km. y un desnivel positivo de 2.100 m.
https://www.schweizmobil.ch/fr/suisse-a-pied/route/etappe-01239.html , no 26 km. y un desnivel positivo de 1.812 m.
Pero incluso, aunque fueran 26 km. y un desnivel de 1.812 m, ¿realmente que necesidad hay de programar una etapa tan larga y dura, cuando hay opciones intermedias de alojamiento?
Une des étapes les plus impressionnantes en Suisse. Passage du col de Surenen entièrement dans le brouillard, heureusement que j'avais un GPS, pas facile de suivre la trace sur la neige. La récompense, 200m après le col, c'est une petite cabane très bien entretenue et très accueillante où on peut déjeuner et bivouaquer.
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One of the most impressive stages in Switzerland. Passing the Surenen Pass entirely in the fog, fortunately I had a GPS, not easy to track on the snow. The reward, 200m after the pass, is a small cabin very well maintained and very welcoming where you can lunch and bivouac.
Peter Starling - 2017-12-20
In altdorf, there's a fantastic beach area with plenty of fireplaces and free firewood. Absolutely worth going there for a swim and a BBQ if you have time, although it is quite a detour.
The climb from Attinghausen can be done by lift. Not far from the lift station, you will find a stellar campsite with free firewood, water, toilet and a lovely view. We got hit by some pretty heavy rain here, which we rode out in the firewood storage shelter.
The climb to Surenenpass is moderately strenuous. We got hit by a grueling rain storm while approaching the top of the pass, but luckily, there's a freely available cabin a few hundred meters from the top of the pass. It's right next to the trail, so you can't miss it.
Come night, we pitched on a small piece of grass next to a river. Not a pleasant place to sleep.
TOF - 2015-01-18
Trieste-Monaco les 24 et 25/8/14
- 24/8/14
Jonction à dominante routière sur Altdorf (toutes commodités). Puis montée assez raide (sans funiculaire) jusqu'à la station de Brusti.
Superbe endroit de bivouac à Ruteli (sur la carte) sur le lieu d'un fuerstelle bien aménagé avec cabane pour toilettes. Inimaginable! Il est conseillé de laissez une pièce dans la caisse pour que dure cet aménagement de montagne!
- 25/8/14
Jour entier de pluie. Passage du Surenpass et descente très longue jusqu'à Engelberg. Ravitaillement à Blackenalp, froamage d'alpage le moins cher de mon voyage en Suisse: 16 CHF ! Accueil très sympa en prime. Déjeuner dans la chapelle en face (merci pour l'accès libre).
Encore du chemin pour arriver dans la longue vallée platte d'Engelberg. A vorder stafel possibilité de prendre la navette (gratuite) pour joindre Engelberg. Ouf!
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Trieste-Monaco on 24 and 08/25/14 to 08/24/14 at Junction Road dominant in Altdorf (all facilities). Then steep climb (without cable car) to the Brusti station. Great place to bivouac Rüteli (on the map) at the site of a well-appointed cabin with fuerstelle toilet. Unimaginable! It is advisable to let a room in the box for this arrangement lasts mountain! - 08.25.14 All day rain. Passage of Surenpass and very long descent to Engelberg. Provisions at Blackenalp, the cheapest alpine froamage my trip to Switzerland: 16 CHF! Very friendly welcome bonus. Lunch in the opposite chapel (thank you for the free access). Long way to arrive in the long Platte Valley Engelberg. A vorder Stafel opportunity to take the shuttle bus (free) to join Engelberg. Phew!
Monaco-Trieste
Out of Engelberg by the cable car station Fürenalpbahn there are free choped wood and BBQ area by a water stream.
Stafeli is a great option to stay indoor at the farm. The chapel at Blackenalp is open.
At Surenenpass there is an opened comfortable wood shelter called Schutzhutte
Talstation Fürenalpbahn - Schutzhutte/Surenenpass about 3h
From Surenenpass down to Altdorf there are 2 ways to go down..went off the via alpina and followed water stream
Surenenpass - Attinghausen is marked 3h35
Dm Lalot - 2013-09-01
Suite au mauvais temps, j'ai passé deux nuits à l'auberge de jeunesse que je recommande. Compter 39Fr la nuit et petit déjeuner + 14Fr pour le repas. Elle est au nord de la ville.
http://www.youthhostel.ch/fr/hostels/engelberg
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Following the bad weather, I spent two nights at the hostel I recommend. After night and 39GB 14GB breakfast for dinner. It is north of the city. http://www.youthhostel.ch/fr/hostels/engelberg
joan - 2011-09-22
Very good people at the Hotel Krone in Attinghaussen. They did opened their dortoir only for myself on their day off. And they had very good prices too, on August 2011: Dortoir with shower and breakfast, 30 Sf. Or half board for 59 Sf.
|
10h20 |
25.9 km
|
1812 m
|
1260 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.