Care for a little hike off the beaten track? All you need is a morning or afternoon without meetings, comfortable shoes and clothes and off you go!
Short round trip excursion to Etzel mountain (5h – light to medium strenuous uphill – light strenuous downhill):
45min train/bus ride, up to 2.5h hike with 400m altitude and 45min bus/train back
Parking next to Restaurant Itaki
Take the train (S25 or IR35) from Zurich HB to Pfäffikon SZ and change to the bus (B190) to Feusisberg (Stop: Hotel Panorama) and continue to walk for 200m until you pass the Restaurant Itaki - a good spot for lunch or dinner – and hit the yellow sign at Moosstrasse. Follow same until you hit a tree with a bench next to a nice hold Swiss farmhouse but pay attention to the spot as you come downhill on your way back from the summit. There you continue straight and almost level towards “Schnäggenburg”. Passing the house of Schneckenburg you continue for less than 200m and after a little creek turn right before you hit the paved road. The path leads you slightly up the hill almost parallel to the road for 500m. When you are just about to hit the road again, you turn sharp right into the forrest towards Etzel summit. It is a spectacular path of 586 steps through the forest, right up to the Berggasthaus Etzel. After the most strenuous part of the hike, you deserve to be treated not only with a great view into the Alps but also with a nice refreshment and good food. Enjoy the scenery and bon appetit!
Pass the Restaurant and follow the step gravel road for around 300m downhill. Turn right at the yellow signs towards Feusisberg and follow the path which soon leads you out of the forrest into the meadows with a fantastic view on lake Zurich. Just above the village of Feusisberg you turn right again on a paved road until you come back to the tree with the red bench. Turn left and back into the village where you can take the bus back to Pfäffikon SZ and on to Zurich by train.
From Pfäffikon SZ you can take the train to Rapperswil or walk for a level 4 km on Route 849 which leads you through Hurden and thereafter on a restored pilgrim’s path across the lake to the train station of Rapperswil. You can take the S5 or S15 back to Zürich from there. However, before returning to Zurich, I strongly recommend exploring the old town of Rapperswil including the rose garden and up to the castle hill for a scenic view towards town and Etzel where you’ve just been. The public lakefront bath behind the castle hill is also a treat in summer. Finally, a gelato from Dieci at the ice cream parlour on Fischmarkt – Square is a must have.
