Hike /Seetal Tourismus
Gelfingen, Schloss Heidegg–Hitzkirch: Places of Power Hike
Gelfingen, BahnhofErmensee, Bahnhof
- Distance
- 5.5 km
- Duration
- 1:45 h
- Ascent
- 128 m
- Descent
- 132 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Fitness
- Easy
- Route type
- One way
- Season
- April - October
01/ Overview
The route
From Gelfingen, this themed hike leads to Schloss Heidegg and through Lucerne’s Seetal valley. Places of power, sacred sites and the Gärbibach stream accompany the route to Ermensee railway station.
From Gelfingen railway station, the route climbs through the village and across meadows to Schloss Heidegg. Along the way, the themed hike explores the connections between spiritual places of power, pre-Christian and early Christian sacred sites, dragons, lords of the castle and pilgrims. Shortly before the castle, the route reaches its highest point at around 550 m.
Schloss Heidegg stands high above the Baldeggersee in a park and cultural landscape of national importance. The route passes close to the castle, with its chapel, giant sequoia and rose garden, before continuing across open countryside to Hitzkirch. Further stations on the themed trail are located near the parish church, including a labyrinth and the Madonna of the Doves.
Beyond Hitzkirch, the route leads via Bleulikon, follows the Gärbibach for a stretch and alternates between meadows, woodland and the houses of the Seetal valley. Towards the end, the path descends to Ermensee. After around 5.5 kilometres and a little over an hour and a half, the hike ends at Ermensee railway station.
Route data: Broschüre "Wanderungen zu kraftvollen Plätzen" / Seetal Tourismus · CC BY 4.0 · Source
02/ Along the route
What's along the way
Where the route climbs and where it descends. Hover the profile to find the spot on the map.
03/ Conditions
Current conditions
What to know before you set off. Closures and snow are re-checked every day.
How we check: Every night we match the route against the official closures and detours from the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO). Any reported closure that touches the route shows up here.
How we check: We look up a live public transport connection from your starting point to the stop closest to the trailhead. If it ends further away, the nearest stop may be a cable car or bus that isn't running right now.
How we check: Snow depth estimated daily at the lowest and the highest point of the route. Estimates: check the situation on site.
04/ Getting there
Getting there
From your door to the trailhead and home again, by train and bus or by car. Computed live from the timetable.
Or from
Outbound
Return
05/ Weather
Weather on the way
Forecast for the lowest and the highest point of the route.
Weather
06/ Trail & landscape
Trail & landscape
Which paths you walk on and the landscape they lead through.
Larches count as conifer forest here.
07/ Export
Take the route with you
Load the track onto your GPS device, print a route sheet for the trail or send the route to your hiking group.
Share
Send the link to friends or your hiking group.
Export GPX File
For hiking apps, GPS watches and navigation devices.
Print Route Sheet
A4 with map, elevation profile, waypoints and emergency numbers.
