Hike /Luzern Tourismus
Circular Hike Kerns – Gerzensee – Kerns
Post Kerns
- Distance
- 8.0 km
- Duration
- 2:05 h
- Ascent
- 99 m
- Descent
- 99 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Fitness
- Easy
- Route type
- Loop
- Season
- All year
01/ Overview
The route
A gentle circuit through meadows and the Kernwald, shaped by a landslide, passing a pilgrimage chapel and the legends of the Chärwald robbers.
From the Kerns, Post bus stop, the roughly eight-kilometre circuit initially leads through the village to the Kernmattbach. The broad hiking trail crosses open meadows and passes Windeggli on its way to Siebeneich. Directly on the route stands the chapel at Hostettli, dedicated to the Weeping Madonna of Budapest and serving as a pilgrimage site for Hungarian Catholics in Switzerland.
The trail then enters the Kernwald. Its rugged terrain was formed by a landslide from the Stanserhorn. In the forest, the Chärwaldräuber adventure trail accompanies the route with tales from local legend. At Zubersrüti, a picnic area with a fire pit offers a place to rest before the trail continues towards Gerzensee.
After the lake, the circuit climbs gently to its highest point at around 590 m. Alternating between woodland, meadows and small settlements, the route leads via Brandgütsch and Hübeli to Hirseren. Towards the end, the trail passes Restaurant Underem Härd and returns to the Kerns, Post bus stop after just over two hours.
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.
