Hike /UNESCO Biosphäre Entlebuch
Heiligkreuz Protective Forest Trail
HeiligkreuzOberstollen
- Distance
- 1.9 km
- Duration
- 41 min
- Ascent
- 185 m
- Descent
- 17 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Fitness
- Easy
- Route type
- One way
- Season
- April - October
01/ Overview
The route
A short, steady ascent through the Bleikiwald: eight educational stations explain how protective forests mitigate natural hazards. Fireplaces and a fountain await at the Oberstole-Hüttli.
The Heiligkreuz Protective Forest Trail begins near the Hasle LU, Heiligkreuz Witebach PostBus stop. The route enters the Bleikiwald almost immediately on a yellow-marked hiking trail and climbs steadily for just under two kilometres. Eight educational stations explain how protective forests are maintained and established. They focus on the forests’ role in mitigating avalanches, rockfall, slope movements and water hazards. In the Entlebuch, such forests cover sixty per cent of the forested area.
After a good 40 minutes and around 185 metres of ascent, the trail ends at Oberstollen at about 1'285 m, which is also the highest point of the route. The Oberstole-Hüttli provides shelter in bad weather; fireplaces with firewood, a fountain and a toilet are also located at the destination. Rather than returning along the same trail, the route back can be taken via Reistegg or extended towards First. There is no public transport stop directly at the destination: the nearest is Heiligkreuz Witebach, just over 1.5 kilometres away.
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.
