Our family recently embarked on a magical adventure along the Witch Trail (Hexenweg), and it has quickly become one of our top favorite trails. This enchanting hike offers breathtaking views and a variety of interactive stations that kept our kids entertained and engaged throughout the journey.
To begin this adventure, we took a scenic cable car ride from Dallenwil. Make sure to check the operating hours on their Wirzeli Mountain website before you go. If you have half-fare or junior cards, don’t forget to bring them along for a discount. After arriving at the Wirzweli station, we followed the pink “Hexenweg” signs for about a 10-minute walk to reach the second cable car at Gummenalp. The second cable car is quite small, accommodating only four adults. To summon the cable car, simply press the call button; this alerts the operator to bring it up. We noticed that around noon, there was a line of people waiting for this cable car, so it’s best to start your hike early to avoid any delays. Payment for this ride is in cash at the top.
Once at the top, you’ll find a restaurant with restrooms and a small plaground. From there, follow the signs past the restaurant to reach the beginning of the Witch Trail. The trail itself is mostly downhill and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, depending on how much time you spend at each station. The trail is mainly in the forest, but there are some areas where you leave and get beautiful views of the mountains. We were pleasantly surprised by the number of interactive stations along the way, which kept our kids excited and motivated to continue exploring. The interactive stations included Pine Cone Tossing Game, Herb Smelling, Explore the Witch’s Home, Take a Ride on the Witches Broom, and many more. While all signs are in German, they can be easily translated using a smartphone app. This made it easy for us to understand and enjoy each station’s unique offerings. Some stations are equipped with audio features; when we opened a door on the trail, we heard a witch’s voice greeting us. Our daughter was thrilled by the witch’s broom zip-line while our son was fascinated by the magic stone at the end of the trail.
In summary, the Witch Trail (Hexenweg) is an enchanting experience that combines stunning natural beauty with engaging activities for children. By starting early, you can avoid crowds and fully immerse yourself in this delightful adventure. We highly recommend it for families looking for a fun day in nature. For information on Wirzweli Mountain, see my post.