Wädi Wandert

Over a year ago, I started a series of “Wädi wandert” articles in the Wädenswiler Anzeiger. When planning and carrying out these excursions in our immediate surroundings, I was sometimes surprised myself at the incredible variety Wädenswil has to offer. I am particularly grateful to all those who joined me on each hike. For me, it was above all a practical exercise in rethinking the hiking experience and realizing that the general equation “hiking equals high mountains” does not always apply. The lowlands also have their treasures waiting to be discovered – on every doorstep. The ingredients for local experiences can be diverse: Historical sites, geological features, animals and plants typical of the region, the flora and fauna that characterize the landscape or the special atmosphere at different times of the day and year. Further “Hikes on your doorstep” are already available on my website, but will also be offered regularly in the future, so “Wädi wandert” will continue to offer you hiking experiences at your doorstep.

Meeting point for the guided hike: Wädenswil railway station “Güterschuppen”, date: 10 February 2024, time: 08.00 hrs. Registration deadline: 5 February 2024

We want to walk with snowshoes to Wädenswil’s highest point, but we have to start in the canton of Zug on the Ratenpass. Initially, we follow the marked snowshoe trail, but then branch off at Chlausenchappeli into the Gutschwald forest, where we walk under the snow-covered trees almost to point 1229, said highest point of Wädenswil. From there, although still without a view (it comes later!), we turn back and leave our ascent tracks in the direction of Sparengatter and later on the level of the Gottschalkenberg we head to Bellevue. As the name says we have a magnificent view of Lake Zurich and the surrounding hills of the Pfannenstil and Albis. After refreshments at the Gottschalkenberg restaurant, we set off on the last and most scenic part of the tour, namely through the enchanted moor near Abschwändi towards Raten.

Meeting point for the guided hike: Date open, time: 08.26 am, location: Zweierhof bus stop in Schönenberg. Registration deadline: December 5, 2023

The aim is to organize an attractive snowshoe tour for beginners in the municipality of Wädenswil. The plan for the tour has been drawn up and can be viewed on the map section in the Wädenswiler Anzeiger article. Participants must be flexible, as the tour must take place spontaneously when there is enough snow. Therefore, simply register and wait for a phone call from hiking guide Sebastian. It should be an easy tour, where beginners can also feel comfortable, where there is enough time to put on the shoes and walk at a leisurely pace so that you can get used to the unfamiliar material. If you need to, you can hire snowshoes and poles from me, three sets are available. You can find out whether the tour on the doorstep worked out in the end on the impressions page, where some nice photos may be posted.

Meeting for the guided tour: 15 October 2023, 7:50am, at the boat landing at the Richterswil train station. Registration deadline: 6 October 2023.

To take in the first lake, we meet on the “wrong” side of Richterswil station, at the boat landing. We then leave the actually pretty old town on the right and march towards the Mülibach-Tobel, where we dive into the damp forest. The motorway bridge far above us briefly pulls us out of this world of our own. At the top we pass the Sternenschanze with the Sternenweier (“lake” number 2) and shortly afterwards the Freyenweijer (“lake” number 3) to reach the Hüttnersee (lake number 4). This moor lake has an interesting history of formation, as does the village of Hütten above it. After refreshment in the hopefully open kiosk of the bathing area, we later learn about the role of the Teufenbachweiher (“lake” number 5) in energy production in the past and today. In Schönenberg we treat ourselves to a stop at the Restaurant Rössli.

Meeting for the guided tour: 26 August 2023, 5:45am, at the ticket machines at Wädenswil train station.

Yes, it is early when we meet at Wädenswil station at 5:45. But we want to be undisturbed in the Häxetäli and hopefully get a slightly different impression of the flora and fauna in this small, mystical “Täli”. Not only the fen is interesting, but also a walk in the forest promises unexpected encounters and impressions early in the morning. Does the forest floor smell different in the early morning dew than it does throughout the day? Of course, we hope to see one or the other animal that tends to hide during the day. If the weather cooperates, we will enjoy a freshly prepared coffee with croissants on the water reservoir in Schlieregg before heading more or less diretissima down to town.

In part 2 of Wädi Wandert we go from south-east to north-west, this time on the lower floor, i.e. near the lake (in Wädi Wandert part 1 we were on the middle floor). We cross some of Wädenswil’s best-known parks (Schlosspark, Walfischpark, Rosenmattpark, Rosenhofpark, Neuhofpark, Grünenbergpark (from the outside), Park Ausbildungszentrum Au, Schlosspark Halbinsel Au), each with its own history and flora, making each of these green spots unique. Who knows, maybe there will be an interesting exchange when each person tells his/her personal story in connection with a park. Full details of the walk can be found in the article at the link below (only in German).

As the title says, we cross Wädenswil from north-west to south-east and “in the middle floor”, if you consider the lake as the lower floor and the Höhrohnen as the upper floor. We can enjoy a lot of panoramic views of Lake Zurich and get an idea of the geological past of our area. It’s a hike where we cover more distance than metres in altitude, so it’s definitely a leisurely hike that doesn’t leave us out of breath, at most because of the magnificent views of the lake or the mountains that we have again and again. Almost at the end we reach a pond that is probably not known to many people on the border between Wädenswil and Richterswil, the Sennweidweiher.