Entlebuch: Moorland, Forest and Historic Trails

Moorland trails, forest routes and historic paths give a trip to Entlebuch a range of different focuses. On the circular trails, you’ll encounter both tangible traces of former transport routes and raised and lowland moors. There are also cultural attractions in the village and leisure activities ranging from renewable energy to outdoor pursuits.

Circular Trails Through Forest and Moorland

The official circular hike in Entlebuch is 11.2 kilometres long and has around 300 metres of elevation gain. Much of the route runs through the forest. It follows the former Entlebuch–Lucerne mule track, passes through a forest reserve with ponds and partly follows the old Schwanderholzstrasse, whose cobblestones have been preserved. The route thus combines forest sections with visible traces of historic paths.

The Mettilimoos Moorland Trail is another circular route, with a different landscape as its focus. It is 14.07 kilometres long, rated easy, and starts and ends at Entlebuch railway station. Along the way, it passes through impressive raised bogs and flower-rich fens. Historical peat-cutting tools are on display in the little peat hut in Mettelimoos. The distance, difficulty rating and start and finish points can help you factor this tour into your day’s plans, without confusing its route features with those of the official circular hike.

The Entlebuch–Rengg–Ebnet circular trail also has distinctive sections: at Chessiloch, it passes along a historic mule track cut up to four metres deep into a sunken lane. Near Underwald, the route skirts the Zittermoos raised bog. The Hermit’s Trail leads to Brüedere Alp, a hermit settlement dating from the 15th century, and to the oldest alpine chapel in the canton of Lucerne, built in 1725. These destinations show how traces of nature and culture each have their own place along different routes.

Village and Biosphere

The village of Entlebuch is home to a Baroque church that was consecrated in 1780. The village lies at the confluence of the Kleine Emme and the Grosse Entlen. These two features give the village a distinct historical and geographical point of reference, while the UNESCO Biosphere, in a broader sense, draws attention to the region’s landscape.

Entlebuch was officially recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2001. The biosphere is characterised by extensive moorlands, forests, green valleys and mountain landscapes. Across the UNESCO Biosphere as a whole, there are 46 raised and transitional bogs and 67 fens of national importance, covering around 2,600 hectares. These figures describe the biosphere, not the village alone. Its wetlands offer opportunities for both short circular walks and longer day trips.

Experience Energy and Other Activities

Erlebnis Energie Entlebuch showcases renewable energy from water, wood, wind and sun across six platforms, as well as the historic energy sources of natural gas and peat. The platforms can be visited independently and without advance booking. Before your visit, check the destination portal for possible temporary changes.

Another energy-themed attraction is the 2,500-square-metre Energiespielplatz Entlebuch. It is located directly behind the sports ground’s football pitch at the Farbschachen sports facility, between the villages of Hasle and Entlebuch, on the Grosse Entlen. Here, visitors can experience sustainable energy through play. The municipality also lists canoeing for experienced paddlers on the whitewater of the Kleine Emme and llama trekking in Stillaub as leisure activities. As such activities may change, it’s worth checking the latest information before making plans.

Plan Your Journey and Accommodation

Entlebuch can be reached by public transport via the Bern–Lucerne railway line; check the current timetables for your journey. The description of the official circular hike lists the post bus to Ebnet as an access option. Parking is available at the school and at Restaurant Lindenhof. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, these different starting points can help structure your day: first consider which paths or activities you’d like to explore, then check how a particular accommodation fits with your planned starting points and connections.

Discover more destinations: Schüpfheim, Marbach, Flühli, Escholzmatt, Entlebuch, Werthenstein, Romoos, Hasle.

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