Alpnach between Lake Lucerne and Pilatus

Alpnach combines its location on Lake Lucerne at the foot of Pilatus with historic paths, churches and excursions by the water. Depending on your interests, you can explore the area on a walk, a jogging route or a mountain hike. The Pilatus rack railway and local history also shape the character of this destination.

By the lake and at the foot of Pilatus

Alpnach is a municipality in the canton of Obwalden. It is divided into the districts of Alpnach Dorf, Schoried and Alpnachstad, including Niederstad. Alpnach Dorf lies in the Sarneraa Valley at 464 m above sea level. The municipality’s lowest point is Lake Alpnach at 434 m above sea level; its highest is Tomlishorn at 2,128 m above sea level. The Kleine Schliere and Grosse Schliere rivers flow through Alpnach. The lake, valley and mountain thus offer different perspectives on the local landscape.

A walk from Alpnachstad to Alpnach Dorf follows Lake Alpnach and the Kleine Schliere. The route therefore links two defining elements of the landscape: the lake and the river. If you would rather go for a jog, you can follow the approximately 5 km “Städerried Loop.” It starts at Alpnach Dorf railway station. The walk and jogging route differ both in activity and in the specific distance stated.

The Pilatus railway and historic paths

The Pilatus rack railway runs from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm. It began operating in 1889 and has a maximum gradient of 48 percent. This technical detail and its long operating history make the railway a prominent feature of Alpnach’s landscape. It also offers a way to include Pilatus in your travel plans.

The Alpnach Polenweg is a historic transport route of national importance. Its centrepiece is called “Tremola en miniature.” The route includes a stone arch bridge and professionally constructed water drains known as Tombino. For much of its length, the Polenweg is signposted as a hiking and mountain hiking trail. When considering the route, it is therefore worth keeping both its historic character and its designated trail markings in mind.

The Polenweg was built as part of an employment programme. The name “Polenwege” is also associated with paths and roads built in Switzerland by Polish soldiers during the Second World War, which have been known by this name ever since. These various historical aspects make the route more than a means of finding your way: it is both a named transport route and a testament to the region’s history of travel routes.

Another option for a mountain outing is the moderately difficult hike from Alpnachstad over Rengg Pass to Fräkmüntegg. The destination is at 1,416 m above sea level; along the way, the hike offers panoramic views of the lake and the Alps. Unlike the loop in Städerried, it is classed as a mountain hike and leads to a clearly specified elevation. This lets you choose between a jogging route with an approximate distance and a mountain hike graded by difficulty.

Churches, chapels and local history

The current parish church of St. Mary Magdalene was built between 1812 and 1821. St. Michael’s Chapel in Alpnach Dorf was consecrated in 1501. The parish church and chapels in Alpnach are open to anyone seeking a special place of worship and willing to respect it. Sacred sites are therefore among the places to visit, alongside the historic paths.

The Städerried recreation area in Alpnachstad also brings together the local landscape and leisure activities: this family-friendly area has a long beach of sand and gravel. The nearby island at Städerried is a nature reserve and a valuable habitat for plants and animals. Fishing is permitted outside the nature reserve, near the recreation area. If you plan to spend time there, you can distinguish between the beach, the nature reserve and fishing, which is expressly permitted outside the reserve.

Traditional dairy farming and alpine farming, both associated with Alpnach, also help define the region. These include cheeses such as Sbrinz, Obwalden Alpine cheese and Parmino. Together with the lake, Pilatus, the paths and the religious buildings, these offer different ways to choose Alpnach according to your travel interests.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Giswil, Lungern, Engelberg, Sachseln, Melchsee-Frutt, Kerns, Sarnen

For the overarching travel guide: Obwalden.