Discover Uetliburg: Hiking, village character and animal experiences

Uetliburg is part of the political municipality of Gommiswald in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen. You can plan your trip around a range of activities: hiking to Berg Sion Monastery, the Uetliburg hiking trail, the historic village character, and animal experiences at the Erlebenshof. There are also Sagenbänkli (story benches) with QR codes in the municipality of Gommiswald. When looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether hiking, contact with animals, or village and cultural themes will shape your stay.

Hikes to the monastery and across the Linth Plain

The hike to Berg Sion Monastery is 2.7 km long, takes 45 minutes, and is rated easy. These three details answer different planning questions: 2.7 km is the distance, 45 minutes is the time required, and “easy” is the difficulty rating. The hike starts at the Berg-Sion-Strasse stop in Uetliburg and ends in Ernetschwil. Along the way, you pass the Chapel of Felix and Regula, which contains statues of the two saints. With its farm buildings and monastery church, Berg Sion Monastery is picturesquely situated on a hill spur at an altitude of 706 metres above sea level. The monastery church is open for prayer during the day. Please confirm local access arrangements before your visit.

The Uetliburg hiking trail is part of the cantonal hiking route from Uetliburg to Alp Egg. It runs from Rämel via Böschweid to Obere Bärüti. Reported as renovated in August 2026, the trail offers views across the entire Linth Plain. Trail conditions can change seasonally, so check them before setting out. The two hikes offer different ways to plan: the monastery hike focuses on distance, duration and difficulty rating, while the Uetliburg hiking trail is defined by its sequence of waypoints and the views across the plain.

Animal experiences at the Erlebenshof

At the Erlebenshof, visitors can see and pet cows, sheep, pigs and chickens up close. Visits for school classes combine contact with animals and ethics lessons. Children can take part in activity days and afternoons, with activities including building an insect hotel, making hay and feeding animals. The formats have different focuses: visits for school classes combine contact with animals and lessons, while the activities for children include specific hands-on tasks.

Village character and the municipality

Uetliburg’s village character includes a historic farming settlement and a chapel on a hillside terrace. Uetliburg also has a row of main and secondary buildings, as well as a restaurant. These architectural features draw attention to the settlement and its hillside setting, complementing the hiking trails with a distinct theme: the village’s built and settlement structure. The municipality of Gommiswald is in the Zürichsee-Linth region, on a south-facing slope.

Sagenbänkli (story benches) with QR codes are spread throughout the municipality of Gommiswald. They are easy to reach on foot or by bike; you can use the codes to listen to local legends on your smartphone. This extends the focus from Uetliburg’s village character to an attraction at the municipal level, where routes connect with stories available digitally.

For an overview of the wider area: Gommiswald.