Uetliberg: Nature, Views and Trails

Landscape on Uetliberg

Uetliberg forms the northern end of the Albis mountain range; its summit is within the municipality of Stallikon. It is 870 metres above sea level, and Nagelfluh conglomerate occurs on the mountain. The wider area also matters when considering the landscape: the Uetliberg-Albis area is a valuable natural landscape with a great variety of habitats for plants and animals. Uetliberg and Albis are home to one of the largest yew populations in Europe. The Fallätsche on the southern slope of Uetliberg has been a protected area since 2009.

Routes and activities

The Uetliberg–Felsenegg Planet Trail runs from the Uetliberg station, marked by the Sun, to the Felsenegg cable car’s mountain station, marked by Pluto—or in the opposite direction. It is laid out at a scale of 1:1 billion: one metre on the route corresponds to one million kilometres in the solar system. The trail uses a model to illustrate the vast distances between the planets.

The observation tower on Uetliberg offers 360-degree views over the city, the lake and the Alps. It has 178 steps. The view and the planetary model offer different perspectives: one is about looking out over the landscape, the other about distances in the solar system.

Those interested in bike trails can compare two routes by length and gradient. The Triemli Trail is 3,500 metres long and has a gradient of 10 percent. The Höckler Trail is 3,100 metres long, with a 13 percent gradient. The Triemli Trail is therefore 400 metres longer, while the Höckler Trail’s gradient is three percentage points steeper.

The toboggan run from Uetliberg to Triemli is 3.1 kilometres long and has a vertical drop of 330 metres. It operates depending on snow conditions, so check conditions before visiting to go tobogganing. Paragliding is also subject to a condition: it is possible on Uetliberg when the Bise, or north-easterly wind, is light to moderate. Check the wind conditions before taking part.

History on the mountain

Archaeological finds point to almost continuous settlement since the Neolithic period. The poet Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock climbed the mountain in 1750; the name Uto is also associated with his ode “Der Zürchersee”. The Alt Uetliberg farm was first mentioned around 1620 and is considered evidence of the older farming culture on Uetliberg. These historical connections span archaeological traces, literature and traditional agriculture.

Getting here for your stay

You can reach Uetliberg directly from Zurich Main Station on S-Bahn line S10 in about 25 minutes. This travel time is a guide; check the current timetable before your journey. This makes it easy to factor the journey into your plans, while allowing you to take the relevant conditions into account for activities on the mountain.

Discover more destinations: Aeugstertal, Affoltern Am Albis, Aeugst Am Albis, Ottenbach, Kappel Am Albis, Bonstetten, Knonau, Hausen Am Albis.

Back to the main travel overview: Affoltern.