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Hiking Trail recommended route Stage 5

Tell Trail stage 5: Stans-Engelberg

Hiking Trail · Switzerland
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  • Felspassage Wagenleis
    Felspassage Wagenleis
    Photo: Switzerland Tourism / Silvano Zeiter, Region Luzern-Vierwaldstättersee
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The fifth stage of the Tell Trail starts on the Stanserhorn. Then you hike along the newly opened ridge path over the Storegg pass to Engelberg.
difficult
Distance 28.6 km
9:55 h
1,501 m
2,375 m
2,159 m
453 m
The CabriO open-deck / double-deck cable car takes you high up the Stanserhorn and opens up a panorama of the mountains of Central Switzerland. Soon, however, it's time to turn your back on the Pilatus and Lake Lucerne, because stage 5 is demanding. You follow the Nidwaldner Höhenweg (high-level trail) to the Storegg pass and continue past little Lake Luter, via Bocki and Lake Untertrüb to Engelberg.

 

The highlight of the route is the newly opened ridge walk between the Stanserhorn and Engelberg.

 

Walking time: approx. 10 hours | Distance: 25.1 km | Total elevation gain (including cable car): 1,501 m | Total elevation loss: 2,375 m

Author’s recommendation

Due to the long distance, stage 5 is also worth tackling as a two-day tour. The TentCamp on the ridge in Alp Laucheren is probably one of the most impressive places to for a stop-over on the entire Tell Trail. 

 

Tip No. 2: Get a treat at the Untertrübsee alpine cheese dairy, where you can buy traditional Sbrinz cheese, among other things. 

Profile picture of Laila Bosco
Author
Laila Bosco
Update: July 06, 2022
Difficulty
difficult
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
2,159 m
Lowest point
453 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Asphalt 9.59%Forested/wild trail 5.02%Path 45.15%Road 0.11%Lift/cableway 12.23%Unknown 27.86%
Asphalt
2.7 km
Forested/wild trail
1.4 km
Path
12.9 km
Road
0 km
Lift/cableway
3.5 km
Unknown
8 km
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Rest stops

Restaurant Untertrübsee

Safety information

T3: demanding mountain hiking. 

 

• Good surefootedness

• Average navigation skills

• Elementary alpine experience

The key Schluchberg/Wagenleis section is made safe with thick ropes.

Tips and hints

This stage is part of the long-distance Tell Trail, which runs through the whole of Central Switzerland in eight stages.

 

Further information on the Tell Trail: www.luzern.com/telltrail

Start

Lower terminus of the Stanserhorn aerial cableway (452 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'670'391E 1'201'218N
DD
46.958309, 8.363444
DMS
46°57'29.9"N 8°21'48.4"E
UTM
32T 451567 5200727
w3w 
///muted.decanter.proved
Show on Map

Destination

Engelberg village

Turn-by-turn directions

You start off with a world record-breaking cable car ride: the double-deck CabriO cable car with its open upper deck whisks you from Stans up the Stanserhorn for a spectacular panorama of the mountains of Central Switzerland. Soon, however, it's time to turn your back on the Pilatus and Lake Lucerne, because stage 5 is demanding. After the descent to the Ächerli pass, the ascent to the Arvigrat at alt. 2000 m follows. The panoramic views of the Engelberg and Sarnen valleys and distant Alps are magnificent.

 

After this vista, the real highlight of stage 5 follows. You follow the Gräfimattgrad in the direction of Schluchberg and reach the key passage. The rock passage Wagenleis is made safe with thick ropes to hold on to. However, surefootedness and a head for heights are still a prerequisite. The hike continues over the Schluchigrat to the Storegg pass. Nearby Lake Luter is a tempting place for a break and gives you renewed strength for the last steep ascent to the Bocki. From the highest point of the hike at alt. 2155 m, it's downhill all the way, past the Haltenhütte refuge and the Lake Untertrüb alp dairy. Stage 5 ends in the village of Engelberg.

Note

Wildlife refuge Arvigrad-Dürrenboden: December 15 - April 30
all notes on protected areas

Public transport

Public-transport-friendly

National and international connections (from Zurich airport connections every half hour with approx. 1h travel time) to Lucerne. From Lucerne you take the Zentralbahn to Stans. The valley station of the Stanserhorn cable car is only a five-minute walk from the station.

Getting there

By car, take the A2 (Basel-Gotthard) to Stans Nord.  There are various parking facilities available in the village of Stans. 

Parking

There are various parking facilities available in the village of Stans. There are also parking spaces at the valley station of the Stanserhorn cable car.

Coordinates

SwissGrid
2'670'391E 1'201'218N
DD
46.958309, 8.363444
DMS
46°57'29.9"N 8°21'48.4"E
UTM
32T 451567 5200727
w3w 
///muted.decanter.proved
Show on Map
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike

Book recommendations for this region:

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Equipment

Sturdy footwear.

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Difficulty
difficult
Distance
28.6 km
Duration
9:55 h
Ascent
1,501 m
Descent
2,375 m
Highest point
2,159 m
Lowest point
453 m
Public-transport-friendly Multi-stage route Refreshment stops available Cableway ascent/descent

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