Engelberg Attractions

Urirotstock is one of the best climbs from Engelberg, (2932 m/9620ft: eight-nine hours, with guide).

The first stage of the Benedictine Way is from Engelberg village center via Brunni/Ristis (1,600 m/5,251ft), Alp Stafel (1,694 m/5,560ft) and Walenalp to Wolfenschiessen (guest houses). It continues by cableway to Haldiwald (1,400 m/4,595ft) or by cabin cableway to Schmidsboden (1,215 m/3,988ft) climbing down the Underrist-Hütti to Dallenwil (inn).

Climbs from Engelberg include: Titlis (3,239 m/10,627ft), usually starting either from the Trübsee Hotel or from Kleintitlis; Hutstock (2,680 m/8,793ft: six hours; wild goats); Schlossberg (3,155 m/10,351ft: eight hours); Engelberger Rotstock (2,820 m/9,252ft: six hours, with guide);

Terminus of narrow-gauge railroad from Lucerne via Stans (one hour); cableways Engelberg-Gerschnialp (length 528 m/1,733ft, height difference 264 m/868ft, time four minutes); Engelberg-Trübsee (length 2,195 m/7,204ft, height difference 531 m/1,742ft, time six minutes); Trübsee-Stand-Kleintitlis (length 3,465 m/11,369ft, height difference 1,220 m/4,003ft, time 14 minutes); Trübsee-Joch pass (length 1,459 m/4,787ft, height difference 439 m/1,440ft, time 13minutes); Engstlensee-Joch pass (length 1,631 m/5,351ft, height difference 273 m/896ft, time 10 minutes); Rindertitlis-Laubersgrat (length 1,183 m/3,883ft, height difference 385 m/1,264ft, time eight minutes); Engelberg-Brunni (length 1,193 m/3,914ft, height difference 582 m/1,910ft, time six minutes).

From Trübsee by chair lift (or on foot in 1.25 hours) to the Joch pass (2,215 m/7,267ft: ski hut), and from there a bridle-path (one hour) to the Engslensee (1,852 m/6,076ft), in a magnificent mountain setting, and on to the Engstlenalp (1,839 m/6,034ft), one of the finest areas of Alpine pasture in the country (rich flora, superb views) and the Melchsee.

Titlis (3,239 m/10,627ft), covered by eternal snow and ice, is the highest viewpoint in central Switzerland, offering a unique panorama of the Alps (ice cave, glacier trail). Restaurants on Titlis and in Stand (2,450 m/8,038ft). Cableway Engelberg-Titlis (45 minutes).

Rewarding walks in the surrounding area of Engelberg can be taken to the Bergli (1,341 m/4,400ft); to the Surenenalp and Tätschbach Falls (1,090 m/3,576ft: restaurant); and by the Herrenrüti grazings to the Nieder-Surenenalp (1,260 m/4,134ft: restaurant) and the Arnialp.

The highest experimental solar power station at Stand came into operation in 1988 with energy being produced by a bank of solar panels. With a nominal output at present of 2.3 kW, an annual output of between 3,000 and 3,500 kWh is expected.

From Engelberg there is a funicular to the Gerschnialp (1,266 m/4,154ft), and from there a cableway by way of the steep Pfaffenwand to the Trübsee Hotel (1,792 m/5,880ft); descent in two hours via the Trübseealp.