hoch ybrig summer

Hoch Ybrig peaks seen from the Seebli-Sternen chair lift

Yet another mountain. This time Hoch Ybrig, a few kilometers past Einsiedeln, about an hour drive southwest from Zurich. I particularly liked this trail because not only was it completely covered with wildflowers, but it was also right on the ridge so we could see everything on both sides of the mountain. The views, per usual, were gorgeous, with Lake Luzern (and Stoos) to the northwest. The trail is wide, well-defined, and mostly flat or slightly downhill, making it particularly appropriate for sturdy strollers and smaller children (though keep in mind the entire loop will probably take a couple hours). It costs 25CHF for a day pass, which includes the gondola and chair lifts (halbtax and GA don't apply). I thought this was one of the most pleasant trails I've done in Switzerland. I highly recommend it.

on the ridge trail, looking back toward the Sternen chair lift


ridge trail looking toward Lake Luzern

We took the gondola from Weglosen (in the valley) to Seebli (main base of Hoch Ybrig resort), then took the chair lift to Sternen. We walked the very mild ridge trail toward Spirstock (another chair lift that is closed until August). Before you reach Spirstock, you descend partially into the valley where the trail forks. If you continue to Spirstock, you must climb lots of steps (seriously, lots of steps) and navigate a mud bog cow trail for a good 30 mins to get to the restaurant (where the food was not great, just brats and fries). So instead I recommend continuing down through the valley back toward the gondola (you have to take this trail anyway as you come back from Spirstock). On the way back down, there's a restaurant, with a nice terrace, in case you're hungry. Most of the restaurants we passed had a trampoline and some play equipment.

lots of stairs up to Spirstock - skip these at the
house below and continue left, back to gondola

views over the south side of the ridge