For a long time, we had been attracted by the deep chasm created by the Mehlbach and which opens up to the part of the Vierwaldstättersee called Alpnachersee. When driving or taking the bus through Ennetmoos, you cannot miss this chasm. We therefore decided to start our hike in Stans and head for Alpnachstad. This decision was also because there was still snow at higher altitudes and that more alpine hikes would not have been possible.
From the Stans station, we first followed the marked path that leads over the Stanserhorn funicular, the only remnant of the three funiculars that used to lead to this tourist attraction until the end of the 1960s. As a result of a fire in October 1970, the hotel at the top of the mountain and the third section of the funicular were destroyed. In 1975, the two top sections of the funicular were replaced by a cable car.
The next part of the route led us over Stans Cantonal Hospital and across the busy road leading to Kerns. We then followed the marked path that leads around Rotzberg so that we could cross the chasm on the way up. Once we had left the chasm, we climbed a short distance to pass through the Vorder Rüti and follow the descending path, making a few turns towards the lake. A small bridge on the edge of the lake allows you to cross a place where the rock wall drops directly into the water.
Once we had reached the shore of the Alpnachersee, we crossed a re-naturalized area that used to be a gravel pit. After crossing the Sarner Aa, we had to walk around Alpnach airport and cross the Kleine Schlieren. We then walked around a boat workshop before reaching Alpnachstad station.
Route: Stans (station) – Rotzberghotstatt – Oeli – Rotzloch – Hinterbach – Vorder Rüti – Eichiried – Alpnachstad (station)
Distance: 11.2km
Elevation gain: 200m
Duration: 3h30
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