Switzerland: Engelberg below Titlis Mountain

It is surrounded by the Uri Alps. South mountains around the city dominates Titlis mountain (3 238 m), covered with Titlisgletscher glacier. Titlis is famous for the highest hanging bridge in the world. It is 500 meters above ground at 3000 meters of altitude. You can get to the very top by walk from the upper station of the Ice Flyer cabin way.

Our journey took us from Engelberg to the south. The destination of our choice was Trübsee lake. A tourist trail and a cableway go to the lake. Then Rotair cableway follows. It goes on the top of Titlis.

There are two options how to get to the lake. The western route goes slightly up. The eastern trail is steep and pretty long. It follows a gentle stream, then goes through thick forest, a meadow on which cattle feeds itself (their bells only add to the atmosphere). The trail then adds with a steep ascend to Trübsee. This will get you Nidwalden canton. When you will go up, tourists traveling by cableway will wave at you and shake their heads because they wouldn’t understand how somebody can go this on foot. When you go up the steepest hill, hold righ until you get to Trübsee lake (1800 m). This journey took us 2 hours and 20 minutes.

What I highly recommend is to take with you some grilling meat, or sausages to grill as it would make you a beautiful picnic-style lunch on Trübsee lake. When going around lake, you encounter four fireplaces which are ready for you. They also lend kayaks, and you can nicely refresh yourself at a house on the lake’s shore.

Should you intend tot get on the top of Titlis mountain you can take Rotair cableway, or just continue along the ridge and enter at the mid-way-station.

On our way back we went to the west around a steep ridge, so it gradually descended. There is another refreshment stall on a hill. The bottom part of the road crosses a road which was crowded with scooters, and other refreshment can be done even here. The descend to Engelberg took 1.5 hours.

Should you have still some energy, you can go, for instance, around Vierwaldstättersee lake or go swim in Sarnersee lake.

Text/photo: Martina Brožková