Hiking Uetliberg

Uetliberg

The Uetliberg (870 masl) is the house mountain of the city of Zurich in Switzerland. The Uetliberg thrones iconically over the city of Zurich, offering its citizens and visitors an escape into nature. A train takes visitors in only 20 minutes from Zurich main station to Uetliberg. On the top of Uetliberg, the restaurant Uto-Kulm and the viewing tower, Uetliberg set the scene of this iconic Swiss landmark. In this article, we will present our favorite hike on Uetliberg, the hike from Uetliberg Uto-Kulm to Felsenegg to Albispasshöhe.

View from Uetliberg over Lake Zurich
View from Uetliberg Uto-Kulm over Lake Zurich in winter.

Hiking Uetliberg

The Uetlieberg offers many great hikes with amazing views over Lake Zurich, the city of Zurich, and the Alps. Hiking is possible in winter and in summer. Given the proximity to the city of Zurich, Uetliberg is a great destination for half-day hikes or an after-work hike. In this post, we feature our favorite hike on Uetliberg, the hike from Uetliberg Uto-Kulm to Felsenegg to Albispasshöhe. We will also present a sporty addition, the hike from Triemli to Uetliberg. And for everyone who loves to combine a delicious meal with a hike (this is us!), we also introduce you to some Dine-options on the way. Let’s go!

Uetliberg Uto-Kulm, Viewing tower and TV-Tower
Uetliberg Uto-Kulm, Viewing tower, and TV-Tower

The hike from Uetliberg – Felsenegg – Albispasshöhe is the best hike on Uetliberg

The hike from Uetliberg – FelseneggAlbispasshöhe is the best hike on Uetliberg. Here are 5 reasons why we think it’s true:

Great views: The hike from Uetliberg offers amazing views of Lake Zurich and the city as well as the Alpst item
Close to the city of Zurich: Do you work in Zurich and have a half day off? Hop in the train, go up to Uetliberg, and start your hike! You are up there in only 27 minutes!
Accessible all year round: This hike can be done all year round and it looks gorgeous in all seasons (Important: stay on the track and watch the signs in winter)
It’s for everyone: This is an easy hike (and therefore very popular). Also, you can split this hike into different legs. Read more on how to do that below
Dine everywhere: If you are a fan of Hike&Dine, you will know how important food is to us! Uetliberg offers it all, from tea huts that serve hot coffee to amazing restaurants

We will describe the hike in 2 legs: 1. Hiking from Uetliberg to Felsenegg and 2. Hiking from Felsenegg to Albispasshöhe. It can be done as one hike, of course. This way, you have all the relevant information to plan your hike according to your needs. Let’s start the hike from Uetliberg – Felsenegg – Albispasshöhe!

Hiking from Uetliberg to Felsenegg

The hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg is an easy hike and can be done all year. It takes about 1:40h to get from Uetliberg to Felsenegg. The hike starts on Uto Kulm on Uetliberg and ends on Felsenegg. Most of the time hikers walk on a broad gravel road. This itinerary is also suited for families with children.

1:35h

5.61km

+215m
-225m

easy

Map

GPX

Yes

5/5

Interactive map from the hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg

Find here an interactive and free map of the hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg

Our experience hiking from Uetliberg to Felsenegg

Matthias and Solène on Uetliberg on a sunny spring day. Behind them lake Zurich and the mountains.
Matthias and Solène on Uetliberg on a sunny spring day. Behind them are lake Zurich and the mountains.

This hike starts with a train ride! Take the train from Zurich main station to Uetliberg. The train ride costs 4.40 Swiss Francs (one way) in the second class and lasts 20 minutes. At the terminal station Uetliberg, there’s a restaurant (Gmüetliberg). We take the stairs up and walk about 10-15 minutes to the top of Uetliberg. From here, you have the best view of the city and the lake of Zurich. There is also a viewing tower. However, you have to pay for that – decide for yourself if the money is worth the extra meters. We decided not to and spent the 5 francs for coffee on the sunny terrace of Hotel Uto-Kulm. Obviously, everything here is high-priced. Remember: This is a hike in the financial capital of Switzerland.

Sunset on the hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg.
A fairytale sunset on the hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg in winter

Uetliberg Uto-Kulm is the starting point of our hike to Felsenegg

From the top of Uetliberg, Uto-Kulm, we took the stairs down. In wintertime, there can be a lot of ice, so watch out. After 5 minutes of walking down the stairs, we reached a broad gravel road. The stairs were the steepest part of the hike. The thoughtest leg of this hike is already behind us. We passed the restaurant Uto-Staffel. The hike – more of a walk, actually – is pretty self-explanatory. We walked along the road called Gratstrasse and at some point reached a fireplace with a bench and an amazing view, where we sat down for a moment.

Matthias starting hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg on Uto Kulm.Behind him lake Zurich.
Matthias starting hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg on Uto Kulm.Behind him is lake Zurich.

A tea hut and a farm on the hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg

In the mood for tea? We were. About 200 meters after the bench we discovered the tea hut Falltäsche. The wooden house offers tea lovers a welcome rest. We especially like this cozy place in wintertime, when it’s cold and dark. They offer a small menu with snacks and a delicious “Huustea” (homemade tea) for just one franc. After a cup of tea, we went back to Gratstrasse and continued our hike to Felsenegg. Once we left the forest, we reached the Mädikon farm. They have a coffee place which is cute. As we had tea before, we walked on. A little bit further down the road, we reached Balderen Beizli, open on sunny days on the weekend, and a crossroad.

Sunset on Balderen on the hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg in winter
Sunset on Balderen on the hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg in winter

Two paths from Balderen to Felsenegg

From Balderen there are 2 paths to Felsenegg. Either, you make a left and enjoy a small trail across a field. Or, you continue the hike on the asphalt road to Felsenegg. We took the trail every time, and also this time. This leg of the hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg is especially beautiful at sunset. The trail brought us to the cable car at Felsenegg from where you can go to Adliswil. A couple of steps away is the restaurant Felsenegg. Proudly, we reached our destination, Felsenegg, and enjoyed the stunning views over Lake Zurich.

The other way around: Hiking from Felsenegg to Uetliberg

Hikers can also choose to do this hike the other way around and start on Felsenegg and end on Uetliberg. To do this, take the train from Zurich main station to Adliswil. From Adliswil train station, It’s a 10-minute walk to the cablecar Adliswil-Felsenegg. After the short cable car ride, make a left and you are standing on the hiking trail from Felsenegg to Uetliberg.

The planetary path from Uetliberg to Felsenegg

The hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg is also called the planetary path. It was opened in 1979. The goal is to visualize the distances between the different planets in our solar system. 1 meter on the planetary path corresponds to 1 million kilometers in the universe. The trail serves as a learning path for students and everyone interested in our solar system. The different planets are visualized on the way, starting with the sun at the start of the hike between the Uetliberg train station and the top of Uetliberg here.

Hiking from Felsenegg to Albispasshöhe

The hike from Felsenegg – Buchenegg – Albispass is an easy hike that can be done all year round. Hikers from Uetliberg can stop their hike in Felsenegg and take the cable car to Adliswil or hike on. Hikers who start their hike on Felsenegg take the cable car uphill from Adliswil. The hike starts at Felsenegg, a cable car station, and ends at Albispasshöhe. It takes about 1:35 hours. On this hike, you pass Bucheneggpass. The hike offers great views of Lake Zurich, views back to Uetliberg, and amazing sights of Lake Zug and the mountains surrounding it. It’s suited for everyone.

1:25h

4.7km

+145m
-160m

easy

Map

GPX

Yes

4/5

Interactive Map of the Hike from Felsenegg to Albispasshöhe

Our experience hiking from Felsenegg – Buchenegg – Albispasshöhe

Whether you started your hike on Uetliberg or will start your hike on Felsenegg, this experience report is for you! Read below everything about our hike from Felsenegg via Buchenegg to Albispasshöhe.

Train from Zurich main station to Adliswil

On a sunny spring day, we took the train from Zurich’s main station to Adliswil. From Adliswil train station, we followed the sign to “Felsenegg”. There is an icon of a cable car and a big graffiti on the wall in the train station. You can’t miss it! After a 10 minutes walk uphill, we got to the station of the cable car to Felsenegg. The GA and half-fare card of the Swiss National Railway (SBB) are valid here, so we hopped into the cable car in no time.

Cable car from Adliswil to Felsenegg, the starting point of our hike to Albispasshöhe

The short cable car ride offered a great view of Uetliberg and across Lake Zurich. After only 10 minutes, we stood on the hiking trail. We checked the signpost and started our walk to Felsenegg. We reached restaurant Felsenegg in only 5 minutes. We sat on one of the chairs on the big terrace and had a coffee while overlooking Lake Zurich.

Restaurant Felsenegg before sunset
Restaurant Felsenegg before sunset

After the coffee break, we hit the trail. In the case of the hike from Felsenegg to Albispasshöhe, the trail is an actual gravel road. It’s wide, open, and easy to walk on. First, we hiked through a forest. Once we got through, we got a first view of the “other side”, the direction of central Switzerland. Beautiful greens, and somewhere on the horizon the silhouette of Mount Pilatus. And in no time, we reached Buchenegg.

Profile picture of Solène Stucker, co-founder of Hike&Dine
Solène’s Dine Tip

Hike&Dine: Coming up!

“There are many restaurants on the way and we are still sampling the cuisines to give you the best possible recommendations. We will update this post once we found the perfect Dine-Tip.”  

Hiking on from Buchenegg to Albispasshöhe

In Buchenegg, there are 2 restaurants. The restaurant Buchenegg is on the left side of the trail; and the other one called “Chnuschperhüsli”, which references the characters of Willhelm Busch (Max and Moritz), is on the right. As we only hiked for 20 minutes, we skipped both, but will come back to sample their cuisine and let you know!

We crossed the road on Bucheneggpass. On the other side of the street, the hiking path goes slightly uphill. For the next 45 minutes, we walked in a forest. Suddenly, we saw a sign pointing to a place called “Albishaus”. Solène got a little bit hungry, so we followed the sign downhill on a small trail. A restaurant with a beautiful terrace offering a view of Lake Zug around it greeted us. What a treat. Next time, we plan to eat here 😉

From Albispasshöhe with the Postauto (bus) back to Thalwil and Zurich

From Albishaus it’s only a 15-minute walk to Albispasshöhe. After only 1 hour and 25 minutes, we reached our goal. We waited for the Postauto (bus). We enjoyed our ride to Thalwil, where we switched to the train. Having arrived in Zurich, we look up to Uetliberg. It’s amazing to have you so close to the city!

Sunset on Felsenegg
Sunset on Felsenegg

Hiking from Zurich Triemli to Uetliberg Uto-Kulm

The hike from Zurich Triemli to Uetliberg is a medium-intense hike and can be done most of the year (avoid snow and rainy days). It takes about 1:25h to get from Zurich Triemli to Uetliberg Uto Kulm. The hike starts at the Zurich Triemli bus stop and takes hikers 426 meters uphill to Uetliberg Uto-Kulm. The 3.76 km long hike is a standalone hike or a sporty addition before your hike from Ueteliberg to Felsenegg.

4:00h

9.8km

+241m
-530m

medium

Map

GPX

Yes

5/5

Interactive Maps of the Hike from Triemli to Uetliberg Uto-Kulm

Find here an interactive map of the hike from Triemli to Uetliberg Uto-Kulm:

An addition for sporty hikers: Hike from Zurich Triemli to Uetliberg Uto-Kulm

Do you think the hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg is too easy for you? We got you covered: instead of taking the train to Uetliberg, hike up! The starting point of this hike is the bus stop in Zurich-Triemli . The hike from Triemli to Uetliberg Uto-Kulm is 3.76km long and takes you 426 meters uphill. From the bus stop in Triemli, walk up to the Zurich Triemli train station. Cross the train tracks and walk up to the forest. You can see the yellow sign path pointing at Uetliberg. The hike from Triemli to Uetliberg Uto-Kulm is about 1:25 hours long if you take it slowly. There are many routes you can take to get to Uetliberg. We recommend you stay on the indicated classic hiking route, the Hohensteinweg. For the first 40 minutes, the trail will bring you uphill through the forest. You will gain elevation quickly, and get some first amazing views over the city of Zurich.

Sun shining through the forest on the hike from Triemli to Uetliberg
Sun shining through the forest on the hike from Triemli to Uetliberg

From Hohensteinplatz, a children’s playground with a fireplace, you walk on the main path for a moment before you make a left. Now, you are walking on a trail, and some staircases will bring you further up. This is the best bit of this hike as you get amazing views over Lake Zurich. And, you are mostly alone! After the first stairs, another will follow. This last bit will take you steeply uphill until you reach the bottom of the legendary antenna tower which has become the iconic landmark of Uetliberg and the city of Zurich. A couple of steps further up and you reach Uto-Kulm on Uetliberg. From here, you can take the train back to Zurich or continue with the hike from Uetliberg to Felsenegg as described in this article.

Hotels and accommodation for the hike up the Üetliberg

We recommend these hotels and accommodation for the hike from Visp to Visperterminen:

Hotel UTO KULM: The hotel is located at the start of the hike directly on the Üetliberg. The Üetliberg is car-free. From this hotel you have a fantastic view of Zurich and many other places. If you want to relax after your hike, you can do so in the sauna area.

FIVE Zurich: A five-star hotel right at the foot of the Üetliberg. The FIVE has several restaurants and a spa. In summer you can refresh yourself in the outdoor pool

Belvoir Swiss Quality Hotel: The Belvoir is situated at the end of the hike. From Adliswil railway station (end of the hike) you can reach the hotel in 30 minutes by public transport. From the Hotel Belvoir you have a beautiful view of Lake Zurich. It also has a spa and a restaurant with 14 Gault Millau points.


Prepare your visit to Uetliberg

Q: What’s the best way to go to Uetliberg by public transport?
A: The easiest way to get to Uetliberg is by train from Zurich main station. You can look up the connections here. From the train station on Uetliberg, it’s a 10-15 minute walk to Uto Kulm, the peak of Uetliberg.

Q: What is the best way to get to Felsenegg by public transport?
A: The best way to get to Felsenegg by public transport is to take the train from Zurich main station to Adliswil (look up connections here). From Adliswil, it’s a 10 minute walk to the cablecar Adliswil Felsenegg. The cable car will take you from Adliswil to Felsenegg in only 5 minutes (look up connections here).

Q: When is the best time to visit Uetliberg?
A: Try to avoid the weekends! On Saturdays and Sundays, it can get very busy on Uetliberg as locals and tourists alike are visiting Uetliberg. You can visit Uetlieberg all year.

Q: What is the best time of the year to hike from Uetliberg Uto-Kulm to Felsenegg?
A: You can hike from Uetliberg Uto-Kulm to Felsenegg all year. Check the weather conditions before you go through and avoid rainy days.

Q: What is the best time of the year to hike from Triemli to Uetliberg?

A: You can hike from Triemli to Uetliberg in spring, summer, and autumn. In winter, make sure that the hiking trail is open and check the weather conditions. Don’t go when it’s raining or icy, as it can be slippery and dangerous.

Q: Is there a restaurant or hotel on Uetliberg?
A: Yes. Hotel Uto-Kulm offers rooms and a restaurant with a big terrace.

Q: Where can I find the Uetliberg webcam?
A: Here you can find the webcam on Uto Kulm, Uetliberg.

Q: Is there a restaurant or hotel in Felsenegg?
A: Yes. There is a restaurant in Felsenegg. Find more info about restaurant Felsenegg here.

Q: Where can I find the webcam on Felsenegg?
A: You can find the webcam on Felsenegg here.

Q: What is the weather on Ueliberg and on Felsenegg right now?
A: Check out these webcams to get a live feed to Uto Kulm on Uetliberg, and to Felsenegg. You can always check the weather Meteosuisse.


More impressions from our hikes on Uetliberg

Check out these impressions from our hike from Uetliberg Uto-Kulm to Felsenegg and from Triemli to Uetliberg. We did this hike many times, in summer and winter. We hope you enjoy our selections of photographs from these hikes.

Night over Lake Zurich. Seen from Felsenegg.
Night over Lake Zurich. Seen from Felsenegg.
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