The Chäferliweg Hike in Illgau is a short, but fun adventure trail designed for families with young kids. In this trail, the children are supposed to spot the seven ladybugs on their own. Both young and old will enjoy this easy, short hike in the mountains of Schwyz.
Overview: Chäferliweg, Illgau
| Age Group | All ages |
| Category | Hikes |
| Expected Duration | 2 hours, Half Day |
| Cost | For families: - CHF 9. per adult - CHF 4.50 per child Discounts given to locals and groups |
| Address | Dörfli CH-6434 Illgau |
| Website | http://seilbahn.illgau.ch/ |
| Opening Hours | In summer: - 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM to 4:45 PM |
| Public Transport | Ried, Seilb.Illgau Ried (Seilbahn) Illgau (Luftseilbahn) |
Illgau, Schwyz
Right across from Stoos mountain resort is Illgau, a smaller and more peaceful mountain resort. Like its neighbors Stoos and Rigi, the mountain has a soft, easy terrain, but it is devoid of lake views.
As a result of being protected by the wind, the village of Ilgau enjoys better weather than that of its neighbors. This sunny mountain resort is a popular family and local getaway in canton Schwyz. It is made up of the village sections of Illgau, Vorder Oberberg, and Hinter Oberberg, as well as scattered farmhouses. The farmhouses, located between 800 meters and about 1,300 meters above sea level, are occupied throughout the year.
Illgau’s houses are pretty and rustic; its mountains are dotted with various farmhouses. The village is quaint and traditional, and the locals are very friendly. Their hospitality is second to none and they welcome guests from all over. The views from Illgau and St. Karl are that of the mountains of Central Switzerland.
There are two cable cars in operation. The first runs from Ried to Illgau. The second runs from Illgau to St. Karl.
The Chäferliweg Theme Trail
Chäferli is the Swiss-German word for ladybug. And Weg means way.
You will receive a small white paper at the valley station of Illgau with the names of the ladybugs listed: Chusli, Ägedius, Felix, Elmar, Rick, Leila, and Isma. These seven ladybugs can be found scattered along the trail.
You can reach the trail by taking the small red cable car from Illgau to St. Karl. The trail starts as soon as you reach the mountain station. This trail is very straightforward. Everywhere you look there are signs, such as posts and ladybug marks on the floor. The children will find various playgrounds and play stations along the way. This is a stroller-friendly trail that can be accessed by all-terrain strollers.
Here are the details of the Chäferliweg trail:
| Route | – Mountain Station Illgau-St. Karl – Forest Playground St. Karl (Waldspielplatz) – Bell Station – Adventure Playground Balmli (Erlebnisspielplatz Balmli) – Illgau |
| Expected Duration | 50 minutes |
| Trail Length | 3 km |
| Stroller-friendly | Yes, all-terrain strollers |
At the beginning of the Chäferliweg Trail, a forest playground (Waldspielplatz St. Karl) is located in St. Karl. There is a witches’ house, a crane, balancing elements, two grills, and even a toilet.
Down the trail is a second playground called Spielplatz Balmli. A viewing platform and an insect hotel are among the attractions there. It also features a small ladybug house as shown in the image below.
The trail ends around ten minutes after you pass through the Balmli Playground in the village of Illgau.
How To Get To Chäferliweg Themed Trail
To get to Chäferliweg Trail with public transportation, simply go to Schwyz. Once in Schwyz, you will have to change to Bus 501 that stops in Ried (Muotathal), Seilb.Illgau. Ride the gondola in Ried towards Illgau. In Illgau, you will have to turn right and walk through the village until you find the next gondola that leads you to St. Karl.
If you are coming with the car, there are parking lots directly in front of the Illgau Cable Car Valley Station. The address is as follows: Dörfli, Illgau SZ.
Review:Chäferliweg, Illgau
Chäferliweg is an easy hiking path in Illgau-St. Karl. With its picturesque views of Stoos and views of Illgau from St. Karl, the region is beautiful.
The themed trail is fun and easy, and I think it is best for young pre-schoolers. This trail would be excellent for kids aged 3 to 6. Most of the route is downhill.
Older children who are already in school will find this trail relatively easy, especially if they already walk multiple times per day at least a kilometer on their way to primary school. Of course, older children could do this too, but it might not be as challenging for them.
Nevertheless, both St. Karl and Balmli playgrounds provide children of all ages with lots of interesting things to play with. I was particularly impressed by the variety available at the Forest Playground of St. Karl. Not a lot of other Swiss playgrounds will have cranes that you can fiddle with nor witches’ houses that you can explore. The presence of two grill areas complete with running water is also a major plus.
Also, parents will be able to enjoy the views and tranquility of the location. Even on a sunny day, it isn’t nearly as crowded as the nearby Stoos or Rigi. I think that the Illgau Chäferliweg trail is a good weekend hike for families with small children, especially for those who live in and around Central Switzerland.
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