Mountain biking and cycling

Mountain biking and cycling are activities that are well catered for here in Engelberg. There are marked routes for all levels, ranging from tough, long distance mountain bike trails and exhilarating downhill rides, all accessed by cable car, through to easy rides along the valley floor.

You can also take your bike on the train and explore some of the more out of the way mountains and side valleys near to Engelberg, or take a more leisurely cycle around the shore of the beautiful Lake Luzern.

If you are not bringing your own bike, mountain bikes and equipment can be hired from a number of places in Engelberg and guided tours of the area are offered by many of the local hire shops.

You can also hire normal road bikes for exploring the roads and paths around Engelberg village, or down the valley towards Luzern – these are perfect routes for relaxed cycling, and ideal for families.

We have plenty of space in the chalet for storing your bikes and equipment at the end of each day.

Via Ferrata and climbing

Climbing is popular in Engelberg but Via Ferrata is especially popular – Engelberg is probably the best place in Switzerland to experience the sport.

Via Ferrata is the name given to high-level paths, which use fixed steel cables for safety, as well as ladders and hanging bridges to overcome sheer rock faces or difficult sections. Via Ferrata (or Klettersteig as it is known locally), originated in the Italian Dolomites and Austrian Tirol during the First World War. Soldiers attached pitons, ladders and cables to rock faces so that they could move more easily across the precipitous terrain. After the war mountain guides used this network of routes to gain access to traditional climbing areas. Gradually the network of Via Ferrata spread, and a new sport was born.

Via Ferrata is great fun, and accessible to anyone, young or old, who is moderately fit (and who does not have a great fear of heights). The beauty of the sport is that climbs are graded for difficulty, and it opens up parts of the mountain that were previously only accessible to experienced climbers with lots of equipment. All you need is a helmet, good shoes/boots, safety straps and karabiner, all of which can be hired from local sport shops in Engelberg.

There are five locations for Via Ferrata in Engelberg, and these range in difficulty from very easy and suitable for children, to very hard and suitable only for the fit and experienced. All are available with or without guides, although we would recommend the use of an instructor or guide if you are new to the sport or if you are unsure about local conditions (especially the weather).