Wachseldornmoos is a bog of national importance in the northwest of Wachseldorn. Despite its name, it lies almost entirely within the neighbouring municipality of Buchholterberg. Wachseldorn itself is a municipality in the Canton of Bern and belongs to the Thun administrative district.
Raised Bog, Wet Meadows and Animal Habitats
The nature reserve preserves a remnant of raised bog with a peat base, wet meadows and areas where peat has been cut. The peat layer is about five to six metres thick. Sedge areas, reed beds, brackish water and, above all, a small lake provide habitats for numerous animals; the varied structures are also important for specialist species.
The history of how this landscape was used is part of understanding it: peat was extracted from Wachseldornmoos as fuel and used for cooking and heating until the 1960s. Four preserved peat huts are visible by the bog. Fuel used to be stored in them. Wachseldornmoos was declared a cantonal nature reserve on 20 December 1978.
Compare Hiking Routes by Time and Difficulty
The easy hike “Through Wachseldornmoos” is 5.7 kilometres long and takes 1 hour and 25 minutes. It passes Wachseldorn school, follows the edge of the raised bog of national importance and climbs up to Süderenhubel. From there, views extend from Schrattenflue across Honegg and the high Alps to the Stockhorn range.
A longer option is “The Raised Bog of Wachseldorn”: this moderate hike, classified as suitable for families, covers 11.9 kilometres and takes 3 hours and 30 minutes. It starts in Süderen at Gasthof zum Bären and leads to Wachseldornmoos.
The route from Oberdiessbach via Falkenflue, Heimenschwand and Wachseldornmoos to SĂĽderen is 15.4 kilometres long and moderately difficult. It is recommended for spring, summer and autumn. For this hike, travel by train to Oberdiessbach station, then change to bus route 44 to Oberdiessbach, Kastanienpark. The return journey is from SĂĽderen, Dorf, on bus route 42. Check current timetables before travelling.
The distance, duration and difficulty details help you choose between a shorter hike and a longer outing. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for a stay focused on the bog, you can first decide which hike you would like to take; for the longer route, the transfers mentioned and the return journey are also part of the planning.
Cross-Country Skiing as a Seasonal Winter Option
In winter, the “Large Chrüzweg / Wachseldornmoos Circuit” adds another option to the hikes: the cross-country skiing loop is 11 kilometres long and is listed for the classic technique. The Heimenschwand cross-country ski trail network passes through the municipalities of Buchholterberg, Oberlangenegg and Wachseldorn. This gives you a choice of different activities, each with its own distance and seasonal timing, without combining hiking and cross-country skiing into a single tour.
Discover more destinations: Uetendorf, Sigriswil, Thierachern, Eriz, Blumenstein, Forst bei Längenbühl, Aeschlen Ob Gunten, Thun.
Return to the main travel overview: Thun.
