Riverside landscapes, forest paths, sports and culture give Emmen a variety of things to explore. Along the Emme and Reuss, you’ll find walking trails and named routes; in the forests, circular trails and running routes take you through a range of themes. Swimming and other ways to stay active are the focus at Mooshüsli, while Rathausen explores art, electricity and local history. To plan your visit, it helps to decide first which of these aspects of the town interests you most.

River Trails, Sculptures and Themed Routes

The Emme Riverside Trail follows a river landscape from the Emme’s source in the heart of the UNESCO Entlebuch Biosphere Reserve to Emmen. Its fourth stage runs from Wolhusen to where the Emme flows into the Reuss at Emmenbrücke. The Planet Trail offers a different focus: it runs along the Reuss floodplain from the confluence of the Kleine Emme and the Reuss to Perlen. The planetary system can be explored on foot there at a scale of 1:1 billion.

In Schachenwald, the Sculpture Trail runs downstream from the Sedelbrücke to the Rathauserbrücke. Since 2005, more than 40 wooden sculptures have been created there from the stumps of felled trees. The trail focuses on wooden artworks and their connection to the forest; the riverside trails and Planet Trail, in turn, offer different thematic highlights.

Circular Trails and Forest Activities

The Celtic Tree Circle is a circular trail just over two kilometres long in Riffigwald, starting at Riffigweiher. Folding signs describe 22 selected trees. Riffigwald is also home to the 2.2-kilometre Vitaparcours, with 15 stations. You can choose between a circular trail with tree signs and a course with activity stations.

The Finnenbahn in Mooshüsliwald is 400 metres long, has a challenging topography and a soft surface made of fir branches and wood chips. This freely accessible circuit is free to use for running training. If you plan to visit outside the usual daytime hours, check the access conditions beforehand.

The disc golf course is another way to enjoy the outdoors: it extends across the Gersag grounds to Mooshüsliwald and has 15 baskets. Use is free; the section with the remaining eleven baskets can be played at any time. Check the current rules for using the forest before your visit.

Water and Sport at Mooshüsli

Mooshüsli outdoor pool covers 35,000 square metres. Facilities include an eight-lane, 50-metre competition pool, a 54-metre waterslide, a current channel, water play features and water jets, and a children’s paddling area with a water play garden. Some water features may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance.

The Mooshüsli mini-golf course, with 18 holes, is right next to the swimming complex. It is easy to reach by car or bus; check current public transport connections before setting out. PumpPark Emmen is located above Mooshüsli outdoor pool, right next to the themed playground. The 1,500-square-metre facility can be used with bikes, BMX bikes, skateboards, mini scooters, scooters and inline skates.

The Emmen beach sports facility has a beach soccer field, two volleyball courts, two handball courts and six tennis courts. Court availability may depend on reservations. The wellness area at Mooshüsli indoor pool includes an 85 °C Finnish sauna and a 45 °C aroma steam bath; facilities may change or be temporarily unavailable.

Art, Electricity and Local History

The Akku art platform hosts a varied programme of contemporary art exhibitions. Cultural events, public tours, lectures and readings complement the programme. Alongside the trails and sports facilities, it offers a distinct option for visitors interested in art and culture.

CKW Energy World in Rathausen offers free guided tours for schools, businesses, associations and families. Using augmented reality, it shows the inside of Rathausen power station, including its turbine, gearbox and generator block. CKW’s Electricity World explores electricity through talks, hands-on experiments and interactive 3D reliefs.

The exhibition in Rathausen offers insights into the site’s more than 750-year history along a walking route. Former residents and other contemporaries share personal experiences and memories. The Rathausen tour takes you to 30 locations or stations, which you can visit in any order.

Discover more destinations: Emmenbrücke, Hohenrain, Römerswil, Eschenbach Lu, Retschwil, Gelfingen, Hochdorf, Hämikon.

Go to the main travel overview: Hochdorf.