Alpnach lies on Lake Lucerne at the foot of Mount Pilatus. The municipality is divided into the districts of Alpnach Dorf, Schoried and Alpnachstad, including Niederstad. The village of Alpnach lies in the Sarneraa Valley at 464 m above sea level; the municipality’s lowest point is Lake Alpnach at 434 m above sea level, and its highest is Tomlishorn at 2,128 m above sea level. The Kleine Schliere and Große Schliere rivers also flow through Alpnach.
Ride the Pilatus cogwheel railway up Mount Pilatus
The Pilatus cogwheel railway runs from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm. It began operating in 1889, and its maximum gradient is 48 percent. The route, year it opened and gradient give the railway journey a clear historical and technical context.
A jogging loop, mountain hike and walk
If you are planning a jogging loop, the approximately 5 km «Städerried Runde» starts at Alpnach Dorf railway station. For a mountain hike, the moderately difficult route from Alpnachstad via Rengg Pass to Fräkmüntegg at 1,416 m above sea level offers far-reaching views of the lake and the Alps. A walk from Alpnachstad to Alpnach Dorf follows Lake Alpnach and the Kleine Schliere. These options include a loop with an approximate distance, a mountain hike with a difficulty rating and destination, and a walk between two districts.
Lakeside scenery and nature conservation
The Sarnen–Wichelsee–Alpnachstad route passes through the area around Lake Wichel. The lake was formed by damming in 1957; since 2005, the area has been protected as a nature reserve for rare animal and plant species. It is also considered a valuable landscape and recreation area. Along the route, you can continue the walk on the east side of the railway line to the Kleine Schliere, then follow its left-hand embankment to the Kleine Schliere delta.
The Städerried recreation area in Alpnachstad is family-friendly and has a long beach of sand and gravel. The neighboring island is a nature conservation zone and a valuable habitat for plants and animals. Fishing is permitted outside the nature conservation zone at the recreation area. The recreation area, protected island and geographically limited permission to fish are therefore clearly distinct.
Historic trails and structures
The Polenweg Wängen–Rickmettlen in Alpnach is a historic transport route of national significance. Its centerpiece is called «Tremola en miniature». The route includes a stone arch bridge and professionally built drainage channels (Tombino). For much of its length, the Polenweg is marked as a hiking and mountain hiking trail.
The churches and chapels also represent different historical periods. The present-day parish church of St. Mary Magdalene in Alpnach was built between 1812 and 1821; St. Michael’s Chapel in Alpnach Dorf was consecrated in 1501. Its consecration thus took place more than three centuries before the present-day parish church was built. The parish church and chapels in Alpnach are open to anyone seeking and respecting a special place of worship.
Alpnach is associated with traditional dairy farming and alpine pasture management. Cheeses associated with the area include Sbrinz, Obwaldner Alpkäse and Parmino.
Discover more destinations: Giswil, Sarnen, Melchsee-Frutt, Kerns, Lungern, Sachseln, Engelberg
Return to the overview of the region: Obwalden.
