The red-and-beige Forchbahn train “Frieda” takes you from Zürich Stadelhofen to rural Förch in about 20 minutes. Forch station is also a starting point for excursions on foot, by bicycle and, in winter, on cross-country skis. This lets you tailor your stay to your preferred activity, from a hike through a ravine to a longer route across the Pfannenstiel.

Hiking and cycling routes from Forch

One hike leads from Forch through the Werenbach ravine, past the Forchdenkmal monument and on to the tram museum. If you prefer two wheels, you can take a cycling tour across the Pfannenstiel to Lake Lützelsee; there are views of Lake Zürich along the way. The routes therefore differ in their mode of transport and destination, so you don’t have to limit yourself to just one type of excursion.

The Pfannenstiel Trail leads from Forch to Meilen. From Forch station, it first heads to the edge of the forest, where views open up across Lake Greifensee and the Zürcher Oberland. Further along, the route passes through Toggwil and the Meilen ravine, as well as the ruins of Friedberg Castle. Once in Meilen, you can return by boat or S-Bahn. The route combines forest and ravine sections with a clear destination and several specified return options.

Another hike leads from Forch via Kaltenstein and Wangen to Tobelmüli and on into the Küsnacht ravine, passing the Dragon’s Cave and the ruins of Wulp Castle before reaching Alexanderstein and Küsnachter Horn. The route is listed as taking two hours, with 70 metres of ascent and 330 metres of descent. For navigation, follow the signposts; the trail passes underneath the main road to the hamlet of Wangen, then descends to the stream via a total of 70 steps. These details give you concrete pointers for the route and its elevation profile.

Local character, history and seasonal alternatives

The station itself also opens onto a landscape with cultural and historical points of interest. The hill with the ruins of Wulp Castle was already inhabited in the Late Bronze Age and was later used by the Romans as a stronghold. Alexanderstein is a five-metre-high glacial erratic named after geologist Alexander Wettstein. There is also a fire pit near the ruins of Wulp Castle, which is a good place to take a break in fine weather; whether it can be used may depend on local conditions.

The hamlet of Forch is characterised by ridge lines that run parallel to the roads. An inventory binding on the authorities has been drawn up for the village’s protected townscape. The area around the Wehrmännerdenkmal monument is also designated as a protected area and divided into three zones. These details add a glimpse of the built and protected surroundings to your route planning, without limiting your excursion to a single attraction.

For a family outing through the Küsnacht ravine, the Ringo excursion is another option: it takes you to Forch on the “Frieda” Forchbahn train, followed by a walk through the green ravine. It takes four to five hours in total, including two hours on foot, and is suitable for pushchairs. The total duration and stated walking time help distinguish this outing from a hike.

In winter, another option depends on snowfall: when there is sufficient snow cover, the Guldenen cross-country ski trail near Forch is 30 kilometres long and can be used for classic or skating-style skiing. The upper section has more reliable snow and is usually in better condition than the lower section; snowfall and trail grooming remain decisive factors. These seasonal options therefore differ considerably from the hiking and cycling tours available during the rest of the year.

For the broader travel overview: Küsnacht.