Hiking tip
Anniversary route "25 years of the wild Sihlwald"
The Sihlwald has been allowed to develop freely for a quarter of a century. The FoundationWildnispark Zurich has put together an anniversary route for interested visitors to explore the emerging wilderness here. Illustrated PDFs of the hiking tip (in German) for download.
The Postbus line 240 takes you to the Albis Pass in Langnau am Albis. The route leads along Hochwachtstrasse in the direction of Albis Hochwacht/Sihlbrugg.
After a few hundred meters, a sign indicates that the WIldnispark Zurich now begins. On the left, there is a fantastic panoramic view of Zurich, Lake Zurich, the Sihl Valley and the Alps.
A paradise for woodpeckers
The forest begins on the right. There are tree trunks with woodpecker holes to discover along the entire hiking route. The high, round holes are usually made by great spotted woodpeckers, while the oval holes close to the ground are made by black woodpeckers. The caves are later also used by cavity-nesting birds, bats and dormice.
Shortly afterwards, the path leads past the former "Albisboden" gravel pit. The gravel was used to build forest roads. Later, a pond was created here on the initiative of the Sihltal Nature Conservation Association. Today, this small nature conservation oasis provides a habitat for amphibians and light-requiring plants. Butterflies find a good supply of nectar. The Sihlwald rangers mow the area annually and ensure that it does not become overgrown.
The spruce says goodbye
Before the hiking trail enters the forest, the first group of dead European spruce trees can be seen up the slope. European spruce - also known as spruce - is on the decline in the Swiss Plateau due to climate change. It occurs naturally in Switzerland at higher altitudes where it is damp and cool. Due to its economic attractiveness, it has been cultivated far beyond its original range in the Central Plateau.
Since 2018, around a third of all spruce trees in Sihlwald have died. Storms, heat and drought have taken their toll. The weakened trees are currently a paradise for the bark beetle. This in turn benefits birds and other insects that feed on the beetles. In the medium term, the bark beetle will disappear again - along with the spruce trees - and natural development will take its course.
Safety precautions for visitors
Shortly before the Albisboden hut, a strange picture presents itself: Here, weakened spruce trees have been cut down in the middle of the trunk. This measure is intended to protect visitors.
The team at Wildnispar Zurich takes great care to ensure that no suddenly falling trees endanger people. However, there is never absolute safety in nature. It is therefore important to exercise caution when out and about and only go into the forest when the weather is suitable and calm. You should also avoid standing under dry or leaning trees and only rest at marked picnic areas or fireplaces. One of the 20 or so official fireplaces is located right next to the hut.
If you prefer a more leisurely walk, continue straight ahead on the wide hiking trail; if you prefer more adventure, take a short detour to the right and follow a narrow, uncleared path that later rejoins the Hochwachtstrasse.
Dead wood: the basis of life for 6000 species
What is striking about the Sihlwald is that, unlike other forests, there are tree trunks lying on the ground everywhere. They are allowed to rot slowly. Only the footpaths and roads are regularly cleared.
The deadwood is important for biodiversity. Around a quarter of all species living in the forest depend on old or dead wood. In Switzerland, this amounts to around 6000 species. These include around 2500 fungi, 1300 beetles, 670 lichens and 130 snails - but also numerous other insects as well as some birds, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles, for which old and dead trunks provide breeding cavities, food, cover or a moist environment.
Observation tower and castle ruins
The Albis-Hochwacht observation tower soon appears. 153 steps high, it offers a wonderful view over the treetops towards Zug, Zurich, Aargau and the Alps. From the lookout tower, the route continues to the northern Schnabellücke and from there down the valley towards Langnau-Gattikon. If you feel like it, take a detour via the ridge path to the Schnabelburg ruins, which were once inhabited by the barons of Eschenbach.
Strictly protected core zone
The descent on the Schnabelweg leads through the strictly protected core zone of the nature discovery park. Nature has priority here: leaving the paths and picking plants and mushrooms is prohibited. Particularly impressive: the traces of the 2021 landslide, which impressively show how the forest is developing dynamically. The first bushes and numerous pioneer plants are already sprouting again. Where there is now a lot of light on the ground thanks to the landslide, a closed young forest will soon form again. The natural, undisturbed forest cycle can be easily observed here.
Historical significance of the Sihlwald
The Sihlwald used to provide firewood for the city of Zurich. Today it is the largest natural forest reserve on the Central Plateau. A mixed beech forest that has been allowed to turn back into a wilderness for 25 years. It is one of the twenty Swiss parks of national importance. In 2010, it was awarded the "Nature Experience Park" label by the federal government. With an area of around 11 km2, it is a "mini national park" in the middle of the urban conurbation between Zurich and Zug. The courage to embrace wilderness is paying off: rare relict forest species that are dependent on near-natural forest structures have also been rediscovered in the Sihlwald, such as the small spherical beetle.
