---
okf_version: "0.2"
type: "Article"
title: "Holzflue Loop from Ennenda: Autumn Hike Above the Sea of Fog"
description: "Gray below, blue above: when fog blankets the Swiss lowlands, the short Holzflue loop above Ennenda in Glarus takes you up into the sunshine."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/switzerland/hiking-tour-glarus-ennenda-holzflue"
language: en
translation: { lang: de, resource: "https://reisememo.ch/schweiz/glarus-rundwanderung-ennenda-holzflue" }
author: "Katja Birrer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 18
tags: ["Alps", "Hiking", "Tour", "Switzerland"]
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2026-11-12T19:58:25+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-11-12T19:50:34+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: hiking-tour-glarus-ennenda-holzflue.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
    last_modified: 2026-10-31
review:
  independent: true
  basis: on-site
  evidence: photos
  funding: self-paid
affiliate_links: [swissactivities.com]
affiliate_network: "stay22"
timestamp: 2026-11-12T19:58:25+00:00
---

# Holzflue Loop from Ennenda: Autumn Hike Above the Sea of Fog

“Gray below, blue above.” In October and November, that’s practically a law of nature on the Swiss Plateau, the country’s fog-prone lowlands. And that’s exactly what we’re counting on!

Because I really don’t like gray days. I crave sunshine like a lizard craves a warm rock. So it’s out of the fog and up onto the Äugsten, high above Ennenda in the canton of Glarus.

The aerial cableway from Ennenda lifts us out of the gray in just a few minutes.

![A modern cable car station towers above a thick blanket of fog, with a panoramic view of the Alps in the background](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

High above the clouds, the Äugstenbahn takes hikers to the peaks of Glarus

![Two hikers are taking a selfie in front of snow-capped mountains and coniferous trees under a blue sky](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgODAwIDEyMDAnIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

Katja and Walter in front of Glärnisch and Vreneli's garden

At the top: sunshine, blue skies, and a glorious panorama with the Tödi and the Glärnisch with its Vrenelisgärtli summit.

![Panoramic view of the Glarus Alps, featuring numerous labeled peaks rising above a vast blanket of fog](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDU3OCcgeG1sbnM9J2h0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnJz48L3N2Zz4=)

View from the Äugstenbahn mountain station of the Glärnisch, Vreneli's Garden, and the sea of fog

And below us, a **sea of fog** that looks as if someone had stuffed the entire valley with cotton wool. Lizard: satisfied.

![A view over colorful autumn trees toward a dense sea of fog in the valley, with mountains in the background](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

A typical inversion with colorful foliage and a view of the sea of fog near Glarus

The Holzflue loop is made for foggy days: short, varied, and a perfect half-day trip.

The Glarnersprinter train (S25) gets you to Ennenda station from Pfäffikon SZ (or from Zurich) in no time.

Walter and I love the many colors of autumn and that mild, golden light that softens the landscape in November. The higher reaches of the Glarus region have both in abundance.

![A birch tree with yellow autumn leaves stands along a hiking trail in the mountains above Glarus under a blue sky](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

A Sunny Fall Atmosphere While Hiking Above Glarus

## Holzflue Loop at a Glance

Detail
Info

Distance
approx. 4 km / 2.5 miles (loop)

Elevation gain/loss
approx. 390 to 420 m each way, depending on the source

Duration
1 h 50 min to 2 h according to hiking portals; we took almost 2.5 h (with lots of photo stops)

Difficulty
Mountain hiking trail, T2 on the Swiss hiking scale

Trailhead (start and finish)
Top station of the Äugstenbahn cableway, Bärenboden (1,446 m above sea level)

Highest point
around 1,800 m above sea level

Signage
SwitzerlandMobility hiking route no. 821, “Holzflue-Rundweg”

Best season
June to October recommended; in November the cableway closes for maintenance

Food and drink
Äugstenhütte near the top station (check the season)

Getting there
Train to Ennenda, then the Äugstenbahn cableway (book your ride by phone)

The figures vary slightly from portal to portal, for example at [Swiss Activities](https://www.swissactivities.com/wandern/routen/holzflue-rundweg-4cfb1b09/?ref=rm2402&tap_s=4375236-26ba3a) or [Switzerland Tourism](https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/experiences/route/holzflue-rundweg). All in all, it’s a relaxed half-day outing.

## Getting There: Public Transport to Ennenda and Up on the Äugstenbahn

Ennenda is right next to the town of Glarus and easy to reach by public transport (S25) from Rapperswil (or from Zurich). From Ennenda station, the valley station of the Äugstenbahn cableway is just a short walk away. It took us about 5 minutes; other portals say up to 10.

The cableway runs regularly. **But heads up: you have to book your ride by phone!** The cabin only holds 8 people, so just showing up and hopping on isn’t an option.

![A cable car travels through an autumnal coniferous forest near Glarus, with fog on the mountainside](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

The cable car takes day-trippers from Ennenda to the Bärenboden hiking area

You’ll find current prices and all operating details on the [Äugstenbahn website](https://www.aeugstenbahn.ch).

**Parking:** There are only a few parking spaces right at the cableway. If you’re coming by car, you’re better off leaving it at Ennenda station. There’s plenty of parking there, and the valley station is a 5-minute walk away.

## The Hike: Forest Reserve, World Heritage, and Autumn Light

From the Bärenboden top station, it’s about 10 minutes to the Äugstenhütte.

From there, the trail leads past the Wildhüeterhüttli (the gamekeeper’s hut) and Alt Stafel into the Äugstenwald forest, on to the Beglingen alp, and back to the hut.

The route is signposted as “Holzflue-Rundweg,” with green stickers and the SwitzerlandMobility hiking signs.

![A traditional wooden house stands next to a hiking trail sign against a backdrop of alpine scenery and colorful autumn foliage](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

An autumnal scene on a hiking trail above Glarus, with a view of the Glarus Alps

Along the way, you hike through part of the [Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona UNESCO World Heritage Site](https://wegwandern.ch/sardona-welterbe-weg/) and through the **Äugstenwald-Holzflue forest reserve**. And it was this forest reserve that totally captivated us!

![Hiking trail with an information sign for the Sardona UNESCO World Heritage Site on a hillside in Glarus, featuring an autumnal meadow and trees](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

Information sign about the Sardona UNESCO World Heritage Site along the hiking trail in the Glarus Alps

Here’s what kept luring the camera out of our hands:

- A former fir forest, largely wiped out by bark beetles. Grotesque, and yet strangely beautiful.

- Huge boulders scattered all through the woods.

- The view down into the Glarus valley, with a sea of fog below.

- The mild autumn light that bathes everything in soft colors.

![A dry slope with deadwood and young conifers on a steep mountainside under a clear sky](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

Along the Glarus Circular Hiking Trail, the effects of bark beetle infestation are clearly visible in the natural landscape

![A close-up of an old tree trunk in the foreground, with a coniferous forest and snow-covered Alps in the background](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

Along a hiking trail in the Glarus region, a weathered tree trunk stands in stark contrast to the fresh Alpine landscape

![A stack of wood on a grassy meadow in front of a sea of fog, with the snow-capped Glarus Alps in the background](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDU3OCcgeG1sbnM9J2h0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnJz48L3N2Zz4=)

An impressive sea of fog with the striking Vorderglärnisch in the Glarus region

Which is why time refused to stand still: officially, the loop takes just under 2 hours, but we needed almost 2.5. Blame the many photo stops (we plead guilty).

![A hiker with a backpack stands in a clearing in the Glarus region, taking photos with his smartphone, surrounded by fir trees and mountains](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

Walter on a circular hike in the Glarus region, with a sweeping view of the mountains

**Important:** The trail also passes through the Schilt federal wildlife reserve. Be sure to stay on the marked trails.

![Mountain hiking trail marked with red-and-white stones and autumnal vegetation against the backdrop of a rocky Alpine massif](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

The marked hiking trails wind through the autumnal mountain landscape of the Glarus region

## Food and Tips: Morning Frost, Slippery Patches, and a Closed Hut

The **Äugstenhütte** is a great spot for lunch or a snack. But only until the end of October, when the season wraps up. By the time we got there, it was already closed.

Because autumn mornings often bring frost, the trail can be **wet, and some stretches are slippery!**

![An alpine hut with a stone and wood facade stands on a mountain meadow in front of a steep, fir-covered slope in the Glarus region](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

The Äugstenhütte in autumn along the circular hike in the Glarus region

![Frost-covered fallen leaves on dry grass in the Glarus region](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

Morning frost transforms the leaves into a delicate work of natural art

![A rocky hiking trail covered in hoarfrost in the Glarus region, with a rocky Alpine peak in the background](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+)

Morning frost covers the rocks along the hiking trail near Hächlenstock in the Glarus region

Walter learns this the hard way: on a steeper stretch, he starts to slide and only stays on his feet thanks to an acrobatic feat. Arms windmilling, eyes wide open, he catches himself just before a faceplant into the mud. Whoa there… close call.

**My tip:** Wear hiking boots with good tread and allow a little extra time, especially if you’re setting out early in the day.

## Conclusion: A Fog Escape with a World Heritage Bonus

The Holzflue loop is a short, varied autumn hike you can easily do in half a day.

It’s ideal when the Swiss Plateau is stuck under a blanket of fog and you need some sunshine.

The Äugstenwald-Holzflue forest reserve and the view over the sea of fog are worth every photo stop (and there are plenty of them).

![Two people are standing in an alpine meadow beneath the snow-capped peaks of the Glarus Alps under a blue sky](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDU3NicgeG1sbnM9J2h0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnJz48L3N2Zz4=)

Katja and Walter in front of Glärnisch and Vreneli's garden

![Mountain landscape with an alpine meadow, a fir forest, and the High Alps in the background; clouds lie in the valley](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDQwNCcgeG1sbnM9J2h0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnJz48L3N2Zz4=)

Autumn Panorama from Tödi to Glärnisch

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/glarus-mountain-railway-alpine-fog-cable-car-station.webp"
    caption: "High above the clouds, the Äugstenbahn takes hikers to the peaks of Glarus"
    keywords: ["Alps", "lookout point", "mountain railway", "mountain landscape", "Glarus", "fall weather", "Lintharena", "blanket of fog", "loop hike", "cable car station", "Glarnerland hiking region"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.0274, longitude: 9.1033}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/katja-walter-selfie-glaernisch.webp"
    caption: "Katja and Walter in front of Glärnisch and Vreneli's garden"
    keywords: ["Alpine panorama", "mountains", "Eiger North Face", "Grindelwald", "high mountains", "nature experience", "hiker taking a selfie", "sunshine", "hiking in Switzerland", "winter hike"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/glarus-glarner-alps-panorama-glarus.webp"
    caption: "View from the Äugstenbahn mountain station of the Glärnisch, Vreneli's Garden, and the sea of fog"
    keywords: ["Mountain peaks", "mountain panorama", "Glarus Alps", "Glarus", "blanket of fog", "Eastern Switzerland", "Swiss Alps", "Tödi", "Vrenelisgärtli", "winter landscape"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.0272, longitude: 9.1034}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/glarus-sea-fog-fall-colors-hike-swiss-alps.webp"
    caption: "A typical inversion with colorful foliage and a view of the sea of fog near Glarus"
    keywords: ["Viewpoint", "Swiss Mountains", "Glarus", "Golden Autumn", "Fall Colors", "Deciduous Forest", "Linthal", "Sea of Fog", "Circular Hike", "Swiss Alps", "Hiking in the Glarus Region"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.0275, longitude: 9.103}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/autumn-hiking-trail-glarus-alps-birch-tree.webp"
    caption: "A Sunny Fall Atmosphere While Hiking Above Glarus"
    keywords: ["Alpine panorama", "mountain hike", "birch tree", "Glarus Alps", "Glarus", "autumn landscape", "nature experience", "loop hike", "Swiss mountains", "hiking in Switzerland", "hiking trail"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.027, longitude: 9.1053}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/glarus-cable-car-herbstwald-hiking-view.webp"
    caption: "The cable car takes day-trippers from Ennenda to the Bärenboden hiking area"
    keywords: ["View", "mountain panorama", "mountain forest", "Glarus", "fall colors", "misty atmosphere", "loop hike", "Swiss Alps", "cable car", "Sicherstöckli", "hiking area"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.0313, longitude: 9.0833}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/glarus-region-hike-fall-mountain-hut-alpine-panorama.webp"
    caption: "An autumnal scene on a hiking trail above Glarus, with a view of the Glarus Alps"
    keywords: ["Mountain hut", "mountain panorama", "mountain landscape", "Glarus", "autumn landscape", "loop hike", "Swiss Alps", "trail signage", "hiking trail", "trail marker"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.029, longitude: 9.1066}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/sardona-circular-hike-glarus-fall-alps.webp"
    caption: "Information sign about the Sardona UNESCO World Heritage Site along the hiking trail in the Glarus Alps"
    keywords: ["Alps", "Mountains", "Geology", "Glarus", "Fall Landscape", "Nature Trail", "Circular Hike", "Circular Hiking Trail", "UNESCO Tectonic Arena", "Hiking in Switzerland", "Sardona World Heritage Site"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.0273, longitude: 9.1037}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/glarus-mountain-slope-deadwood-circular-hike-alps.webp"
    caption: "Along the Glarus Circular Hiking Trail, the effects of bark beetle infestation are clearly visible in the natural landscape"
    keywords: ["Alpnatur", "Mountain Forest", "Glarus", "Fall Landscape", "Conifers", "Circular Hike", "Circular Hike in Glarus", "Swiss Alps", "Deadwood", "Dry Meadow", "Hiking Trail"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.0332, longitude: 9.1079}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/glarus-hike-alps-fall-tree-trunk.webp"
    caption: "Along a hiking trail in the Glarus region, a weathered tree trunk stands in stark contrast to the fresh Alpine landscape"
    keywords: ["Alpine panorama", "mountain landscape", "mountain hike", "broken tree trunk", "Glarus", "autumn atmosphere", "coniferous forest", "Swiss nature", "loop hike", "Swiss Alps", "hiking in the Glarus region"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.0321, longitude: 9.1084}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/glarus-alps-sea-fog-glarus-vorderglaernisch-hike.webp"
    caption: "An impressive sea of fog with the striking Vorderglärnisch in the Glarus region"
    keywords: ["Alpine Panorama", "Glarus Alps", "Glarus Region", "Glarus", "Fall in the Alps", "Woodpile", "Kerenzerberg", "Sea of Fog", "Circular Hike", "Swiss Alps", "Hiking in Switzerland"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.0281, longitude: 9.1058}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/glarus-circular-hike-walter-alps-fall.webp"
    caption: "Walter on a circular hike in the Glarus region, with a sweeping view of the mountains"
    keywords: ["Mountain scenery", "Glarus", "autumn scenery", "nature experience", "outdoor activities", "loop hike", "loop hike in Glarus", "Swiss Alps", "fir forest", "hiker", "hiking"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.0324, longitude: 9.1084}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/glarus-alps-hiking-trail-glarus-fall.webp"
    caption: "The marked hiking trails wind through the autumnal mountain landscape of the Glarus region"
    keywords: ["Mountain Nature", "Mountain Hike", "Splashes of Fall Color", "Rocky Trail", "Mountain Landscape", "Glarus Alps", "Fall Landscape", "Loop Hike", "Loop Hike in Glarus", "Swiss Alps", "Hiking Trail Markings"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.037, longitude: 9.1138}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/auegstenhuette-terrace-fall.webp"
    caption: "The Äugstenhütte in autumn along the circular hike in the Glarus region"
    keywords: ["Alpine hut", "mountain idyll", "mountain landscape", "Glarus region", "Glarus", "autumn atmosphere", "hut hike", "loop hike", "Swiss Alps", "fir forests", "hiking trail"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.0272, longitude: 9.1064}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/glarus-frost-autumn-leaves-swiss-alps-hiking.webp"
    caption: "Morning frost transforms the leaves into a delicate work of natural art"
    keywords: ["Alpine village", "frost", "Glarus", "fall foliage", "cold", "nature in winter", "frost on leaves", "loop hike", "Swiss Alps", "late fall", "hike in the Glarus region"]
    captured: 2026-10-31
    geo: {latitude: 47.0367, longitude: 9.114}
    credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer"
```