The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Entlebuch, located in the heart of Switzerland, between Bern and Lucerne, is unique for its vast peat bogs, heaths, and unspoiled nature, which provide a home to many rare plants and animals. This exciting landscape offers lovely hiking trails, including the Grosser Moorrundweg – Big Moor Circular Trail. On this five-kilometer varied hike, you’ll get to know this unique heathland environment, learn how it was created, and discover interesting native plants and animals, pictures, and stories.
At 17 interactive stations, these stories are ‘told’ by six experts who have lived here all their lives: wolf, lynx, frog, grasshopper, marsh dragonfly, and grouse. You might spot some of them along the trail if you’re lucky.
Arrival
By car: the Entlebuch UNESCO Biosphere Reserve lies in the heart of Switzerland, centrally located between Bern and Lucerne. Sörenberg can be reached by taking the main road 10 towards Schüpfheim and from there to Flühli Sörenberg. You will find a large pay parking lot at the cable car station.
By public transport: Sörenberg can be reached by public transport via Schüpfheim (Bern—Lucern railway line). From Schüpfheim station, take postal bus 241 in the direction of Sörenberg, Rothornbahn to the stop Sörenberg, Post.
Fares
A return ticket Sörenberg – Rossweid costs CHF 24 for an adult (half with Half Fare Card). A return ticket for children aged 6 – 15 costs CHF 12. Children with a Junior Card are free.
As part of the Grosser Moorrundweg themed route, there are also various discounted packages you can take advantage of:
- Grosser Moorrundweg Family Package: CHF 94
This all-inclusive offer for the whole family includes a return cable car ride, a CHF 10.00 voucher for consumption at the Rossweid restaurant, a box for little explorers, including two brochures, and one summer toboggan ride for one person. - Explorer’s kit: CHF 23
You can explore the peat bog in all its glory with an explorer’s kit, which includes a variety of tools and booklets with puzzles for children to answer at each station.
Mooraculum
As soon as you take the cable car to Rossweid station, Mooraculum will appear before you. The Mooraculum is the largest peat water park in the Alps. It is open daily from 30 May 2024 to 20 October 2024, and free admission. Probably the biggest attraction is the water park on an artificial pond and the system of pumping water through various sluices and other “gadgets”. In addition to the playground, there are 4-5 fire pits with tables and benches for barbecues at the forest’s edge. It even has two tables in small cabins where you can stay dry even in a rain shower.
Big Moor Circular Trail
The coordinates of the route can be found in the Tourenplaner SCHWEIZ app or in the printed guide “Die 44 schönsten Familien Wanderungen“. Did you know that I wrote this book? Yes, I really have! I really took the time to put it together and chose for you the most beautiful family-friendly routes in Switzerland. So check it out!
Already on the playground you will see an arrow that indicates the direction of the route. You start in the direction of Skihütte Schwarzenegg.
The descriptions of the individual stations are not only in German but also in English.
The route can be managed with an all-terrain buggy. There are a few bumpy and narrow places, but they can be managed with some good maneuvering.
The most successful stations with our children were those where they could listen to narration from small speakers.
Of course, they also enjoyed various “matching” tasks.
In addition to the peat bog, the trail leads through a grove of blueberry bushes at the end, so you will have a handful of tasty and healthy snacks, especially in summer.
Summary
- The route is 4.5 kilometers long, and you can walk it in about an hour and a half. But add to this time at least two hours that the children will want to spend on the water playground.
- For this reason, don’t forget to pack spare clothes.
- You can stop at the Rischli summer toboggan run on the way back.
