Snowshoe trail on the First near Heiligkreuz

Heiligkreuz is a real gem in the UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch. The snowshoe trail starts in the well-known pilgrimage site. Past the Kurhaus and the former holiday home of the Ingenbohler Sisters, it climbs upwards, partly following the winter hiking path in the second half. Passing the Alphütte First, it goes over snowy meadows mostly in open terrain along the panorama of Schafmatt towards Hasler Howald. Then you climb gently uphill to Doppleschwanderhowald. Unexpected here: the distant view towards Sörenberg and the Bernese Alps, which opens on good weather. Along with Schrattenfluh and Brienzer Rothorn, the trio Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and other Bernese high Alps are also visible.

Still enough strength in your legs? Then in safe conditions a detour to the Farnere, the local mountain of the Entlebuch main town Schüpfheim, is worthwhile. The described snowshoe trail First leads directly and relatively flat from Doppleschwanderhowald back to Bergrestaurant First. Once there, an extensive break is worthwhile: on the sun terrace you can enjoy the panorama with a real Entlebucher coffee with Träsch or Chrüter (fruit or herbal schnapps). On one side the Heiligkreuz ski lift is visible, behind it the view towards Napf and even to the Jura range. On the other side it gets more alpine: impressively, Risetenstock, Schimbrig and Schafmatt tower upwards.

After the break with the view you follow the path back to Alphütte First and on the same trail as at the beginning back to the starting point Heiligkreuz. If you don’t want to take the same way back, turn off at the mountain restaurant directly towards Reistegg and return to Heiligkreuz via the winter hiking route.