Schachen: Trails, Chapel and Kleine Emme

Schachen LU is a town and railway station in the municipality of Werthenstein in the canton of Lucerne. The trails through Schachen appeal to visitors with different interests: the Emmenuferweg follows the Kleine Emme, a section of the Lucerne Trail passes through the town, and cycling routes run through Schachen and other places. The municipality of Werthenstein lies in the Lucerne Hinterland and is characterised by hills, forests and the Kleine Emme.

Walking along the Emmenuferweg

The fourth stage of the Emmenuferweg runs from Wolhusen along the banks of the Kleine Emme via Schachen, Malters and Littau to Emmenbrücke. The route is signposted «83 Emmenuferweg» as far as Emmenbrücke. There are numerous swimming spots along the stage where you can cool off. Water levels and local access rules may vary; check the conditions if you are planning a swimming stop.

The trail passes directly by every BLS station on the Lucerne–Schüpfheim line. This means you can walk individual sections separately instead of planning the whole stage as one hike. Before setting out, possible diversions and the train timetable are useful points of reference: both may affect your choice of section.

Cycling via Rengg

The «Energiegeladen durch Entlebuch» cycle tour runs downhill from Rengg towards Schachen, Werthenstein and Wolhusen. As a loop, it goes from Entlebuch via Rengg, Schachen, Werthenstein, Wolhusen, Doppleschwand, Habschwanden and Hasle back to Entlebuch, using SwitzerlandMobility Routes R73 and R24. The Veloland Route R73 covers the Entlebuch–Rengg–Schachen–Werthenstein–Wolhusen section. This makes it possible to distinguish the tour as a loop from the named R73 route.

Between Rengg and Schachen, the cycle tour includes a partly unpaved section of about 7 km. The surface may change with the seasons. Therefore, check the route conditions before setting out and take the described surface into account when planning your tour.

The Lucerne Trail stage

On its stage from Lucerne to Werthenstein, the Lucerne Trail passes through Malters and Schachen. The stage is listed as 18.8 km long and taking 5:15 hours; the route includes both paved roads and natural trails. This gives the hike a specific time and distance framework. By contrast, according to the route description, the Emmenuferweg can also be divided into individual sections. The published length and duration for the Lucerne Trail may be updated; check them before setting out.

Sacred Heart Chapel and Schwinget

The listed Sacred Heart Chapel Schachen was carefully restored in 2014. A distinctive architectural detail is its porch: it is a relic of the Reuss Bridge at Seetalplatz. This feature thus connects the chapel with the history of that bridge. A service is held in the chapel on Sundays at 9:00 a.m.; additional services take place on public holidays and Christmas Eve. Service times may change, so it is advisable to confirm them before your visit.

The autumn Schwinget is also one of the named events in Schachen. At the 2024 event, 89 athletes brought the Schwingers’ season to a close in front of 1,300 spectators. These figures describe the 2024 event.

Werthenstein as a regional setting

A look at the municipality adds to the information about Schachen and its routes: Werthenstein offers a natural setting with ample opportunities for recreation. In the municipality, hiking trails, forest paths and viewpoints invite visitors to enjoy active leisure; the landscape is characterised by hills, forests and the Kleine Emme. This information refers to Werthenstein as a municipality. For practical planning in Schachen, the described stages, cycle tour and chapel each offer their own points of reference.

Discover more destinations: Buchrain, Root, Dierikon, Horw, Schwarzenberg, Meggen, Greppen, Gisikon.

For the regional travel overview: Lucerne.