Giswil between Lake Sarnen, hiking trails and cultural history

Giswil lies in the south of the canton of Obwalden, on Lake Sarnen and at the entrance to the Brünig Pass. The municipality stretches from the lakeshore into the surrounding mountains and Alps. Forests, fields, streams and clear high-altitude areas shape the landscape; the climate is considered temperate, with warm summers and snowy winters. This gives you several options when planning your trip: trails by the lake, historic sites or nature watching in the Alpine surroundings.

Historic routes and local history

The documented history of Giswil dates back to the 9th century. Farming and alpine agriculture strongly shaped the village. You can also encounter this local history along the way: the Giswil Historical Hiking Trail consists of two sections. Route 1 passes through Rudenz and Kleinteil and starts at Giswil railway station; Route 2 runs through Grossteil and starts at Grossteil Church. Both sections are clearly signposted and easy to walk. You can combine them or cycle them. Route 1 is listed as 7 kilometres long and taking about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The sections differ both in the districts they pass through and in their starting points.

The Rudenz circular hike passes through the Aarried to the climb up to Rudenz Castle ruins. It also includes a section of the Historical Hiking Trail, which is of national significance. Another option is the Giswil–Lungern stage of the Sbrinz Route: it starts at the railway station and follows the main road towards Brünig Pass. St. Lawrence Church, built in 1636 on a former castle hill, lies along the route. The Rudenz ruins, which are part of the local landscape, also stand on a prominent hill along the route through Giswil.

Other trails and nature watching

The culinary hike connects several places on Lake Sarnen. With mountain views, it runs for about 10 kilometres from Sarnen via Sachseln to Giswil; the Zentralbahn then takes participants back to the starting point. Its route is therefore different from the two sections of the Historical Hiking Trail. The Schacherseppli Adventure Trail also starts at Giswil railway station and offers another named option for planning your trip.

A large part of the Bärgmandlipfad trail passes through a wildlife sanctuary and hunting reserve. Chamois, roe deer, red deer and golden eagles can be spotted there. This connects the trail with views of the local wildlife; the specified wildlife-watching opportunities relate to this area. If you are interested in the landscape, this offers a different focus from the historic trails through Rudenz, Kleinteil and Grossteil.

Crafts and culinary experiences

The Schlegelsäge sawmill is operational and can be demonstrated on request. It is considered the last working Schlegelsäge sawmill in Switzerland. On guided tours in Giswil, you can visit the Kleinteiler Schlegelsäge and the washboard press, learn about sawing with water power and try it yourself. The visit thus combines historic technology with hands-on participation.

At Fluonalp, you can make your own cheese, weighing about 11 to 13 kilograms. You take part in the process, from preparation through to labelling. This experience adds a craft and culinary focus alongside the hikes and cultural offerings. If you are looking for a hotel in Giswil, these different themes can help you narrow down the focus of your trip: local history and historic routes, a hike along Lake Sarnen, or insights into crafts and cheese-making.

Discover more destinations: Sachseln, Lungern, Sarnen, Kerns, Engelberg, Alpnach, Melchsee-Frutt.

Return to the overview of the region: Obwalden.