Finstersee: Hiking Trails, Waterfall and Village History

Finstersee is a village in the municipality of Menzingen in the canton of Zug. The municipality lies on a moraine plateau between the Lorze and the Sihl at an altitude of about 800 m above sea level and includes Finstersee. Several specific interests come together here: paths through the surrounding area, Mülibachfall, the Church of St. Charles Borromeo and the school buildings. You can explore nature and local history together during a visit.

Hiking and practical orientation

The three circular routes in Finstersee run along paved roads, forest roads and natural paths, and cross private property. Please be considerate on the trails. The middle route, “Coal Mining – Obergibel Cheese Dairy,” is listed as taking 1¼ hours. This time estimate can help you fit the tour into your own schedule. It leads to Obergibel, an estate with its own mountain cheese dairy at 947 m above sea level. Cheese can be bought directly from the farm; check before your visit whether direct sales are available on your chosen date.

Mülibachfall and Panorama Trail

The approximately 10 m-high Mülibachfall can be reached on foot from Finstersee. Follow the paved road towards Sparen to the edge of the forest; from there, a small path leads to the waterfall. A hiking flyer from 2010 describes the shady spot as a place to relax in summer, enjoy a grilled snack, and play with water and stones.

The “Panorama Gottschalkenberg” route starts uphill in Finstersee. After crossing the Mülibach at the waterfall, it branches off to the left onto the hiking trail towards Sparen. It then climbs along a forest road to 1,140 m above sea level. A detour leads to the Bellevue viewpoint. There are several barbecue areas there and far-reaching views across Lake Zurich towards the Zurich Oberland. Check the barbecue areas on site before making them a fixed part of your tour. When choosing a hike, you can therefore weigh up different points of reference: the time estimate and farm destination of the middle route, versus the ascent and viewpoint on “Panorama Gottschalkenberg.”

Church, school buildings and educational trail

The Church of St. Charles Borromeo was consecrated in 1868. It is listed in the Canton of Zug’s register of protected monuments, dated 30 May 2025. A small school founded in 1858 stands beside the church. The former school building has been preserved to this day and stands directly next to the current school building, built in 1947. The Menzingen Educational Trail also leads to these buildings: this scenic circular walk presents twelve educational institutions and their history on information boards with text and images. They include the old and new school buildings in Finstersee.

The playground at Finstersee School is right next to the church and has a climbing wall. Bus route 2 to the Finstersee, Kirche stop is listed as a connection. Check the service before travelling and the condition of the playground on site.

For the broader travel overview: Menzingen.