Langnau am Albis: Forest, Trails and Village History

Langnau am Albis lies on the Sihl, about ten kilometers from Zurich; the Albis Pass is within the municipality. The municipality includes large areas of forest and meadows. The Albis ridge forms a natural boundary to the west, and the Sihl to the east; the terrain is mostly steep. This landscape provides useful context when comparing trails and routes for your plans.

Forest and Trails in Sihlwald

The Zurich Wilderness Park Sihlwald is a protected forest reserve that offers opportunities to experience nature and relax. No trees have been felled in Sihlwald since 2000. The forest discovery trail has twelve stations for exploring the Sihlwald habitat and is open year-round. It includes a boardwalk through the swamp forest and a barefoot trail. This means there are different ways to explore the forest: the trail invites visitors to discover the habitat at its stations, while longer routes cover a different scale.

Hiking and Cycling

The Langnau am Albis–Langrainhütte–Langnau am Albis circular hike is 9.70 kilometers long and takes about three hours. It offers distant views and glimpses of the wilderness of the forest. The Sihl Adventure Trail is on a different scale: this seven-section long-distance hiking trail is around 107 kilometers long and passes through the Sihlwald Nature Experience Park. These figures highlight the difference in scope; an approximate duration is also provided for the circular hike.

The Sihl riverside path passes the Stirnemann footbridge and provides access to the east entrance of the 80-hectare Langenberg Wildlife Park. Around Lake Türlen, trails for hiking and cycling wind through the surrounding forests. Different types of cycling routes are also identified in the Langnau am Albis area: mountain bike trails such as the Sihl River Path in Sihlwald, and road cycling routes such as the Türlersee–Reppis Valley Cycle Path. This helps you distinguish between hiking routes, mountain bike trails and road cycling routes when planning, rather than treating them as one route.

Langenberg Wildlife Park

Langenberg Wildlife Park is home to wolves, brown bears, moose and wild boar, among other animals. You can observe the animals in their natural surroundings along various forest paths. Most of the animal enclosures are free to access 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Check the conditions before your visit. You can reach the wildlife park by bus via the «Langnau a.A., Schwerzi-Wildpark» or «Langnau a. A., Altersheim» stops; by suburban train, it is accessible via the «Wildpark-Höfli» station.

Village History and Church

Langnau am Albis was first mentioned in official records as a village in 1397. In the early 18th century, the village separated from Thalwil ecclesiastically; a new church and a rectory were built in connection with this. The foundation stone for Langnau Church was laid in 1709. It was completed in 1711, and the first service was held on Ascension Day. The church is 30 meters high and has retained its exterior form to this day. The village’s history therefore offers a distinct focus alongside the nature and hiking themes.

The Sihlwald exhibition also explores how the landscape has changed: it explains how a formerly intensively used forest developed into a natural, wild woodland. The exhibition is located in the visitor center, about a five-minute walk from Sihlwald station. While the forest discovery trail explores the habitat through its stations, the exhibition focuses on how the forest has changed.

Discover more destinations: Richterswil, Adliswil, Hirzel, Thalwil, Horgen, Rüschlikon, Schönenberg, Kilchberg.

Back to the main travel overview: Horgen.