Over the Napf to the Änzilochmannen

After arriving by BLS bus (only Sundays) or car through the quiet, elongated valley to Mettlenalp, the ascent to Napf begins by following the small brook to the left. The well-constructed, moderately steep trail leads through forest almost to the summit. The Napf (1406 m) with a hotel-restaurant, highest peak in the area, offers a unique panoramic view. Then follows the descent on the Lucerne hiking trail towards Hergiswil to Wiggerhütte. You cross the bed of the sometimes wildly raging Änziwigger stream and head towards Stächelegg. The pleasant, slightly ascending path leads past the Chrotthütte through the Änziwald. Many legends and stories about good and evil spirits come from the Änziloch. When it rumbles in stormy weather in the Änziloch, it is not thunder but the clattering of falling rock slabs, which the Änzilochmen unsuccessfully try to roll over the Stächelegg. Shortly before reaching the ridge, the impressive, almost vertical Stächeleggflue comes into view. At Stächelegg you can satisfy hunger and thirst in an original way with Chrigu. Here you can carefully take a look back into the impressive Änziloch. On the forest road, slightly descending, you reach the starting point Mettlenalp again. Those who want a shorter route go directly from Napf to Stächelegg. The secret of where and how much gold it hides inside, Napf has not revealed. Walter Gerber

The Enzilochmannen (wild men) with fir twig bundles are based on the legend that restless spirits dwell in the caves of the Enziloch in the Napf area, banished there as punishment for their misdeeds. The legend also calls them the valley lords. When storms and bad weather threaten, one hears a crashing and thundering from the Enziloch for miles, as if heavy artillery were being fired there. The noise is attributed to the valley lords, who as punishment have to push mighty rock slabs up from the valley depths. These repeatedly slip from their gnarled hands and fall back into the abyss with terrible clattering.