Ravines and heights on the way to Schwarzenburg

Niederscherli has been an important village since the Middle Ages at the crossing over the Scherli ravine. From the station, head west along the railway line, cross it to the beautifully designed church and reach the upper edge of the deeply cut Scherli ravine. Drawing a large loop, the path descends into it (to Sensematt–Thörishaus 45 min). After only 400 m, the trail leaves the valley floor on the hillside and climbs through forest to the farmstead Mittelhäusern, surrounded by orchards (to the station 5 min; to Unter Mittelhäusern–Schwarzwasser bridge 35 min). Magnificent view over the Sense ravine to the Chasseral. The descent between the 20 m high sandstone bands to the Sense riverbank is almost adventurous. The confluence area of Schwarzwasser and Sense invites you to bathe with its shallow and deep water spots, gravel banks, and sandstone knolls. Caution: Both streams often carry dangerous flood waves during thunderstorms! Around a rock nose, you reach the old Schwarzwasser bridge (to the station 15 min). The building next to it once served as an inn on the direct access route from Bern to Schwarzenburg. Soothing solitude surrounds you upstream. In the Sackholzau, after crossing the Schwarzwasser for the third time, a path leads steeply through the forest up to the hamlet of Nidegg, located 200 m higher. The continuation from the Nidegghöhe (magnificent viewpoint!) over Ried and Husmatt (to Lanzenhäusern 25 min) to Wahlern becomes a panorama hike. Ahead lie the Stockhorn-Gantrisch mountain chain towering above the high mountains, Schwarzenburgerland, and the Schwarzsee area, while to the west the view sweeps over the flattening hills of the Swiss Plateau to the Jura. The tree group around the church of Wahlern served as lightning protection, as the church was struck by lightning three times. Through the Kirchhohlweg, you descend to the village stream and follow it at an elevated position to the Schwarzenburg train station.