Weisslingen – Rumlikon – Weisslingen: "Winter Magic"

The first stop is called First, where the restaurant of the same name offers a break with coffee and cake or a fine menu. You reach the highest place in the municipality of Illnau-Effretikon by following the hiking trail from the Dorf bus stop in Weisslingen to the edge of the forest. In summer, cows graze there; in winter, Weisslingen children enjoy sledding and skiing, with even a small ski lift in operation. On the other side of the idyllic forest, you can also enjoy the snow: In First, winter sports enthusiasts have access to a 6.8 km long cross-country ski trail. On the outskirts of the village, off the road under three mighty lindens, there is a viewpoint with tables, benches, and a large fire pit.

Then the path leads past meadows and fields to Luckhausen, where shortly after a view of the Illnau church you enter the forest again. Above the Giessentobel, the path goes via Horben and past horse pastures to Mesikon. At the road junction in the village center, a hiking trail sign is missing: to reach Rumlikon, turn left here, follow the main road for a short stretch, then turn left again along the Meienbach up to the forest. On the next stage, the lost elevation is regained slowly but steadily: after Mesikon, the trail climbs, and after passing through Rumlikon, where you follow the signpost towards Madetswil, it becomes really steep until reaching the large crossroads at 710 m above sea level in the Oholzer Forest. Turn left here and follow the marked hiking trail towards Neschwil until the point where it branches off from the wide forest road. To avoid a detour and more climbing, stay on the road at this point and follow it straight along the forest edge, passing above Moos and Leisibüel. Shortly before Lendikon, you return to the marked hiking trail. The path down along the cozy creek to Theiligerweiher forms a nice conclusion.