Easy Escape: Family Mini Vacation on Lake Zurich

Sihlwald Forest Adventure Trail

This Easter weekend, backpacks packed and boots laced, we set out for the Sihlwald Visitor Center, just a short walk from Sihlwald station. While our campfire got going (firewood and grills are provided and you can pay easily via TWINT), the kids explored the exhibit and playground. Branch nests, wobbly suspension bridges, a hollow fir trunk and a wooden snake tested their balance, bravery and imagination – and sparked their curiosity for what lay ahead.

Next, we hit the Forest Adventure Trail. The start was steep (best to leave strollers behind), but it didn’t take long before the forest opened up into a world full of surprises. Twelve hands-on stations invited us to count tree rings, identify species, tune into sounds and marvel at just how much life pulsed beneath the surface. A raised boardwalk led through moorland, deadwood revealed itself as a source of new life and we learned how trees “drink.” The kids had endless fun competing against forest animals in long jumps, balancing across wooden beams and peering inquisitively into the busy undergrowth.

The highlight, however, was the barefoot trail. Feeling bark, cool stones and soft forest floor under bare feet made the forest tangible in a whole new way – an experience that captivated us all, adults and kids alike.

Lakeside views on a shoestring budget

Why rush home when you can turn a day out into a mini holiday? After our Sihlwald adventure, we hopped on two busses to Thalwil and caught the S-Bahn to Richterswil, where the Richterswil Youth Hostel sits right on the lakeshore. We checked into two bright double rooms with shared bathrooms down the hall – simple, family-friendly and reasonably priced. For older kids, there are classic bunk-bed dorms – something to try in the future for sure.

Breakfast is included and dinner is worth adding – just help yourself to salads, a hot main, and dessert. While we parents unwind at the table, the kids disappear to the playground or foosball table. The atmosphere is as relaxed as the view: lake and mountains beyond, kids still in sight, winding down the day as the sun sets.

The next morning, we set off on stage four of the Via Natura, part of a 125-mile long-distance trail winding through some of Canton Zurich’s most beautiful landscapes. From Richterswil, it’s an easy S-Bahn ride to Horgen, followed by a PostBus into the hills of Horgenberg. Near the Moorschwand stop, our adventure gains a companion: Hiky, the cheerful mascot of Zurich’s hiking trails, who quickly turns our day into a mission – his binoculars have vanished. Clues to the mystery unfold at nine stations along the four-kilometre route through open fields and sunlit woodland.

We begin with a worthwhile detour to the Gachnang family farm, where fresh apple juice, dried apple rings and homemade ice cream quickly disappear into hungry hands. Fueled by sugar and curiosity, the kids race ahead, eager for the next clue. Before the trail drops steeply toward the Sihlwald Visitor Center, it briefly reconnects with the Forest Adventure Trail, where the “tree rings” station earns another enthusiastic visit. Breaks come with built-in entertainment too: our companion booklet, available in advance or at the visitor center, is filled with riddles and coloring pages. Hidden inside is a secret codeword that unlocks a small reward at the finish – a compass for the next adventure.

We end our mini escape with a stop at “Jasys Beizli”, cooling our feet in the Sihl before catching the bus and Sihltalbahn back to Zurich – feeling as if we’d traveled much farther than the map suggests.

Insider tip: Heading back toward Horgen Oberdorf? Catch the Sihlwald Bus (Line 137) from the station during visitor center hours. It looks just like a local school bus.

Conclusion
No traffic, no long travel times, no big price tags, yet all the ingredients of a true escape. Our weekend on Lake Zurich showed just how easy it is to step out of the daily grind and create real family memories. A mix of nature, adventure, play and a night by the water turned a simple outing into something special. No wonder we are already dreaming about where the next stage of the Via Natura may take us.