Games and Adventure Trail (Spiel und Erlebnisweg) Glarnerland
- Family Fun Factor
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
An easy, 5 km circular hike with two loops, rentable discovery backpack, quests, games and playgrounds along the way. Stroller Friendly.
Linthal Braunwaldbahn | Canton of Glarus (Switzerland)
The "it" factor
What makes it special:
Free access – The trail starts next to the parking and train station.
Eichi the squirrel is your guide 🐿️ – popping up along the way
Backpack adventure – Rentable discovery sets with quest gear
Playgrounds and games along the way
Flexible route – Two loops (2.5 km each) —do one loop or both.
What needs to be considered:
Reserve the backpack in advance – Book early, especially on weekends
Trolley rental available – if you want to pull your gear or a tired kid
Best for ages 5+ – Younger kids can enjoy the walk and playgrounds, but the quests are ideal for children who can follow simple tasks.
Bring BBQ supplies
Don't feel like reading? Watch a video instead!
Games And Adventure Trail Glarnerland Walk-Through Video
The fun factor
Braunwald is best known as a car-free mountain village, popular for its ski slopes in winter and scenic hikes in summer. But what many don’t know is that there are also great family adventures that actually start down in the valley—right next to the funicular Linthal Braunwaldbahn, no mountain ride required. One of our favourites? The Games and Adventure Trail Glarnerland, a playful quest where kids (and adults!) get to rent a backpack full of explorer gear and follow a trail along the river, solving challenges and discovering surprises along the way.
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You're guided by Eichi the squirrel, who pops up throughout the trail to lead the way and keep the adventure fun and engaging.
Here are our top 4 Fun Factors of Games and Adventure Trail Glarnerland
Gear up and solve the quests
This one’s a real gem for little adventurers—and a win for parents who’d rather not buy more stuff. You can rent a discovery backpack right at the Braunwald Linthal valley funicular and train station ticket office. Inside: everything your child needs to explore—binoculars, a magnifying glass, a little light, painting kit, and more. The backpack comes with instructions and a map where each quest spot is marked with a magnifying glass icon.
Challenges include counting birdhouses, matching stones to a fountain, painting with nature and more. It’s perfect for kids aged 5 and up—simple, hands-on, and genuinely fun. Our daughter was all in—normally we can’t get her to carry her backpack, but with this one, she proudly wore it the whole way.
Every family that completes and submits the feedback form in the discovery book will be entered into the end-of-season raffle. The prizes include a Glarnerland voucher worth CHF 100.00, a Braunwald family day pass, and four tickets to the Braunwald rope park.
2. Play games
There are also four game boards along the trail with fun activities like memory, snail race, or find the difference. You don’t need the backpack for these—just jump in and play! It’s a fun extra that makes the trail even more exciting and keeps things fresh along the way.
3. Hit the playgrounds
There are also playgrounds along the way—two bigger ones right next to the barbecue spots, and another one further along the trail. Plus, you’ll find mini play areas scattered along the path.
The fitness factor
The full trail is about 5 km and around 60 meters elevation change. It’s split into two loops of around 2.5 km each, both starting right next to the parking area and train station—no gondola or funicular needed. The path is mostly flat with gentle ups and downs, making it very doable for families. The first loop (stations 1 - 6) is slightly flatter and easier, while the second loop (stations 7–10) has a bit more elevation change.
It’s stroller-friendly, and there’s also the option to rent a trolley at the Braunwald Linthal valley funicular and train station ticket office —perfect for carrying your gear or giving tired little legs a break.
The food factor
The small loop takes you past the edge of Linthal town, where you’ll find the Pizza Pasta Pierino restaurant. We didn’t try it ourselves, but it’s got great reviews on Google if you're in the mood for Italian.
We went with our go-to option instead: a barbecue! 🔥 There are two BBQ spots along the trail:
The first one is just after station 4, tucked into a small forest area with a cozy feel and a small playground.
The second is right at the end of the small loop, next to station 6 and close to the train station. It has a larger playground and even an extra quest station—a perfect place to wrap up the adventure.
The value factor
Access to the trail is completely free—no need for a gondola or funicular ticket. If you want to take part in the quest-solving adventure, you’ll need to rent a discovery backpack ("Rucksack mit Entdeckerset und Entdeckerbuch") at the Braunwald Linthal valley funicular and train station ticket office.
The cost is CHF 20 per family (excluding deposit), and it’s best to reserve in advance.
You can also rent a trolley ("Bollerwagen") for CHF 10—great for carrying tired kids or your gear. Just keep in mind: it’s helpful, but it definitely adds a bit of a workout for the parents!
Games and Adventure Trail (Spiel und Erlebnisweg) Glarnerland | Practical Info
Arrival by car: Park at the Linthal Braunwaldbahn train and funicular station parking: (Stachelberg 2, 8783 Linthal)
Arrival by public transport: Take the train to Linthal Braunwald.
Step by step directions:
Rent the discovery backpack from the train station ticket office
Follow the Schneggärännä (Snail Race) sign (pass the train station) for the first loop (stations 1-6) or Wandervogel for the second loop (stations 7-10).
Length: c. 5 km - 2.5 km each loop
Recommended age: The path is easy and stroller friendly and can be done with
The hike is easy to do: Great even for little ones who’ll love the playgrounds. The quests are best for kids aged 5+
Stroller friendly: Yes
Elevation change
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