Trübsee (Titlis) Family Guide: Engelbert & Schmuggli Treasure-Hunt Loop

Easy hike (3.3 km), mostly flat (37 m ascent / descent) with alpine playgrounds, treasure hunt and barbecue sites. Suitable for strollers. Switzerland (Engelberg)

Trübsee | Titlis | Engelberg | Canton of Obwalden (Switzerland)

The "it" factor

What makes it special:

• Stunning lake-and-peak views

• Treasure hunt: collect 7 letters for a prize

• Seven playgrounds spaced along the loop

• Rowboats for rent (no booking; 6 boats; life jackets included)

• Plenty of barbecue spots with wood provided.

• Easy to do—off-road stroller-friendly and great for young kids and grandparents.

What to consider:

• Can get busy on weekends/holidays

• Bring barbecue supplies if you plan to grill (wood is provided)

• Zipline and airbag jump are for older kids

Don't feel like reading? Watch a video instead!

Trübsee Schmuggli Trail Walk-Through Video

The fun factor

Trübsee is a mountain lake at the Titlis mid-station above Engelberg. It’s very beautiful, with a glacier and high peaks all around. It’s also home to Schmuggli, the mountain’s cheeky smuggler-mascot who sends families on a simple treasure hunt around the shore: seven playground stops, seven hidden letters, one secret word (and a little prize at the end). The loop is short, mostly flat, and perfect for little legs—easily one of our top kid-friendly hikes.

Trübsee should be on every family bucket list—it’s a simple route and genuinely fun; kids will ask to go again.

Here are our 4 fun factors of Trübsee:

1. Go on a treasure hunt

The local mascots, Smuggler Engelbert and his mule, Schmuggli, hid little treasures around Trübsee—your mission is to find them. Pick up a free map at the gondola station and follow the path around the lake to seven playgrounds. At each stop, look for a small puncher with a letter—sometimes it’s tucked away, which makes the search more fun. Punch the letter on your map; when you’ve found all seven, the letters spell a secret password. Show your map and say the password to the staff at the restaurant by the top gondola station to get a prize.

2. Hit seven playgrounds

This trail is made for kids. As you follow the lakeshore to solve the treasure hunt, you pass seven playgrounds—built-in motivation to keep moving. The first few are small but fun; later they get bigger. Near the end you reach the main area: two playgrounds linked by a hanging bridge over a little water canal. Many stops also have barbecue spots with wood provided—perfect for a break.

3. Get an adrenaline rush

For kids aged 8+, there’s an extra dose of adrenaline near the end: a 500-metre zipline that carries you over trees and alpine meadows to the lakeshore.

There’s also an Airbag Jump for thrill-seekers. Pick your drop height—3 m (min age 6), 4 m (8), or 6 m (14)—and land safely on a giant air cushion.

Ours was too young this time for any of these adventures, so we saved it for another day—but they looked fantastic.

4. Go rowing on the lake

If you want a bit of extra adventure, you can rent a rowing boat on the spot—no booking required. There are six boats; each fits up to four people and comes with life jackets.

On warm days, dip your feet in the water to cool down and enjoy the views while the kids practice their rowing

The views factor

The views are absolutely breathtaking—crystal-clear lake, green fields, high mountains and snow-covered peaks. One of the top hikes we’ve done with kids (and even without).

The fitness factor

The loop is short—3.3 km, relatively wide, and mostly flat (±37 m up/down). The light-gravel path is off-road stroller-friendly, making it a great first hike for kids. We’ve done it twice with the grandparents (they didn’t even have hiking shoes) and they managed fine and loved it—though we still recommend proper hiking shoes for safety.

The food factor

There are two restaurants: Trübsee Self-Service at the start/end of the loop and table served Alpstübli near the far side. Both have a good selection for kids and adults.

If you prefer DIY, bring your own food and use one of the four barbecue stations—three sit right by playgrounds, so you can cook while the kids play. It’s a simple, special way to eat in a beautiful setting.

Our usual flow: coffee at the self-service, barbecue at one of the smaller playgrounds, then a stop at Alpstübli for ice cream - which also has nice sun beds to relax.

Trübsee circular hike - practical info

• Arrival by car: Park at the Titlis gondola parking lot: Rohrstrasse 23, 6390 Engelberg

• Arrival by public transport: Take the train to Engelberg train station and walk c. 10 minutes to the Titlis gondola station

• Take the Engelberg gondola to Trübsee

• Start & End: Trübsee station, 1,797 m

• Ascent / descent: 37 m

• Length: ca. 3.3 km

• Duration: 1 hr walk plus many more hours spent at the playgrounds. It normally takes us a full day.

• TIP: bring food for barbecue.

• It can be combined with a trip to the glacier.