This fun sensory theme trail has 8 play stations related to our senses along an easy path through lush farm fields and forest. You can balance like a bug on a leaf, listen to forest sounds through a megaphone, and get a bird’s eye view through a periscope. There are lots of places to grill up lunch and room to run around. You don’t get the mountain views, but it’s a good choice when higher elevations are socked in with weather or snow.
This one of four Naturena Sinnespfad theme trails; we’ve also done the ones in Frick and Zugerland, which we also like.
| Location: | Eastern Switzerland |
| Address: | Frauenfeldstr, Hüttigen, Canton Thurgau, Switzerland, |
| Car: | ~45 mins from Zurich Parking GPS: 47.615500, 8.884000 |
| Train: | ~1hr10 mins from Zurich |
| Trail: | 3.5 km loop, about 2 hours |
| Condition: | dirt road, some grass, mostly obstacle-free |
| Skill: | easy |
| Open: | year round, weather dependent |
| More info: | www.naturena.ch |
Trail Map
Here’s the official Naturena map available on their website and on signs along the trail.
Here’s what the trail actually looks like. The trail is 3.5 km, basically flat. Most of the trail is on dirt roads, fine for strollers. But the first section of the trail from station 1 to 3 is on grass next to the forest, not a proper trail. An all terrain stroller would be fine but a regular stroller with small wheels might have some trouble. Also, we went after a rainstorm, so our shoes and pants got all wet from the wet grass.
The only tricky part of the trail is at station #3, where you must take a hard right to continue on the trail. We kept walking straight toward #6 on accident. There are signs but we were unobservant that day.
Getting There
The directions on the Naturena website are hard to follow, so we got really lost. But not you because you have the handy maps and instructions below.
The trailhead is at the Hüttigen, Hörnliwald bus stop, which is located at the cross of Frauenfeldstr and Langholz in Hüttigen, Switerzland. GPS cordinates 47°36’55.8″N 8°53’02.4″E. Use the map below to get there.
As you approach the trailhead, you will see the big Naturena sign on the north side of the street and a sign pointing to parking (P 120 m) on the south side of the street. Drive down the dirt road on the left to the small parking lot (no fee) and walk back to the trail head.
In the pic below, you can see the start of the trail on the far right, a little white sign under the trees. Just to the left of that is a little dirt road going into the forest, that’s where the parking is.
Trail Details
The map at the beginning of the trail, near the main road.
Walking up from the map to the first section of the trail.
This sculpture, with the senses represented on each panel, next to the map can spin and the bells inside make noise. On the right, the grassy trail on the first section of the trail.
We past three fire pits with benches on this first section of the trail, the grassy path along the edge of the forest. None of them had wood, though one had an empty wood box, so maybe someone will fill it later in summer.
The first station: sight. It has a spinning periscope so you can see a couple meters higher than normal.
Station 2:
View from trail.
Big picnic area near station #3.
Station #3 – a sun dial using your body to mark the time. Not so effective on a cloudy day.
It has markers showing where to stand depending on the time of year.
To reach station #4 turn right and follow the road into the field (not the road into the forest, you’ll do that later).
Station #6 – listen to forest sounds.
Station #7 – try to climb around without ringing the bells and alerting the spider.
Big picnic area near station #7, with wood box and shelter.
Station #8 – feel different kinds of tree bark and wood.
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