Glarner Forest Pearls / Glarner Forest

Blueberry Forest

The Glarner Forest is a natural mountain coniferous forest dominated by spruce. In the forest reserve, summer is short. In winter, avalanches thunder down into the valley on both sides of the forest reserve, and snow stays in the forest until May. Trees can only grow on small knolls, tree stumps, and fallen tree trunks. This creates an open forest with lots of blueberry and fern. Blueberries are not only tasty for us but also for many animal species like the shy black grouse. The forest reserve is located in the oldest wildlife protection area in Europe. Hunting has been prohibited in Kärpf since 1548.

Species-rich Glarner Forest

Dead trees are also called deadwood. This wood is dead yet full of life. Countless fungi and insects decompose it and feed on it. Lichens and mosses grow on the decaying wood, and birds find food here.

There is a lot of deadwood in the Glarner Forest. It is important for biodiversity and also for forest regeneration. A fallen tree trunk is slightly elevated and thus free of snow earlier. This helps a spruce seedling to grow out of the dense blueberry and fern carpet. 

Experience the forest reserve

The forest reserve can be reached on foot in three hours from the Mettmenalp (www.mettmen-alp.ch). The descent from the forest reserve to Engi takes one hour. The forest reserve can also be explored directly from Engi: The hike from Engi Vorderdorf to the Glarner Forest and back to Engi Hinterdorf takes three hours. The paths are generally passable from June to October. The app «Glarner Waldperlen» guides you informatively and playfully through the forest reserve. Use the QR code to download the app.

Additional info