Country:
District:
Markings: signposts with sticker no. 5 on a green background (Jura Höhenweg).
(S) From your campsite, walk to the Sennhaus Restaurant, then, with your back to it, head north-west towards Gänsbrunnen. In front of the car park, turn right onto the gravel path, which is closed to motor vehicles, heading north-east. Ignore the first crossroads and continue to the three-way junction near a barbecue area.
(1) Continue straight ahead in a north-easterly direction to cross the Schofgraben woods, then descend to the Bödeli pasture, located at the start of a ski lift.
(2) Continue across the pasture to reach the car park opposite the Balmberg Estate.
(3) Cross Oberbalmberg Road, pass the car park and follow the path towards Niederwiler Stierenberg. Pass the Oberbalmberg playground and continue to the path leading to the Niederwiler Stierenberg Restaurant.
(4) At the signpost, head towards Hint Hofbergli. You will reach a rope bridge, a suspended footbridge about 50 metres long, which rises high above the "Gschliff".
(5) Cross the bridge carefully and continue to the Bergwirtschaft Hofbergli restaurant.
(6) Continue north-east towards Balsthal. Ignore the side road and continue to the signpost at the three-way junction.
(7) Turn right (southeast) and follow the ridge path northeast to the crossroads at Höch-Chrütz (elevation 1050), where there is a barbecue area.
(8) Head north-east towards Balsthal, then in the sharp left-hand bend, continue straight ahead to maintain your north-easterly course. Continue to the junction with Schmiedemattstrasse, where you will come to a barrier and a cattle grid.
(9) At the signpost, turn right towards Balsthal. Continue along Schmiedemattstrasse until you reach Restaurant Vordere Schmiedenmatt.
(10) Continue along Schmiedemattstrasse towards Hinteregg/Balsthal. Continue to the Schmiedenmatt car park, where you will find an information board.
(11) Leave Schmiedemattstrasse, cross the car park, then continue left towards the east until you reach a fork.
(12) Turn right (south-east) and cross the Schatteberg forest. When you leave the forest, continue across the pasture to the signpost at the intersection with the path leading to the Bergwirtschaft Hinteregg restaurant.
(13) Turn right onto Schorenstrasse and continue to the bend marked on the right.
(14) At the bend, leave Schorenstrasse and continue left (north-east) across the pasture until you reach a fork.
(15) Turn left (north-east) into the woods and continue to the signpost at the next fork.
(16) Continue straight ahead towards the north-east, following the signs for Balsthal through the woods. After several hairpin bends at the foot of a cliff, you will reach a junction after a steep climb. (Viewpoint over the Hällchöpfli at 1,232 m accessible via a return trip on the left)
(17) Turn right to begin a long descent towards the north-east. Continue until you reach a steep section running alongside rocks.
(18) Continue downhill and, after a few tight hairpin bends, you will reach the foot of the Rosschopf rock face (elevation 1116 m).
(19) Continue downhill until you reach a barrier at the junction with Route Schwengimatt.
(20) Turn left (north-east) onto the small tarmac road and continue to the junction after the Schwengimatt Restaurant.
(21) Turn left (north-west) after the restaurant and follow the signs for Balsthal on the small tarmac road Schwengimattwegg. Continue on this road until you reach the signpost.
(22) Turn right (north-east) onto the forest path and continue to the signpost at the junction.
(23) Turn left to join the small tarmac road Schwengimattwegg a little further on. Continue westwards to the signpost 300 m away, at an altitude of 911 m.
(24) Turn right (north-east) onto the forest path and continue to the junction with Schwängimattwegli (elevation 841).
(25) Turn right and continue downhill towards the northeast. Keep going in this direction until you reach the hairpin bend to the left.
(26) Continue west on the forest path until you reach the hairpin bend to the right.
(27) Continue north-east until you reach a crossroads in a small clearing. (Here you can see the town of Balsthal in the distance)
(28) At the signpost, turn left towards Balsthal. Continue south-west until you reach the junction at a sharp right-hand bend.
(29) Continue to the right, heading northeast, and finish the descent to Lebernweg Road, then continue northeast. Pass a building materials company, cross an industrial railway line and arrive at the bridge over a branch of the Dünnern River at the entrance to the small town of Klus.
(30) Cross the bridge, carefully pass the level crossing, then continue to the stop sign. First turn right then left to pass in front of the Burg Restaurant. (If you look up, you will see the imposing Alt-Falkenstein Castle overlooking the small town of Klus). Continue straight ahead on the small road, which is closed to motor vehicles. At the fork, turn left, pass the house on your right and continue to the intersection with Sagmattstrasse.
(31) Turn right and follow Sagmattstrasse north-east to a bakery. Then turn left onto Holderweg, pass a petrol station, and after a right-hand bend, you will arrive at Balsthal station.
(32) Walk past the station and, at the fork, keep right to take the underpass beneath the tracks. Then turn left onto Postackerstrasse. At the end of this street, follow the signs by turning right, then left to continue on Tiergartenweg towards the northeast. Continue to the signpost (E) and look for a discreet spot nearby to set up camp. (Supplies can be obtained by turning left towards the town centre)
Association / Club / Walk leader
Moderate 
Visorando member
