It’s not the first time I’ve been tipped off to a nice trip by local friends. This time, thanks to Martina, I went with her and our daughters on a magical journey to nearby Wolfwil. The local forest has a 2,5 km long trail full of games, puzzles, and riddles completed with magical characters of elves, fairies, and gnomes.
Arrival to Wolfwil
By car: enter Elfen und Wichtelweg Wolfwil into Google navigation/map. Take the A1 motorway, take the Oensingen exit, and continue toward Murgenthal/Kestenholz. After Kestenholz, continue along Wolfwilstrasse, then turn left onto Schlatthof (here you can see the sign for Elfen & Wichtelweg). Drive past the farmhouse and arrive at the parking lot of the Schützenhaus.
By public transport: from Oberbuchsiten station, take bus line 126, or from Oensingen, take line 127 to the stop Wolfwil, Schulhaus. It is about a 10-minute walk (850 m) to the trailhead.
Opening hours
The route is open from 1 May to 1 November and is free of charge.
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-2.jpg)
Start of the route
The route has two loops, one shorter (1.5 km) and the other longer (2.5 km). At the beginning of the trail, you can take a map and a small gift for each child who goes with you. The whole trail is free, but at the last stop, there is a box for voluntary donations (only cash donations are possible, it’s a pity there is no option to pay via Twint).
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-1.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-11.jpg)
Elfen- und Wichtelweg trail
Each of the 18 stations is carefully designed – here you will find motor activities, puzzles, riddles…
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-3.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-6.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-9.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-14.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-15.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-20.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-16.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-18.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-19.jpg)
…but also figures of elves and their elaborate houses.
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-4.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-13.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-17.jpg)
Summary
You can see that the Elfen- und Wichtelweg is designed and crafted with love. In my opinion, it is interesting for kindergarten and younger school-age children. It is an excellent place for a school trip. We did the longer 2,5 km route and spent over 2 hours in the forest. We might have spent even more time if we had perhaps added a barbecue at one of the two barbecue spots available along the trail.
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-5.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-8.jpg)
![](https://www.ourswissexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Elfen-Wichtelweg-Wolfwil-12.jpg)