From Balmberg to Oensingen

This ridge hike follows for the most part the marked Jura high route. The trip can therefore easily be extended to the west or east if you have a whole weekend or more available. Coming from the east, the high route leads from Langenbruck over Balsthal to Schwengimatt – from where we descend to Oensingen on this hike – and then continues westward over Weissenstein, Hasenmatt, and Grenchenberg towards Plagne and Frinvilier. But now up to Balmberg, preferably by post bus. On foot, the proper hike starts at the pass height near the ropes course. At Niederwiler Stierenberg you already have the choice: enter and/or pass? Then directly over the Chamben to the Hintere and Vordere Schmiedenmatt – both hospitable farms. Or via Hinteres Hofbergli, a pleasant house with well-kept cuisine, to Hochchrüz and over the edge of Schattenberg to Hinteregg, where both routes reunite again. I prefer the second because it runs very attractively right on the front Jura ridge and is more scenic. At