Rigi Lake View Hike
Overview
Intro
This route is very popular with hikers of all ages. From the Rigi Kulm upper station, the gentle descent to Rigi Kaltbad takes just over an hour. This high-altitude hike offers magnificent views over the Swiss Plateau, reaching as far as the Black Forest and the Vosges mountains.
Description
Before setting off on the hike, we recommend that you walk the last few metres from the Rigi Kulm upper station up to the peak. From up here, you can enjoy a breathtaking view – and you’ll learn why the Rigi is considered to be a mountain with one of the most beautiful Alpine panoramas. The view extends across Lake Zug, the two Mythen mountains, Lake Lauerz and other peaks and valleys in Schwyz and Uri, as well as the Titlis glacier and deep into the Bernese Oberland, as far as the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau – for a simply impressive landscape!
After this awe-inspiring panorama and probably a few new photos, the hike can begin. The classic Rigi hike leads gently downhill – first on the road and later on a pleasant gravel path. You’ll pass the pretty mountain chapel – which incidentally can also be booked as a wedding venue – as well as grazing cows and alpacas. After around 20 minutes, we recommend making a first culinary stop at the Lok 7 restaurant. The hike then continues past the Rotstock, where you can turn off to a beautiful covered barbecue area, and then on to Rigi Staffelhöhe. The Kräuterhotel Edelweiss can also be found here, and is known for its hospitality and excellent natural cuisine.
The last third of the hike is also impressive. The path now leads across a large meadow and past beautiful benches to the Gratweg barbecue area. Here, or at the latest at the Känzeli viewpoint, it’s worth taking another break – with or without a barbecue. Queen Victoria of England praised the majestic panoramic view when she visited this location back in 1868.
Now there are just a few metres left before you’ll reach the modern, spacious village square in Rigi Kaltbad and the upper station of the same name. If you like, you can extend your stay with a visit to the famous Mineralbad & Spa Rigi Kaltbad or even an overnight stay in one of the hotels. At the Hotel Rigi Kaltbad or the Hotel Alpina, for example.
Getting there: For example, with the historic cogwheel railway from Goldau or with state-of-the-art articulated railcars from Vitznau - the first mountain railway in Europe.
Thanks to the invention of engineer Niklaus Riggenbach in 1871, guests can now experience over 150 years of railway history in one day with the Rigi Crossing. All current timetables here.
Tip: Travelling from Vitznau to Lucerne or Brunnen by boat.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start Point |
Rigi Kulm
|
|---|---|
| Target Point |
Rigi Kaltbad
|
| Altitude (meter above sea level) |
1749 m
|
| Ascent |
18 m
|
| Descent |
329 m
|
| Distance |
4 km
|
| Duration |
1 h
|
| Season |
All year
|
| Theme |
With panoramic view
|
Rigi Bahnen AG
Bahnhofstrasse 7
6354
Vitznau
Switzerland
Phone
+41 (0)41 399 87 87
Mobile phone
+41 (0)41 399 87 87
Fax +41 (0)41 399 87 00
welcome@rigi.ch
rigi.ch
