This easy trail starts at the top of Rigi Kulm and hikes down the mountain, with spectacular views of Lake Lucerne and surrounding mountains.
Trail: easy • 2 hours • 5.8 km • 50m up, 380m down
See trail map on Komoot or SchweizMobil.
Open: usually snow-free mid April to mid November
Conditions: Rigi live status • webcams • weather
The trail optionally includes the Rotstock viewpoint and Rigi First cliff walk. The hike ends at the Rigi Kaltbad station, where you can ride the mountain train or cable car to the lake and continue by boat back to Lucerne.
Trail instructions
From the Rigi Kulm viewpoint, follow signs to Staffel, about 25 mins down the mountain. There are restaurants and toilet at this station.
From Staffel, follow signs to Rigi First.
Optional detour to Rotstock viewpoint. Shortly after Staffel station, instead of turning left towards First on the main trail, follow signs for Rotstock, walking uphill on a dirt footpath, about 10 mins to the viewpoint. Then walk thru the meadows to rejoin the main trail to First.
When you reach Rigi First, follow signs to "Felsenweg" (aka Cliff Walk), a walkway carved into the side of the mountain. Walk along cliff walk about 10 mins, then back same way to the start of the cliff walk.
Then an easy stroll to the Rigi Kaltbad, where you'll find restaurants, playgrounds, and mountain train to Vitznau and cable car to Weggis.
More details on SwissFamilyFun.com
How to get there
The trail starts at the Rigi Kulm viewpoint. To get there, start in Vitznau and ride the Rigi mountain train to Rigi Kulm. The trail ends at the Rigi Kaltbad-First station, where you ride the mountain train back down to Vitznau.
By boat: From Lucerne, the nicest way to arrive is by boat from Lucerne, the Rigi "Classic Round Trip". Boats leave about every hour from the boat dock directly across from the Lucerne train station. You can buy a combo-ticket that includes both the boat and Rigi mountain train. See boat schedule.
By car: There is a parking garage next to the Rigi mountain train station - Seestrasse 64, 6354 Vitznau. We usually park at the parking garage a couple minutes walk away at Altdorfbachweg 6, 6354 Vitznau.
By public transport: If you are coming from elsewhere in Switzerland, you can take a train to either Küssnacht am Rigi or Arth-Goldau. Then a bus to Vitznau, Station.
Tickets
You'll need a Rigi Day Ticket, which covers the mountain transport necessary for this hike.
Note: Rigi mountain transport is free with the Swiss Travel Pass, Luzern Travel Pass, Saver Day Pass, and SBB GA. Discount 50% with Half Fare Card.
More info
Rigi website: www.rigi.ch
