Ridge walks in Central Switzerland: seven routes from easy to airy

On a ridge there is often a lake on one side and a valley on the other, with the path running along the crest between them. Central Switzerland has an unusual number of such crest walks. Its mountains stand free above the lakes instead of crowding into large massifs. Most starting points can be reached from Lucerne or Zurich by train or bus within an hour. We present seven routes here that we particularly recommend, from family-friendly to genuinely airy. For each you will find a link to the full route details.

1. Stoos ridge path (Klingenstock → Fronalpstock)

4.7 km · about 2 h · moderate (T2) · lifts at both ends

When people in Switzerland speak of a ridge walk, many think of this route first. For two hours the path rises and falls along the crest, with Lake Lucerne some 1500 m below. From the highest point you can count ten lakes. The path is very well built and there are lifts at both ends. You reach the Stoos itself with the steepest funicular in the world. If you only want to walk one ridge, we recommend this one. Set out early in the day and plan the tour within the lift season from mid-June to mid-October. The walk is described in detail in the article Stoos Ridge Hike, and the season and lift times are explained in the article Season and lift times for the Stoos ridge hike. The route data are on the tour page Ridge loop from Stoos.

2. Fronalpstock panorama circuit, the view without the ridge

short · easy · served by lifts

For non-walkers and for the shoulder season this circuit is the better choice. You ride the lift up the Fronalpstock and walk the short round along the rock edge above the Urnersee. The view is barely inferior to the one from the ridge, but the effort is far smaller. The circuit is also open for more of the year than the big traverse. More about the Fronalpstock in the article Stoos Ridge Hike.

3. Hochflue circuit from Obergschwend, the rough side of the Rigi

6.4 km · about 3½ h · very demanding (level 5/5) · ladders and secured passages

The Hochflue is the wild eastern summit of the Rigi massif. The compact round leads over rock steps and secured sections to a viewpoint from which you look straight down on the lake and across to the Mythen. For that you need a sure step and a cool head. On this route you are often almost alone. All the route details are on the tour page Up the Hochflue from Obergschwend.

4. Bützi–Stockflue above Brunnen, high over the bend in the lake

8.4 km · about 3½ h · very demanding (5/5) · from Brunnen station

This round begins right at the station in Brunnen and climbs with scrambling sections to the viewpoint of the Stockflue, which sits above the great bend of the lake. Measured against the height gained, it offers more view than any other route in our collection. It is suitable only for experienced, sure-footed mountain walkers. Details of the tour are on the tour page A demanding loop from Brunnen to the Timpel.

5. Stärnen–Forstberg–Druesberg, a crest for the experienced

9.2 km · about 4½ h · very demanding (5/5) · Hoch-Ybrig lifts

From Hoch-Ybrig this high-level route links several summits along the eastern crest of the canton. You walk over karst, it is quiet and the view reaches far towards the Glarus Alps. If the Stoos feels too busy for you, this route is a demanding alternative. The description is on the tour page From the Chli Stärnen over the Druesberg to Unteriberg.

6. Sattel-Hochstuckli summit circuit, for the whole family

6.8 km · about 2½ h · moderate · revolving gondola from Sattel

This summit round is comfortable and offers a panorama from the Mythen to the Rigi. Below there are playgrounds and, for those who dare, a suspension bridge. That creates something of a ridge feeling, suitable also for groups with grandparents, parents and children. The route is described on the tour page: Loop from the Mostelberg over the Banegg

7. Grosser Mythen, a summit instead of a ridge

about 490 m of ascent from Holzegg · 1–1½ h up · demanding, exposed, secured with chains

The Grosser Mythen is not a traverse, yet it belongs on this list. In 47 hairpins the path leads up the exposed rock pyramid. At the top an all-round view awaits you, along with a hut and the well-known nut pastries. Anyone who looks to ridge paths for the drop below and the wide view finds both here too, only the path leads steeply upward instead of along the crest. More about this walk in the article Grosser Mythen.

Which ridge suits you?

What applies on every ridge: how one of these tours turns out depends greatly on the weather. Wind, wet rock and fog make even a T2 route unpleasant; on a 5/5 route they become dangerous. Before you set out, check our altitude-corrected forecasts, for example on the weather page for Stoos, the Wetterseite Rigi-Hochflue or the Wetterseite Druesberg. Take enough water, because there is none on the ridges. In the shoulder season you must reckon with ice on shaded steps.

Frequently asked questions

What is the finest ridge walk in Switzerland? That depends on your experience and your preferences. The ridge path on the Stoos between Klingenstock and Fronalpstock is easy to reach and still offers a wide view over the lake. That is why it comes first on this list.

Which ridge walks suit beginners? The panorama round on the Fronalpstock and the summit circuit at Sattel-Hochstuckli offer views across the crests without technical difficulty.

Are the tours reachable by lift? Apart from the round to the Stockflue, which begins right at Brunnen station, all the tours use lifts to gain height.

When is the season for ridge walks? The season runs roughly from June to October. The traverse on the Stoos, for which you need the lifts, is possible from mid-June to mid-October. More on this in the article Season and lift times for the Stoos ridge hike.