The Cliff Trail on Mount Bürgenstock, and the Highest Outdoor Lift in Europe

Saturday June 15th, 2019 -- After a long period of less-than-ideal hiking weather and a two-week visit by my Mom, we are back to hiking again!

The weather was better at the North edge of the Alps so we stayed close to home and hiked on Mount Bürgenstock (or Bürgenberg) on Lake Luzern. The route we had in mind is another section of the "Waldstätter Trail", a 115-km trail around the lake, of which we have already done several sections. 

Furthermore, there is an engineering marvel on this mountain: In 1873 a fellow named Franz Josef Dürrer built the first hotel up here for an exclusive clientele, who then complained that there was nowhere to walk on the North side of the hill, which was basically a vertical cliff face. So in 1900 he engaged Austrian and Italian miners to blast out a daring 2-km trail (Felsenweg) which offers fantastic views across Lake Luzern. To offer his guests an additional thrill, he built an almost free-standing lift along the cliff-face to take the guests 150m higher to the highest point of the city of Luzern. The trail and lift were completed in 5 years, and caused quite a sensation at the time. 

Our intention was to walk the entire cliff-trail and continue down to lake level, but as luck would have it, the second part of the trail was closed due to rock fall. So we either had to go back or ride the lift up.... So now we can say we rode the highest outdoor lift in Europe (glass cabin), but for the price of 15 SFr. each, they really could have slowed down the ride a bit so we could enjoy more than 60 seconds of the view going up...

Our excursion started with a bus ride up to the top of Mount Bürgenstock. Below is the village of Stansstad with Mount Pilatus in the background

This photo of the Palace Hotel (built in 1903) at the Bürgenstock was taken in November 2018 on a hike we did in the other direction. (The Cliff Trail is closed in winter). This is the North side of the mountain, and you can just see the tip of the lift at the highest point on the hill

View to Luzern

It is an easy walk on the Cliff Trail with lots of views

I don't believe I have ever seen a yellow poppy before

View of Mount Rigi and the Küssnacht Arm of Lake Luzern

Hertenstein, and at the very back is Lake Zug

Approaching the entrance to the Hammetschwand lift

Unfortunately the second part of the Cliff Trail is closed due to a large boulder falling on the trail

An engineering marvel. But the ride up was so short, if you closed your eyes for a few seconds, you'd miss the "overwhelming view from the cabin"...

The Hammetschwand Lift seen from below

View from the cabin as the lift ascends toward Hammetschwand

This is about all you can see of the structure from the hill (lots of vegetation)

SIDE NOTE: On a different hike we did on the Horw Peninsula near Luzern this Spring, this is the zoomed view we had of the structure. You can see it much better from the West side of the lake:

From the Horw Peninsula across the lake you can see the structure better. There is, of course, also a restaurant at the top

From the Horw Peninsula across the lake you can see the structure better

THE REST OF THE HIKE:

Fortunately we were able to continue basically according to plan, taking the higher trail and joining back at the Felsenweg at the look-out point called Känzeli

Heading eastward along the top of Mount Bürgenstock, instead of along the North Face Felsenweg. The view is to the South

View southward. Below is a hotel called Honegg, and you can walk in a loop past this hotel back to the Bürgenstock Resort. Also, in the back to the right is Mount Stanserhorn.

Look-out point called Känzeli. It was pretty windy here

View of Lake Luzern from the Känzeli. On the left is the town ofVitznau. The low hill on the right is Seelisberg

A good place for a coffee break on a bench. Across the lake is Beckenried. Below is a church called St. Jost

St. Jost is probably popular for weddings. There was one taking place this day, and the trail goes right through the place where all the guests are standing....

Heading down to the Lake, toward Ennetbürgen, our goal (town on the right)

Not sunny, but decent hiking weather

The goal of our hike: Ennetbürgen

Cool statue

Pretty rose arbour

PS: Later in the evening the whole country had some pretty major thunderstorms. Several outdoor festivals had to be interrupted for people to take refuge from the deluge. We were pretty lucky with the rain-free window, and made it back home early as this was pretty close to home.