A short Hike from Weggis to Vitznau, and a Boat Ride on Lake Lucerne

Wednesday January 15 -- Sometimes there is no fog locally over our nearby lakes (Lake Zug, Lake Lucerne, Lake Zurich), so we arrange something nearby.

This Wednesday we chose another section of the Waldstätter Trail, which is the 115 km trail around Lake Lucerne, of which we are now only missing a couple of pieces. We took a van-bus up a curvy road from Weggis to the start of the official trail, and walked from there to Vitznau, which was unfortunately too short of a hike, only 2 hours for us (mostly just uphill to a look-out point where we had our picnic lunch, and then downhill again back to the lakefront). I would have liked to walk more, but we'd pretty well done the next section anyway, from the other side, and there was a lot of shade there. As we got to Vitznau, there was a boat pulling in, so without a lot of thought we hopped the boat, and had a nice ride on Lake Lucerne for another hour. Going back home via Brunnen and Schwyz meant that we basically did a round tour around Mount Rigi this day.

We figured, it doesn't always have to be a 3-hour hike, especially mid-week....

Waiting for the small Van-Bus at Weggis on the lake. The bus winds on narrow roads up the hillside to where we can join Trail No.98

From the road, a steep set of stairs takes us up to the Waldstätter Trail

First view over Lake Lucerne and Mount Pilatus. On the right (below) is Weggis, and at the back is Lucerne

It was a wonderful and pleasant day for a walk through the forest

Always impressive what big chunks of the mountain broke off a long time ago

This section of trail is also part of the "Rigi Lehnenweg" and the "Rigi Chestnut Trail" (Because of the Southern exposure, they are planting chestnut groves on this hillside). Altogether our hike from Weggis to Vitznau was about 2.5 hours.

The trail was very steep, and steps, stairs and ladders make it easier and more interesting

Here is where we had our picnic lunch. There was a fountain with running water which was a good thing, as we forgot to bring water (but there is always coffee!)

Picnic lunch high above Lake Lucerne and the town of Vitznau (behind me)

Making our way down the hill toward Vitznau. The Park Hotel on the lake is the prominent feature here!

There is a boat leaving Vitznau, heading toward Lucerne. By the time we got to Vitznau, the next boat heading in the other direction had just pulled in.

Sunny exposure, green meadows. In the back are Mount Bürgenstock and Mount Pilatus

An unusual sight: Young peacocks (?) crossing the road.

A glimpse of the Park Hotel from the other side, and the ship heading to Lucerne.

Below us: The town of Vitznau. The next boat was just pulling in as we got down to the church, so we quickly hopped on and headed across the lake.

Heading by boat across the lake, we get a nice glimpse of the hillside where we just spent a couple of hours walking.

Lots of shade on the Beckenried side of the lake, as the sun barely skims the peaks here. We are heading away from Mount Pilatus and Lucerne

After stops in Gersau and Treib, the boat crosses that part of the lake known as Lake Uri, the Southern arm of Lake Lucerne. Beautiful Uri Alps in the background, a favourite hiking area for us.

After an hour of riding on the boat, we approach Brunnen, where we get off and take the bus back to Zug. The two prominent Mythen Peaks in the background.