From the Mountain Village of Illgau to Muotathal in Canton Schwyz

Sunday July 20, 2025 -- Most days this week there have been thunder storms in the afternoon, and Sunday's forecast once again is for thunderstorms. But there was supposed to be sunshine till mid-afternoon, so still the possibility for an excursion...but what a surprise when we awoke to find our whole region covered in fog, a very unusual situation for summer.

We had to change plans again as the region near Mt.Bürgenstock where we wanted to walk was blanketed in fog, and we didn't know when it would lift. But webcams near the Muota Valley showed clear skies, so we mapped out a relatively "short" hike on the hillside above that valley, where we had not yet walked.

From the road into the Muota Valley, we rode a short cable-car up this steep cliffside to a mountain village called Illgau, hiked about 300 meters uphill, and then down two extremely steep sections into the town of Muotathal. On our map, this amounted to only a two-hour hike, so we thought to maybe walk back to the Illgau cable-car station... but the steep sections with slippery trails from recent rains (it felt almost like doing a Via Ferrata) meant slow and careful descent, so by the time we got to valley bottom, our hike was done for the day! Instead of walking another 30 minutes at the valley bottom, we went to have coffee and dessert at a favourite bakery in Muotathal.

Leaving home at about 8 a.m., it only takes 45 minutes to get to the train station in Schwyz, from where a bus takes you into the Muota Valley. (A 20-minute bus ride to the cable-car we wanted to take). This is a look back at the heart of Schwyz as the bus heads out of town. 

At 9:30 we got to the Illgau cable car. We had to phone up and wait for the operator to leave his home and walk to the summit station to start the cableway! (This took about five minutes). The cable-car is mostly used by folks who live in the village of Illgau who don't have a car and need to get to work in the valley bottom. 

Up above is the summit station. It's not very far, and just a short ride, but saves a 40-minute walk and 225 meters climb along a hiking trail. 

Looking down the Muota Valley as the cable-car makes its way up to the village of Illgau. 

Top station of the Illgau cableway!

First thing you see when you exit the cable-car station is the town's church. We didn't go in because there was construction going on, and we wanted to get going with our hike. I was here once before on a solo hike in August 2023, but didn't have a look at that time either!

Flowers add such a vibrancy to any town image!

This was only a 5-km hike for us, but required an initial ascent of 350 meters before descending along the steep "cliffs" above Muotathal. So even though the map shows 2¼ hours, there were two very steep sections which we had to navigate slowly, so it took much longer to complete this hike.  (3½ hours in total) 

A look down at the mountain village of Illgau as we make our way up the first hillside. Across the Muota Valley to the southwest is the recreational village of Stoos and the peak called Mt.Fronalpstock, the start of the popular Stoos Ridge hike.

Along the forest trail up the mountain, we got a peek at the Muota River below. 

Also this view to the south of the Schwyzer Alps. (Mostly there were trees blocking the view, but affording shade so that the ascent wasn't too hot. It was a bit of a muggy day). 

Out of the forest now, we had to follow a paved road for a bit. This road accesses only farm properties up here, but passes through Illgau to the valley bottom, providing the only vehicle access. 

A look behind us to where we left the road and continued up a meadow trail. In the back we see the summit of the Gross Mythen mountain. 

From a map which we had looked at in the village, we knew there was a look-out point just before we were to start our descent. It wasn't quite obvious to find, as there were no signs indicating it was here, having to enter the forest from the pasture area. We rested here for about 10 minutes. 

This is the view from the look-out bench. It is always interesting for us to inspect the landscape where we have done previous hikes. In this case, we had done a hike in July 2017 down the side valley below those barren cliffs, ending in Muotathal after descending on a long zigzag road. 

Continuing on from the look-out point we passed directly next to this barn. At first there were only a couple of alpacas outside, and then more and more came out! I enjoyed them until the tallest llama came out and laid back its ears! Does this mean it is getting ready to spit?

The smaller ones had such soft fur! And the tall llama with the laid-back ears looked kind of threatening!

Final ascent before heading down the south side of the "cliffs". The look-out point is just opposite the llama barn below. 

View behind us to the west, to the summit of Mt. Rigi in the center. The peak on the left (Rigi Hoflue) is part of the Rigi Range. Closer to us on the right is a large upper plateau called Fallenflue, which I crossed on that hike in August 2023 to a wonderful look-out point. 

Here at Tritt we start on our descent to Muotathal. The sign says 55 minutes, but it actually took at least an hour and a half! Also, there was a sign "warning" us that there was a four-meter ladder coming up!

Soon after starting on our descent, we realized this wouldn't be easy! The trail was steep and full of large slippery rocks (from recent rains). And much of the way down there were these mounted ropes, which we really had to use!

Using the ropes to make our way down the steep trail. This passage is called the Zinglenflue. 

Steep trail, and a ladder of rungs hammered into the cliff wall.

This might have been the four-meter ladder that the sign higher up warned us about!

This was like a Via Ferrata! I would not recommend this trail for children, though. And also definitely not while it's raining!

The steep trail down toward Muotathal. 

The steep trail down toward Muotathal. Along the way, only one other person crossed us on the trail, and he was going uphill (probably a better idea). 

After the first steep section through the Zinglen Forest, which took us 50 minutes, we reached a farm called Ober Zinglen. There was a bench at the junction of the road and trail, so we rested there before continuing to the second steep section. 

Hahaha, they are so cute the way they are watching us go by!

The second passage called Chatzenstrick was also quite steep, although easier to navigate as it was secured with the hand-holds and consisted of a long series of stairs, which became quite tedious on the 260-meter descent through the Chilenwald forest. 

The rest of the descent was a long series of stairs. This would make an uphill walk easier, I would think. 

A view to the valley bottom. This a community called Weid on the west end of Muotathal. In the back is a large collection of tents, one of several scout camps which take place around Switzerland. Apparently, the family members were visiting today! 

The long set of stairs became tedious!

Emerging from the forest now, we see a little chapel which we had a look at later, before crossing the river into the town. 

The trail goes straight to the parish church of Saint Sigismund and Walburga, so this time we did go inside to have a look. 

Shortcut through the cemetery with its pretty iron crosses. (It looks like there were basically two variations which one could choose from....)

This was quite an impressive Baroque church. This grandiose Late Baroque building was completed in 1789 and is a significant religious and cultural monument of the Muota Valley and Canton Schwyz in general. 

Absolutely gorgeous interior. The organ seem relatively small in comparison to many others which we have seen!

Details of the interior of the large parish church. In particular I liked the attractive statues behind the main altar. These represent the church patrons Sigismund and Walburga, as well as the apostles Philip and James the Elder.  

Outside the church we look up at the vertical cliffs. We had descended from the passage on the left (Chatzenstrick) through the forest at approximately where the red line is drawn. Amazing!

Here is a cute little square where we had seen the chapel from the trail above. 

We did go inside this chapel, which turned out to be a "Chapel of Rest" (where a body can be displayed before burial) with a small altar. Before the large church nearby was built in the 18th Century, this here was the location of the original, 1369 parish church (not this particular building). 

The inscription on this bell reads: "This bell from the year 1585 comes from the old parish church which originally stood here". 

Ah, how this fellow is enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon!

Gorgeous house on the little square. See the arrow? That's where the pretty kitty is enjoying the afternoon. 

Another lovely house on this little square. It had the most beautiful vegetable garden.

A look behind us now as we head toward the Muota River. 

All is quiet on this Sunday afternoon!

A look up the Muota River as we cross into the main part of the town of Muotathal. 

As it was now about 1 p.m., and we had been on our "short" excursion for 3½ hours, we decided to stop at the local bakery/café (open on Sundays) for refreshments while waiting for the 13:48 bus, instead of walking another 30 minutes to the Illgau cable-car station.  

Urs really loves his ice-cream sundaes!

Back out at the main road now waiting for the bus, I loved this attractive square with the brick pavement, the fountain, and the very colourful flower landscape!

What a gorgeous flower! I believe this has now become my favourite flower. It is called a "Happy Single Wink" Dahlia. See the bee on the flower on the right?

Gasthaus Post in Muotathal sports a "Suworow Hall". There are many dedications to the Russian General Suworow in this area, as he passed through here on his campaign against the invasion of Napoleon in 1799. 

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. The red circles show where the two steep sections were. 

All the hikes we have done in the region of the Muota Valley. 

On the bus ride back to Schwyz, we pass this neat bridge over the Muota River. (Back in April 2021 we walked the 15 kilometers along the Muota River from the town of Muotathal all the way to the city of Schwyz, and did a short detour over this bridge. You can see the path on the left). 

We also pass this very nice waterfall 

As the bus comes out of the valley, we see the Mythen mountains to the east.

And another view of the city of Schwyz (Capital city of Canton Schwyz) as the bus makes its way into the heart of the town and then to the train station further west. 

Where the Muota Valley is located within Switzerland. 

By 8 a.m. we had to decide where we were headed for our chosen excursion of the day, but this is what the webcam from Mt. Pilatus was showing of the Lake Lucerne region. Since part of our hike was to be at lake level at the base of Mt. Bürgenstock, and we could not be sure when the fog would lift, we decided to go in the other direction, which was an acceptable alternative. As it turns out, the fog lifted about an hour later.