Walking down from Rigi Scheidegg to Lauerz on Lake Lauerz

Friday September 19, 2025 -- Another beautiful day, but after the long hike I did the day before in the Pizol Region (those photos are HERE), I didn't want to travel far, and preferred a shorter and not so strenuous hike (less uphill preferred!).

So I returned (alone again) to our local mountain, Mt.Rigi, to hiked down on another trail I had never done before, namely from the summit of the Rigi Scheidegg cable-car to the lakeside village of Lauerz on the east side of the mountain. 

I didn't want to start too early because the view of the eastern Alps is hazy then (sun is too low), but early enough to see the Bernese Alps clearly on this gorgeous day. The only drawback of leaving later is the large crowds of people taking the cogwheel train up toward Rigi Kulm. Luckily you only ride this train for a short stretch before changing to the Scheidegg cable-car. (Which also often has a long waiting line, but I was lucky and got there first off the train).

In all I loved this hike, even though it meant a descent of 1260 meters. The first section toward the Gätterli Pass is one we'd done before (see photos HERE) and on this day it was quite hot, but the rest of the way down through farmland and marshy areas was cool and enjoyable. And the views at the top about the best I could have asked for.

In all, this was only a 2½-hour hike, and even after spending an hour at the top before starting on my hike, I was back home by 3:30 p.m. 

PART 1: Spending an hour at Rigi Scheidegg admiring the views

Leaving home at 9:10 and waiting for 15 minutes at our train station, I had looked at the webcam for Goldau and Lake Lauerz, I could see fog sitting on both Lake Lauerz and Lake Zug. But I figured it would be gone by the time I get back down the mountain. So I headed off with the 9:30 train. 

Sure enough, by the time the train got to Arth Goldau at 9:45, most of the fog was gone here. 

By 9:50, the first of four trains started on the trip from Arth-Goldau up Mount Rigi. The first two did not stop at the Scheidegg cable-car station (Kräbel), but when we stopped there, I was the first off the train and ran the few steps to the cable-car expecting a long line-up of people already waiting. 

I was lucky to get on the first cable-car which wasn't yet full and no line-up waiting, but after me came all these people here from the train! They were sending 15 people up on the cable-car for each run. 

After a 6-minute ride, I waited at the top to watch the next cabin come up. Below, there is still a bit of fog over Lake Zug. (It takes only an hour from home to get up here!)

This is the view from the Scheidegg summit station down to Lake Lauerz in the valley bottom to the southeast. That will be the goal of this day's hike. I'm not liking the smoke from a burning fire, as that is exactly where I am going to be descending, after walking along the ridge between the forest and the clearings on the right. 

I headed away from the cable-car station to sit on a bench here for a while, where I will start on my hike down those stairs about an hour later. This view is into the Uri Alps.

Here is a popular giant bench which people love to climb up on! (We sat here with friends in December 2023 on a winter walk up here!)

Visibility was so good this day, all the way to the snow-covered Bernese Alps. 

Close-up view of the Eiger North Face, and Mt.Mönch to the left. Jungfrau is hidden behind the Eiger. 

Behind the bench where I was sitting is a little chapel, so I had a quick look inside and then walked behind it for a view of Lake Zug. We have been here often, but I had never walked on the other side of this chapel!

View to the north of Lake Zug behind the little chapel. On the left is the popular peak of Mount Rigi: Rigi Kulm. (The blue train I was riding on continues up to that summit). 

I discovered a viewing tower up here, shaped like a ship (I had never seen this before)! There were panorama panels with the names of all the mountains in three directions!

Far to the northeast we can even see Mt. Säntis from here! (Zoomed view). 

Another view of Lake Zug from the little viewing tower. I saw several benches below, where I also went to sit for a while. 

The benches were a good place to set up my tripod for a self-timed photo! On the south end of Lake Zug is the community of Arth. Behind me is the summit of Mt.Rossberg, and the rest of the elevation stretches north known as Mount Zug. 

It was time to start on my walk once other people joined me on the benches! In the background is the main mountain of Goldau. It is called the Rossberg and was the site of one of Switzerland's worst landslides (1806, claiming the lives of 457 residents). 

Another look toward Lake Lauerz. You can just make out another cable-car cabin on its way up to the Scheidegg station). The pyramid-shaped mountain which dominates the landscape here is the Grosse Mythen (the Kleine Mythen is to its left). 

PART II: The hike down to Lauerz on the east side of the Rigi Mountain

Back at the bench where I originally sat for a while, I started on my hike down those steps at 11:20. I had spent just over an hour up here. It was a hot day, but there had been a lovely warm wind up here. 

Another close-up look at the peaks of the Bernese Alps

Across the lake (Vierwaldstättersee = Lake Lucerne) from here are the Nidwalden Alps (and the town of Emmetten), and the Uri Alps at the back (i.e. Uri Rotstock).

Nice to still see the cows up here!

VIDEO:

Walking with the sound of cowbells!

On the way down from Rigi Scheidegg, you pass the Burggeist Restaurant, with a nice playground, and more than likely a superb view!

From here at Rigi Burggeist, it should be another just over two hours to walk down to Lauerz. The geological rock in this photo is called Molasse, which is what is mostly found on this mountain. 

Starting at Rigi Scheidegg at about 11:30, It was a 2½-hour hike down the mountain (1260 meters!). I got to the village of Lauerz at 14:20 (and caught the 14:29 bus for the 45-minute trip back home!)

Further on I saw this bench up ahead and took a detour there, as that other person was just leaving. The large massif in the back is called the Glärnisch, and they are part of the Glarus Alps. 

Benches are a good place to set up my tripod for a few self-timed photos... Whereas a nice wind was blowing on the summit, on this stretch (as well as the crest of the hill just behind me) it was almost too hot. 

Up ahead is where I am going to walk, along the crest of the hill, although it's not an official trail according to the map. But as it is clear along the crest, it should not be a problem. (And the advantage is that I will meet no people there. Getting here to this point, at least 20 people passed me on their way up the mountain, sweating profusely as it was very hot here).  

This was the view of Lake Zug from the ridge. Down below on the right is the city of Goldau, and at the south end of the lake is the town of Arth. 

Between Goldau and the north end of Lake Lauerz is a large moorland called the Sägel Nature Reserve. We did a bike ride through this landscape and along Lake Lauerz in March 2014.  

And what the lake looks like from up here. There is a tiny island in the lake. 

Close-up look at the little island a short distance off the lakeshore. You can reach this island with a small ferry. There is a restaurant and a stone tower. We haven't been there yet, but this would be a great outing some time when we don't feel like hiking!

Turning around and looking along the crest I was walking on, I could also see up to the summit of Rigi Scheidegg, the summit station of the cable-way from Kräbel below. The other (official) trail below descends to the Gätterli Pass. 

Some very pretty fungi here, very large ones! A sign of autumn when we run across all kinds of mushrooms on our hikes. 

Another look northwards across Lake Zug. 

Then all of a sudden there were loads of autumn crocuses in the meadow grass! These flowers, and the silver thistles, are another sure sign of autumn... 

This large clearing and hillside is called Twäriberg, and from here I headed down the hillside to the right, into the valley/couloir where the official trail descends from the Gätterli Pass. 

This was a really pleasant descent on the farm road past several farm houses. The fountains were turned off, so I guess farming is finished up here for the season. 

The official trail along the couloir is mainly on marshy ground, so I found this option much better. Plus I had great views all along the way. 

Back on the official trail, I still have an hour to reach Lauerz. From here I also still have to descend 600 meters altitude, so about as much again as I had already done. 

A look behind me as I now descend along the marshy trail. You can't see it well on this photo, but the grass was FULL of autumn crocuses!

Lots and lots of autumn crocuses. 

A longer stretch of trail next to the forest, with the marshland on my right side. 

Emerging from the forest on a long grassy hillside: The farmers are busy cutting the grass here, and raking it by hand.... well, two women were raking by hand, and further over, a man was using a leaf-blower!

Being observed again by the little cows!

Lake Zug seen again from a lower vantage point. It's mistier there now. On the left is Rigi Kulm. 

Above me, the farmers are busy harvesting the dried grass. The weather is perfect for this right now, as we are experiencing temperatures of 25-30 degrees! (It was surprisingly more pleasant here at the lower elevations than it was nearer to the summit!)

More meadows full of autumn crocuses. 

Below me now is the village of Lauerz, where I will catch a bus on the road near the church. 

A nice look at the Mythen mountains. In the middle of the lake is that small island that I saw from higher up. 

Another close-up look at the little island a short distance off the lakeshore.

Trying out a final self-timed photo before the last stretch into town!

Village of Lauerz

As with most communities in Switzerland, churches existed in the Middle Ages, but were usually small and/or burned down. This particular building is from the early 1800's.

Main street through Lauerz.. I am now headed for the bus stop, for the 14:29 bus. 

Only a 12-minute bus ride back to Arth-Goldau train station, where this day's excursion started. Here are another four of those trains waiting to take the tourists up to Rigi Kulm. It's a great day for it! (From here I was back home in half an hour! So altogether a 45-minute trip home after such a panorama hike!)

What my hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps (including the cable-car line from Kräbbel to Scheidegg). 

These are all the hikes we have done on and around the Rigi "massif". There are still many trails here which I have not walked!

And another screenshot from the webcam (further south, at the Rothenfluh station just south of the Grosse Mythen), which shows approximately where I descended.