Rigi Lehnenweg


It seems to be a pattern in these posts for me to say, of a day’s hike or other activity, “this is one of my favorites,” and I suppose that makes some sense for someone who has returned to nearly the same holiday spot for a couple of decades.

That said, the Rigi Lehnenweg, particularly the section from Weggis to Greppen and on to Küssnacht, is something I have called “my favorite place in the world,” and in many ways it is. It’s not the most dramatic scenery, or the most adventurous trail, but it’s one I’ve shared with my dear wife and daughter many many times. We walked here before my daughter was even a concept, when she was not quite here yet, when she was in a stroller, and quite a few times after that as we took a bus or a boat to Weggis, climbed the big hill, and strolled past the animals and farms to the delightful swimming spot in Greppen.

Walking the Lehnenweg in 2013

This year, my walking companions were already back in the US, and I’ll admit to a certain feeling of wistfulness as I thought back to prior times. But as ever, the scenery and quiet of this walk were also a soothing balm in our current strange times. And even better the forecasted thunderstorms held off until I was at the ice cream place in Küssnacht. (Even though it is an automated store rather than a cone shop, but I digress.)

But hey, this is supposed to be a travel photo blog! Sorry (but not all that sorry?) for the nostalgia and on to the photos and videos!

Vitznau start: many transport modes make Vitznau a great home base.
Weggis lakeside

Murmeli Wanderung

One of the most popular destinations in the Luzern region is Mt. Titlis, the lofty, usually snow-covered summit of which is reachable by a series of trains, buses, and cable cars. It’s always packed. In the past I’ve only ridden down from Trübsee, a midpoint, after enjoying the scenic but lengthy Four Lakes Trail from Melchsee-Frutt, but on this day I decided to join the throngs riding up to Titlis.

Alas, the Titlis express was under repair so all of us were consigned to the older funicular and cable car combination. After waiting in line for about half an hour, I decided that I could skip the line by walking up the first section. A friendly Titlis staffer said it would take “about an hour,” so why not?

The line

So I began walking up. It was a bit steep but on a road, so no worries. It was at this point I noticed a shortcut on the Outdooractive app.

Red: closed lift. Green: funicular. Yellow: “shortcut”

I should note that the SchweizMobil app did not show the shortcut. Anyway I took a shot. Ultimately I did reach the top of the funicular and caught the cable car up to Trübsee, but it was a bit of a bushwhack/scramble to be sure.

Can you discern the trail here? It’s there.
How about here?

Anyway it turned out to be an absolutely gorgeous day. Check out the photos, route, and video montage below.

Flowers, lake, and many, many cowbells.
Combination of a few shorter tracks and a lift or two