We recently visited Stoos, a small town in mountains of Switzerland. What is normally a small ski town in the winter is a beautiful destination for hiking in the warmer months.

Getting There

Getting to Stoos is a 45 minute train ride from Lucerne, Switzerland to Schwyz, Switzerland. Once in Schwyz you’ll need to hop on the #1 Bus to Stoosbahn and take the funicular to Stoos. The current funicular is about a hundred years old and will be replaced in 2018 with a modern funicular. The new one will be the steepest funicular in the world once opened.

If the weather is good, you’ll have a few options for hiking. Stoos has a few chairlifts available to reach the summits or you can hike the trail to the top. Our trip consisted of riding the chairlift up to Mt. Klingenstock where we met up with the panorama trail leading to Mt. Fronalpstock. At 6,338 ft., Mt. Klingenstock is the tallest peak along the trail.

Our Experience Hiking in Switzerland

We feared that our trip would be met with a rain storm but after a few light rain drops, we were relieved to find clearing skies. As we hiked along the ridge, we passed in and out of the low clouds. For a while a constant billow of fog rose from the valley on our left and met the clear skies on our right, creating a beautiful divide of light and dark on our path forward.

Eventually the skies began to clear in all directions and the sun painted the ridge line. Much of the trail is well-managed with log steps or chain barriers on the more precarious sections. If you have a fear of heights you will have your nerves tested at times with numerous skinny paths along sheer rock faces. We found a few picnic tables or benches at the peaks where you could enjoy a snack or lunch if you were prepared.

We’ve hiked many mountains in the U.S. but this was the first in Europe. We’ve hiked solid rock exposures and tree-lined alpine regions but this was different with its lush green grasses all the way to the peaks. With every breeze the grass moved like water up the slopes. Constant jingling cowbells from livestock below provided a soundtrack reminiscent of wind chimes for our hike. The view from the ridge included several other peaks (some still covered in snow), tiny homes and ponds, and a crystal blue Lake Lucerne as the trail grew closer to Mt. Fronalpstock. It was a beautifully unique experience that is well worth the trip if you’re in the region.

As we came to the end of our hike and arrived at Mt. Fronalpstock, we met a large crowd of visitors eating lunch at the peak’s restaurant. Many tourists opt to take the chairlift up to the restaurant and lookout point but not hike the ridge trail. From the patio of the restaurant, you can look over Lake Lucerne while sitting in fur covered chairs. We rode the chairlifts back down but you can take a trail if you’re not pressed for time.

We thoroughly enjoyed hiking in Switzerland during the brief time we were there. It’s definitely going on the list for a return trip and an extended adventure in the mountains.

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