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Need advice on Mt. Rigi hike from Lucerne

Need advice on Mt. Rigi hike from Lucerne

Old May 5th, 2016, 06:21 PM
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Need advice on Mt. Rigi hike from Lucerne

I read a neat photo blog about a Rigi hike at http://www.fannetasticfood.com/2014/...e-switzerland/. I'm trying to understand what route they hiked. It seems to me they did the following:
1. Arrive in Vitznau
2. Take private gondola up called Luftseilbahn Vitznau - Hinterbergen
3. Walk from the top of that gondola to the top of Rigi in about 4 hours.
4. Take the tram back down the mountain to Vitznau

But as I'm looking at this route it seems to be a very steep hike from the top of that private gondola to the top of Rigi. I'm wondering if we did this if we'd not take the tram to the top and then walk down to the gondola.

If we wanted to spend 4 hours at most on a hike and want the most dramatic views...what would you recommend on the way to the top of Rigi?
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Old May 6th, 2016, 10:04 AM
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It sound like this is more a climb than a hike on level ground.

There are a lot of easy hikes in Switz - often from one village to another. But many "hikes" in Switz actually involve some level of climbing.

We took the cog wheel railway up Mt Pilatus and near the top we had passed people who had apparently hiked up the whole way - and based on them and their equipment part was climbing and not just hiking. I'm not a hiker but besides heavy duty boots they had ropes and long metal rods/sticks with very sharp ends and various other items that seemed to be climbing gear for attaching to rock faces hanging from their packs.
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Old May 6th, 2016, 10:13 AM
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You can read about Mark Twain's hike up Rigi in the night to see the sunrise in A Tramp Abroad - I took the train from Vitznau up to the summit (where alas those 'damn alphorns' were sounding off just mike Twain so complained about - Switzerland's version of bagpipes!) and di not walk down to the lake but had a wonderful walk down the backside of Rigi through bucolic cow pastures to Arth-Goldau for trains back to Lucerne. Very few others on the paths. Still a wonderful memory and not steep at all - gently descending - no lake views but lots of cow meadows.

In Lucerne itself I did a wonderful walk around town - literally - up to the old forts and around their backside - on the ridge they are on - and then by a bucolic Alpine lake circled back to Lucerne - a mellow low-key few-hour hike.
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Old May 6th, 2016, 06:48 PM
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I agree with PalenQ-we did this very same hike last summer and it was perfect-no gear or special equipment needed to do the partial hike down Rigi. It was absolutely beautiful, quiet, undisturbed, and memorable. The train ride up was really cool, and you can still go up from the train base up to the actual summit. This was WAY more of a fun and gradual hike than we found at Pilatus-which is much steeper and extreme (even the "wildflower path" was pretty narrow and trying at times). Enjoy!
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Old May 7th, 2016, 03:04 PM
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From previous experiences we're fine with narrow paths, and extremely high clifs, but not big fans of steep climbing that goes on too long. We love the views, which is the most important factor. Views of the lake would be nice.

We're holding most of a day for a hike somewhere on that mountain and may wait until we get to Lucerne to finalize it.
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Old May 8th, 2016, 02:09 PM
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I have hiked many times on Rigi. Excellent info at
www.rigi.ch/Adventures/Hiking/Hiking-trails
Enjoy!
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Old May 8th, 2016, 02:26 PM
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IF after further research, that's your hike, more info on the gondola/luftseilbahn can be found at
www.wvrt.ch/en/mobility/hinterbergen-cable-car

I passed the bottom 'station'/shed a few weeks ago in my way up to the concealed artillery fortress. Didn't know about it until your post!
Will definitely use it on my next trip!
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Old May 9th, 2016, 12:15 AM
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Wekiva

Checkout Mokka4's websites. The hiking trails website offers more detailed information on the hike. It looks quite doable and will offer stunning views as well as quintessential alpine pastures. I've hiked the mountain many times but never this particular route.

You are wise not to make any final decision until you reach Lucerne. These hikes should only be done in good weather and, more importantly, in weather with no fog. I've been caught in thick fog on the Rigi and was became completely confused with my sense of direction.
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