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Favorite Hikes Near Luzern?

Anyone? I'll be there for 4 days in early May.

OK how about favorite walks? Long STROLLS maybe???

Hi John, I am not a hard core hiker but do like to walk and I live here...so I will take a stab at some recs. In Luzern...the area around Felmis. You could "hike" it for 1-2 hours through wonderful forest, pastures and come out onto beautiful views. Near Kussnacht, you can walk Seebodenalp. It is as long as you want ie just keep following the markers, and there is a great (though rude!) little outdoor restaurant with do it yourself sausages. Pilatus! You can hike up or down or both. Go to Kriens, follow the signs to Pilatus and then start following the yellow wanderweg signs. Or, take the gondola to any one of three points and hike down. Again, restaurants are sporadically placed...You can tell what I match with my "hiking"! Pilatus can get more strenuous and the other suggestions are suitable for gentle walks with children or those in less than good condition. There are so many and I am sure that your hotel will have more information. Enjoy!

John, Here are two that I forgot and they are wonderful for all skill levels (again, lots of restaurants!) Mt. Rigi - take Gondola up and explore to your heart's content! Melchseefrutt - this is about 30 minutes S of Luzern. Beautiful lakes, vistas and lots of locals...not so many tourists. Here is a website that has some good suggestions, as well. http://www.gruxa.ch/hiking2.htm Cheers!

Here are my favorites around Stans/Engelberg south of Luzern. BUERGENSTOCK FELSENWEG-easy 7.5km 4 hours You could either drive or train to Stansstad. Walk, ferry or Postbus along the Lake to Kehrsiten-Buergenstock. Take the funicular up to the Buergenstock Hotels and walk along the Felsenweg. Amazing views of the Lake and Pilatus from a high, sheer cliff (You could make a side trip on the elevator built into the side of the cliff (the Hammetschwand lift) to the restaurant on top for views of the Alps south). The hike continues through some unique tunnels towards Mattgrat via Chanzeli. Walk down the other side of the Buergenstock to Ennetbuergen via the very picturesque St. Jost Church. Postbus back to Stans and train to back to Stansstad or Engelberg. http://www.buergenstock-bahn.ch/ http://www.buergenstock-hotels.ch/ http://www.centralswitzerland.ch/ WALKS FROM WIRZWILI Wirzwili is a wonderful little mountain village. Drive or train to Dallenwill and cable car to Wirzwili (cable car station is at the top of a hill). There are several nice options here. You could hike up the Stanserhorn, around Honen or up along the ridge to Gummen. WALKS FROM NIEDERRICKENBACH Drive or train to Niederrickenbach cablecar station (Dallenwill). Take the cablecar up to this little village that is only accessible by cable car. There is a large convent here. Several options. Walk to the SAC Hut Briesen via Barenfallen and Stafel, back to Niederrickenbach, You could also hike to the top of the Bouchserhorn. Or do a one-way hike to Klewenalp where you can take a cable car down to Beckenreid where you will need to take a Postbus to Stans and train back to Engelberg or Dallenwil. WALKS AROUND ENGELBERG From Engelberg, drive or catch the bus to end of valley (Fuerenalp cable car station at Herrenruetiboden) Walk up to the cablecar station at Fuerenalp via Stalden, take cablecar back down. You could lengthen this walk by going a bit further up towards Surenenpass. There are several waterfalls and glaciers to see along this route, along with mostly undeveloped farmlands (yes, you will see cows with bells on here). Believe me this is a very satisfying way to spend a day and is one of my favorite evening places to walk. There are at least 3 mountain restaurants along this route, but do take some water and a snack and clothing in case the weather changes. The route is very well marked and quite popular with locals. http://www.fuerenalp.ch/ note the bus from Engelberg-the cable car station may not be running in the off-season. Another walk-take Brunni cable car from the town and walk to either the Brunni or Rugghuebel SAC hut. And of course there are the wonderful walks from the Joch Pass (accessible by gondola/chairlift from Engelberg) to Hasliberg Reuti via Engstlenalp and the route signposted Melchsee.Hasliberg. (highly recommended) or Joch Pass to Melchsee Frutt. These 2 hikes require a bit more travel time back at the end of the day as you would need to take a cable cars, trains and/or busses back to Engelberg or Luzern. But definitely fun, adventurous and worthwhile. Pretty much you can just buy a good wander map and go for it (the Schweizer Wanderwege Map for Stans 1:50,000 is a good one for the area Map#245T). The trails are so well marked (as I’m sure you are aware) and most do have time standards at the beginning so you can plan accordingly. For early May the only problem you may encounter (besides poor weather) is that some of the cable cars do not run.