Rigi

1,797 m

Switzerland

Also known as რიგის მთა, Риги

რიგის მთა · Риги

Elevation: 1,797 m
Prominence: 1,288 m
Difficulty: 2/10; Hike
Best Season: Jun–Oct
Routes: 2

WorksReported 6 Oct 2026 · until 27 Nov 2026
The Weggis–Rigi Kaltbad cable car is closed for maintenance on weekdays from 16 to 27 November 2026 (running at weekends); use the rack railways from Vitznau or Arth-Goldau.
rigi.ch
WorksReported 9 Apr 2026 · until 23 Apr 2027
The Arth–Rigi railway will be fully closed between Goldau and Rigi Staffel from 5 to 23 April 2027 for infrastructure work at Klösterli and Staffel.
bote.ch

Routes

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The classic walk up the 'Queen of the Mountains' from the shore of Lake Lucerne: about 1,350 m of ascent on good mountain paths from Weggis past the Heiligkreuz chapel and the Felsentor conglomerate arch to Rigi Kaltbad, then up the crowded broad path via Rigi Staffel to Rigi Kulm. About 4½–5 hours up; ride the rack railway or cable car down.

Elevation Profile

approximate line

Distance: 10.2 km; one way
Ascent: +1,373 m; start → summit
High Point: 1,797 m
Time Up: 5h 53m; DIN 33466
Time Down: 3h 38m; DIN 33466 · via the descent route

Descent: From Arth-Goldau via Dächli and Zingel8.6 km · +0 m · −1,286 m · 3h 38m

From the lake steamer pier or the lower station of the Weggis–Rigi Kaltbad cable car (about 440 m), follow the yellow signs for Rigi Kaltbad up through meadows and forest to the Heiligkreuz chapel (built 1685) with views over Lake Lucerne. The path continues steeply through woods and past bands of conglomerate (Nagelfluh) rock to the Felsentor, a natural rock gateway with a café and guesthouse near the Romiti-Felsentor railway halt (about 1,195 m). Above the Felsentor the path climbs to the resort of Rigi Kaltbad (about 1,440 m), where the cable car from Weggis arrives and the Vitznau rack railway stops. From here it is a short hour on the broad, very busy path past the Chänzeli viewpoint and Rigi Staffel station (1,604 m) to the summit of Rigi Kulm, with its hotel and station. A quieter variant goes over the Rotstock (1,658 m), adding about 45 minutes. The path is steep but well built and waymarked; poles help on the descent. Most walkers return by the Vitznau–Rigi or Arth–Rigi rack railway, or by railway to Kaltbad and the cable car to Weggis. A more demanding variant from Weggis climbs the Geissrügge ridge with seven ladders to the Chänzeli.

Start

Weggis435 m

Weggis–Rigi Kaltbad aerial cableway; Vitznau–Rigi and Arth–Rigi rack railways to Rigi Kulm
Lake steamer from Lucerne or bus from Küssnacht am Rigi or Lucerne to Weggis; return by Rigi railways (Vitznau or Arth-Goldau) or the Weggis–Rigi Kaltbad cable car
Parking at the trailhead

Stages

Day	Stage	km	m ascent	m descent	Time
1	Weggis → Rigi	10.2	1,373	13	5h 53m

Waypoints

Station:
Weggis435 m
Lake steamer pier; the cable car lower station is nearby
Feature:
Heilig Kreuz953 m
Chapel built in 1685
Feature:
Felsentor1,195 m
Natural conglomerate rock gateway, café and guesthouse
Station:
Rigi Kaltbad1,436 m
Station:
Rigi Staffel1,602 m
Summit:
Rigi1,797 m

Key Passages

Steep forest path below the Felsentor
Busy broad path from Kaltbad to Kulm

Equipment

0/5 packed

Footwear

Hiking boots or sturdy trail shoesRequired
Microspikessnow and ice on the upper paths from November to AprilRecommended

Clothing

Rain jacket and warm layerRecommended

Other

Trekking polessteep paths, especially if walking downRecommended
Water and sun protectionsunny slopes; refreshments at Felsentor, Kaltbad, Staffel and KulmRecommended

Downloads

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Overview

The 'Queen of the Mountains', a 1,797 m conglomerate massif almost surrounded by the lakes of Lucerne, Zug and Lauerz, with Europe's first mountain railway and a 150 km panorama of the Alps. Walkers can climb 1,300 m from the lakeshore on good T2 paths and ride down by rack railway.

Rigi stands apart from the main Alpine chain in Central Switzerland, its summit, Rigi Kulm, in the canton of Schwyz. Geologically it belongs to the Swiss Plateau: the mountain is built of tilted layers of molasse and conglomerate (Nagelfluh), whose horizontal bands of rock and grass may have given it its name. From the top the view takes in the lakes at its foot, the Bernese and Central Swiss Alps.

This is the most developed peak in this collection. Two rack railways, from Vitznau (opened 1871, Europe's first mountain railway) and from Arth-Goldau (1875), climb to just below the summit, and a cable car links Weggis with Rigi Kaltbad. The summit has a hotel, restaurants and a station; on fine days the paths around Kaltbad and Kulm are crowded.

Climbed on foot from the lake, though, it is a real 1,300–1,500 m day: the paths from Weggis, Vitznau, Küssnacht and Arth-Goldau are steep, well signposted mountain trails (T2), with a few ladder-equipped variants such as the Geissrügge. The usual plan is to walk up and ride down.

Climbing Notes

Any fit hiker can do it in summer: allow 4–5 hours up from Weggis or about 4 hours from Arth-Goldau, with 1,280–1,500 m of ascent, and buy a one-way railway ticket down (check the last departure). Good boots and poles help on the steep, sometimes slippery forest paths. Start early on fine weekends to avoid the crowds above Kaltbad, and watch for afternoon thunderstorms in summer.

In winter the upper mountain has prepared winter walking paths, sledging and small ski areas reached by railway, but the ascent paths from the valley are often snowy or icy from November to April; microspikes and current trail information are needed. Overnight options include the Rigi Kulm-Hotel and hotels at Rigi Kaltbad; a sunrise from the summit is the classic reason to stay.

History

Pilgrims came to the Maria zum Schnee chapel at Rigi Klösterli from the late 17th century, and the Kaltbad spring drew bathers from the 16th century. The first summit inn opened in 1816, and by 1840 around 40,000 visitors came each summer to watch the sunrise. Goethe visited in 1775, J. M. W. Turner painted a series of Rigi views (including 'The Blue Rigi, Sunrise', 1842), Queen Victoria rode up in 1868, and Mark Twain described his ascent in A Tramp Abroad (1880). The Vitznau–Rigi railway opened on 21 May 1871 and the Arth–Rigi railway on 4 June 1875; the Arth line was electrified in 1907. The Weggis–Rigi Kaltbad cable car opened in 1968.

Season

Best Jun–Oct

January: Possible
February: Possible
March: Possible
April: Possible
May: Good
June: Best (best window)
July: Best (best window)
August: Best (best window)
September: Best (best window)
October: Best (best window)
November: Possible
December: Possible

Jan: Winter walking paths on the upper mountain; valley ascents snowy or icy
Feb: Winter conditions on the ascent paths
Mar: Snow on the upper paths
Apr: Snow on north slopes; Arth–Rigi railway closed between Goldau and Staffel 5–23 April 2027
May: Lower paths clear; possible snow patches near the top
Jul: Busy; afternoon thunderstorms
Aug: Busy; afternoon thunderstorms
Sep: Often clear, stable weather
Oct: Often stable autumn weather, with valley fog below the summit
Nov: First snow; maintenance closures of lifts and hotels
Dec: Winter; Rigi Kulm-Hotel closed 7–25 December 2026

Access & Permits

Hut Booking

No mountain huts; book hotels (Rigi Kulm-Hotel, Rigi Kaltbad and others on the mountain) directly.

Fees

Rigi railway and cable car tickets; the Rigi day pass costs CHF 84 from June 2026

Getting There

Weggis and Vitznau (Lake Lucerne); Arth-Goldau and Küssnacht am Rigi

Zurich Airport (ZRH)

Train to Lucerne, then lake steamer or bus to Weggis or Vitznau
Arth-Goldau is on the SBB main lines from Zurich, Lucerne and the Gotthard; the Arth–Rigi railway starts at the station
Vitznau–Rigi rack railway and Weggis–Rigi Kaltbad cable car from the Lake Lucerne side; Küssnacht–Seebodenalp cable car on the north side
Car parks at Weggis (cable car), Vitznau and Arth-Goldau

Hazards

Weather

Huts & Shelters

Rigi Kulm-HotelHotel
Year-round except maintenance closures (7–25 December 2026)
1,767 m