Stoos Ridge Hike: Schwyz, Central Switzerland
A classic (but crowded!) ridgeline trail in the heart of Central Switzerland.
Our very first hike on our very first weekend as Zurich residents. It’s starts with a ride on the steepest funicular in the world, the Stoosbahn, which climbs to a mind-boggling gradient of 110%. The cylinder-shaped train cars slowly rotate on the way up, so passengers remain completely level, even at the steepest point of the trip. If the journey up is a nod to innovative Swiss engineering, than the rest of the hike is a love letter to breathtaking Swiss views. We followed the classic ridge-line trail from Klingenstock to Fronalpstock, stunning and at times even a bit vertigo-inducing, thanks to the steep drop-offs on either side. Lakes to one end, wildflowers on the other, and mountains for 360 panoramic degrees. Welcome to Switzerland, indeed.
Start: Train to Schwyz Stoosbahn, then chairlift to Klingenstock Talstation. Trail begins at top of Klingenstock.
End: Trail ends at Fronalpstock. Take chairlift back down to Stoos, then Stoosbahn to Schwyz.
Basic Route: Klingenstock - Husser Stock - Panorama Trail - Fronalpstock
Length and Rating: Fairly easy. This is a ridge hike, so there are some steep drop-offs, but it’s a popular trail and people of all ages are on it. 4.4km, 2 hours.
