The Golden Round Trip to Mount Pilatus
A ride on world’s steepest cogwheel railway
Pilatus is one of the highest mountains in the region of Lucerne. It is shared between the Cantons of Lucerne, Obwalden and Nidwalden. Mount Pilatus is well known all around the world as it features the world’s steepest cogwheel railway (maximum gradient of 48%), which was built in 1889 and operates from May to November, subject to snow conditions.
If you fancy a day out on mount Pilatus, then we suggest you start your trip from Lucerne. A boat opposite Lucerne’s Railway station will take you to the Pilatus Railway (Pilatus Bahn) in Alpnachstad, where the cogwheel train will bring you up to 2,132 metres in approximately 30 minutes, during which you will be able to admire the literally breathtaking view to the Lake of the Four Forested Cantons (Vierwaldstättersee or simply Lake Lucerne) and the surrounding mountains.
The activities on mount Pilatus are virtually unlimited, ranging from walking, hiking, mountain biking, climbing and paragliding to a ride in Switzerland’s longest summer toboggan run or the fast-paced 60-metre giant tubing slide. The biggest suspension rope park of Central Switzerland can also be found at mount Pilatus, where you can challenge your agility skills in ten different trails with variable degrees of difficulty.
To make your way back to Lucerne, you can take the breathtaking cableway, which will bring you to Kriens, where the aerial panorama gondolas start their trip to the Fräkmüntegg summit terminus via the Krienseregg. Bus No 1 will take you back to the centre of Lucerne.
Watch a video of the cogwheel train arriving at the upper terminal of mount Pilatus, at an elevation of 2,128 metres.
Location: Pilatus, 6053 Alpnach, Switzerland — Internet: Mount Pilatus
