Day at a Glance
The Journey
The Stoos Ridge Hike is extremely popular—and rightfully so. Social media has helped make this spectacular trail famous, and on a beautiful summer day you should expect plenty of other hikers around the chairlift and all throughout the ridge.
Getting to Stoos is part of the experience. The car-free mountain village can be reached either by the Morschach–Stoos cable car or by the Schwyz/Schlattli–Stoos funicular. We took the funicular, the steepest in the world, which reaches a maximum gradient of 110%.
After taking the Stoosbahn up to the car-free village of Stoos, we continued to the Klingenstock chairlift for the ride to the start of the hike. From Klingenstock, it is fairly easy to follow the ridge trail towards Fronalpstock.
An Easy Start — With Plenty of Photo Stops
The first part of the hike felt relatively easy because much of it initially descends. The trail becomes narrow in places, enough for only one person to walk at a time. Progress was slow for another reason: there were simply too many places to stop for photographs.
Along the Ridge
The panoramic views begin almost immediately. On one side, the distinctive Grosser and Kleiner Mythen dominate the landscape. On the other, Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee) lies far below, winding between the mountains.
The More Demanding Second Half
The second part of our hike was noticeably harder. As the trail begins climbing towards Fronalpstock, the ascent becomes steeper. On the warm June day we hiked, the combination of the climb, exposed terrain and heat made this section considerably more demanding than the short distance of the hike might suggest.
The Reward — Fronalpstock
As we approached Fronalpstock, more and more of Lake Lucerne came into view. From the summit, the extraordinary shape of the lake can be seen spreading and winding between the surrounding mountains. It is absolutely mesmerizing—and difficult to appreciate fully until you are standing above it.
The panorama extends across the mountains of Central Switzerland, with well-known peaks including Rigi and Pilatus visible among the surrounding Alpine landscape. After completing the ridge, we enjoyed a 45-minute drink stop at the Fronalpstock restaurant, simply taking in the magnificent view before riding the chairlift back down to Stoos.
Practical Tips
Allow more time than the distance suggests. The official SwitzerlandMobility hiking time is about 1 hour 50 minutes, but narrow sections, crowds and frequent photo stops can make the outing considerably longer.
Prepare for sun and heat. Much of the ridge is exposed. Carry sufficient water, sunscreen and a sun hat in warm weather.
Wear proper hiking shoes. Some sections are narrow and exposed. Sure-footedness and good grip are important.
Check the weather. Avoid the ridge during thunderstorms, strong winds, dense fog or persistent rain.
Check SBB offers before travelling. When we hiked Stoos in June 2026, an SBB Mountain’n’Rail promotion reduced the cost of our transport and mountain railway ticket. Promotions and prices change, so check the current offer before travelling.