The Rigi-Dossen with its height of 1685m offers a wonderful 360° panoramic view comparable to that from Rigi-Kulm and Rigi-Känzeli. However, it can only be reached on foot and good footwear is recommended.
There are three options for a hike up the Rigi-Dossen:
1. Rigi-Scheidegg – Hinder Dossen – Dossen (duration: approx. 1 hour)
2. Rigi-Wölfertschen – First – Unterstetten – Dossen (duration: approx. 1.5 hours)
3. Rigi-Kaltbad – First – Unterstetten – Dossen (Duration: approx. 1.5 hours)
Rigi-Scheidegg – summit 1,656 m above sea level with 360° panoramic views – can be reached by cable car from Rigi-Kräbel. Rigi-Wölfertschen via the cogwheel railroad from Arth-Goldau (Wölfertschen-First stop), and Rigi-Kaltbad via the cogwheel railroad from Vitznau (Rigi-Kaltbad stop) or the Weggis aerial cableway.
Variant 3 (start Rigi-Kaltbad) is the most frequently chosen, as described below:
The First Weg is an easy walk and takes you from the village square in Kaltbad to Rigi First. On the flat path with magnificent views of Lake Lucerne, the reformed mountain church by Zurich architect Ernst Gisel and the typical Nagelfluh walls deserve special attention. An enjoyable tour without any hardships.
Rigi-Dossen view Rossberg and Goldau
After Rigi First, you have the option of leaving the actual trail briefly and turning off onto the “Felsenweg”, which is highly recommended. The Rigi Felsenweg is a panorama trail carved into the mountainside with fantastic views of Lake Lucerne and Bürgenstock. The rock path is around 900 meters long and joins the panorama path again at the end. After the rocky path, the trail now leads left around the Würzestock to Rigi Unterstetten.
Along the way, you will come across many witnesses to the former railroad line: a disused passenger carriage that now serves as a vacation home, retaining walls and embankments, a former water filling station for the steam locomotives and the Weissenberg tunnel. There are also old railroad bridges – including the Unterstetten bridge, which was built when the railroad was constructed in 1874 and is considered to be the most outstanding historical engineering structure of the Rigi Railways.
Dossen signpost
The Berghaus Unterstetten is an insider tip for authentic hospitality and reasonably priced Swiss cuisine. With its garden terrace, the Berghaus offers a magnificent view of Lake Lucerne and the Alps.
If you prefer to eat out of your rucksack or have a barbecue, you will also find the necessary fireplace with a great view of the surrounding area. The cozy Gruebi Unterstetten is perfect for families and connoisseurs. The weather-protected, spacious fireplace is equipped with tables, benches and firewood and is ideal for a stopover on the popular panoramic hiking trail.
From Unterstetten, the trail follows the ascent over the steep flank of the Dossens. Here you have to climb 276 meters in altitude (duration: approx. 30 minutes). Good footwear is recommended. The path is steep, but not dangerous.
From its summit, you can enjoy a phenomenal panoramic view of Lake Lucerne and the Bürgenstock peninsula as well as Rigi-Kulm, Lake Zug, Rossberg with its landslide massif, the village of Goldau, Grosser Mythen and Kleiner Mythen. From the highest point of the hike, there is a gentle descent via Hinter Dossen and the almost flat path to Scheidegg.
Rigi-Dossen
The Rigi-Dossen is little known. One reason for this is certainly that it cannot be seen from the east side, i.e. from the Goldau side, and can only be reached on foot. With its height of 1685m, it offers a 360° panoramic view comparable to that of Rigi-Kulm and Rigi-Känzeli.
Video 360° panoramic view from the Rigi-Dossen
View of Lake Lucerne, Pilatus, Bürgenstock, Rigi-Kulm, Lake Zug, Rossberg, Goldau, Mythen…
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