Schwyzer Höhenweg, Stage 2/5

The route leads down the Rigi's north-eastern slope between Rigi Kulm and the ridge leading to Rigi Scheidegg. From Rigi Kulm, 13 lakes and 24 cantons can be seen. As you descend, Lake Zug, Lake Lauerz, Gnipen and Goldau, with its wildlife park, come to the fore.

The hike begins at the Rigi Staffel stop at around 1,600 m, the highest point on the route. The long descent starts immediately across open meadows. The yellow-waymarked hiking trail leads to the Maria zum Schnee chapel and then steadily loses elevation. With only a few brief uphill sections, the direction remains clear: down to Goldau.

In the middle section, pastures and woodland alternate. At Rigi-Dächli, there is a refreshment stop directly on the route before the trail increasingly enters the forest. Shade accompanies the extended descent as far as the edge of the settlement. Towards the end, the route passes the Herz-Jesu parish church and continues through Goldau to Arth-Goldau railway station. After nine kilometres and just over two and a half hours, around 1,100 metres of descent have been completed. A hike defined above all by the open slopes of the Rigi and the long route down into the valley.