Schwyzer Höhenweg, Stage 3/5
© Switzerland Tourism

Hike /Schweiz Mobil

Schwyzer Höhenweg, Stage 3/5

GoldauSattel

Distance
13.0 km
Duration
5:30 h
Ascent
1200 m
Descent
950 m
Difficulty
Moderate
Fitness
Hard
Route type
One way
Season
May - October

01/ Overview

The route

The hike follows the mountain ridge, offering spectacular far-reaching views over central Switzerland's lakes and mountain ranges. Above Goldau, numerous cherry trees are in full bloom in the springtime. From the Gnipen, the rocky landslide area, home of the Goldau Wildlife Park, catches the eye.

The long ascent of the Rossberg begins at Arth-Goldau railway station. The route quickly leaves the built-up area behind and climbs through open meadows and forest. At the Herzig viewpoint, the panorama opens up before the ascent continues along the wooded mountain ridge. After a good two and a half hours, the bare summit of the Gnipen is reached.

The route continues along the ridge in a steady succession of ascents and descents. Near the Wildspitz, it passes the Berggasthaus Wildspitz. Shortly afterwards, the highest point of the hike is reached at around 1'570 m. From here, the path becomes narrower and takes on the character of a mountain trail.

The descent to Sattel leads through forest and across open pastures. The 13-kilometre route involves a total ascent of around 1'200 metres. After a good five and a half hours, the traverse ends at the Sattel stop.

02/ Along the route

What's along the way

Where the route climbs and where it descends. Hover the profile to find the spot on the map.

03/ Conditions

Current conditions

What to know before you set off. Closures and snow are re-checked every day.

  • How we check: Every night we match the route against the official closures and detours from the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO). Any reported closure that touches the route shows up here.

  • How we check: SLF only publishes its snow maps from November 1. Until then we roughly estimate the snow depth at the lowest and the highest point of the route every day from the nearest SLF measuring stations. Check the situation on site.

04/ Getting there

Getting there

From your door to the trailhead and home again, by train and bus or by car. Computed live from the timetable.

Or from

Goldau · stop 37 m away

Outbound

Return

05/ Weather

Weather on the way

Forecast for the lowest and the highest point of the route.

Weather

Mountain
🌡️
–
Valley
🌡️
–
Rain today
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Mountain
Valley
Rain

06/ Trail & landscape

Trail & landscape

Which paths you walk on and the landscape they lead through.

Trail Surface
On official trails
100%
Route length
13.1 km
Hiking trail
58%
Mountain trail
42%
Land Cover
Meadows
63%
Forest
27%
Village
11%
Forest type
Broadleaf forest
19%
Conifer forest
12%
Mixed forest
4%

Larches count as conifer forest here.

07/ Snow

Snow on the route

Snow depths, new snow and forecast. Estimates: check the situation on site before you set off.

Snow Info

Rough estimate
SLF only publishes its snow maps from November 1 to June 30. Until then we estimate the snow depth from the nearest SLF measuring stations, so it can look quite different on the ground.
Measured 28 Oct, 11:00
Snow height valley
0cm
Snow height mountain
0cm
Snowfall last 24h
None

08/ Export

Take the route with you

Load the track onto your GPS device, print a route sheet for the trail or send the route to your hiking group.

  • Share

    Send the link to friends or your hiking group.

  • Export GPX File

    For hiking apps, GPS watches and navigation devices.

  • Print Route Sheet

    A4 with map, elevation profile, waypoints and emergency numbers.

    Print

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