Zürichsee-Rundweg, Stage 3/10

The third stage of our circuit of Lake Zurich is ideal for families and amateur athletes, because it starts from Horgen railway station or boat landing stage and largely hugs the shoreline – making it perfectly flat. One highlight along the route is the Au peninsula complete with a country villa, park and natural pond.

From the Horgen stop, the walk soon reaches Lake Zurich. The route follows waymarked hiking trails along the shore, alternating between built-up areas and open spaces. After the tranquil opening stretch, the Au peninsula takes centre stage. Schloss Au, a manor house surrounded by parkland and farmland, stands close to the small Ausee. Here, the trail climbs gently to the highest point of the walk at around 450 m.

Beyond Au, the lake continues to shape the route, although built-up sections become more frequent. With no significant climbs, the trail continues towards Wädenswil and then southwards. Open stretches along the lakeshore appear time and again in between. Towards the end, the route approaches Richterswil and finishes just a few steps from the Richterswil See stop. Around three hours should be allowed for the approximately 13 km route. With only around 120 metres of ascent, the walk remains pleasantly easy and is particularly suitable for an extended stroll by the water.