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Mt. PilatusPage 3
Adventures and activitiesRopes and toboggan runs at FräkmünteggFrom Pilatus Kulm, an aerial cablecar will carry you to the small hillside resort of Fräkmüntegg, where you can transfer to smaller panoramic gondolas that continue down to the lakeside village of Kriens. But don't transfer right away--instead, spend some time at Fräkmüntegg, which has a restaurant, hiking paths, and two summer adventure attractions that are open from May to October:
In winter, the toboggan ride is replaced by a conventional snow-sledding course. There's no need to bring your own sled; just grab one of the 500 free loaners at Fräkmüntegg, follow the toboggan trail, and turn in the sled at the lower gondola station when you're done. Hiking on Mt. PilatusFrom the viewing terrace next to the Hotel Pilatus-Kulm on top of the mountain, you can follow well-marked summer walking paths to the peaks along the summit ridge. The walks are graded "easy" or "moderate" and last 10 to 35 minutes. Adventurous hikers can ascend or descend Mt. Pilatus from Alpnachstad, where trails follow the cogwheel or rack railway. This is a moderately steep hike with rocky paths, so you'll need sturdy shoes and enough stamina to climb uphill for five hours. (Downhill is quicker but will be harder on your knees.) You can shorten the hike by catching or leaving the train at ämsigen, a stop just above the treeline about 12 minutes into the cogwheel railway's 30-minute climb. Other hiking possibilities include a one-hour walk from the Fräkmüntegg cablecar/gondola station to the leisure area at Krienseregg, where you'll find a circular path that takes about an hour to go around. (This trail is suitable for baby strollers and wheelchairs.) Seasonal eventsPilatus-Bahnen organizes special events in both summer and winter. For example, during one update of this article, the railroad was offering the chance to ride in the driver's cab and "take over the steering wheel of the world's steepest cogwheel railway," with a Pilatus cap and personal certificate at the end of the journey. Check the mountain's Experiences page for the current season's packages. Next page: Pilatus photo tour
Bottom inset photo copyright © Pilatus-Bahnen. |
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