9 Lakes Route
9 Lakes Route

Cycling in Switzerland

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Lakes Route

Stage 6, Sarnen–Zug

Route report
57 photos

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Lakes Route

You hardly touch a corner of the Vierwaldstättersee and Pilatus stands in the way. Cove after cove, direct to Luzern, target of every tourist. Even more alluring than Lake Lucerne is Lake Zug, perhaps because of Zug’s famous cherry torte, or could it be the generous tax breaks?
The picturesque village centre of Sarnen is surrounded by old buildings and in the middle of it is a fountain named the Brother Klaus fountain. It was built in 1608. The guildhall from the 16th century and the 600-year old Baroque municipal building of the Canton Obwalden are other impressive structures. More information about the region is found in Sarnen’s History Museum, which also tells about folklore, regional customs, art and craftwork. The route leads directly past the museum. Along the Sarner Aa you get to small Lake Wichel. The reservoir is under natural protection and offers a retreat to a wide variety of birds. The world’s steepest cogwheel train in Alpnachstad has been chugging up to Mount Pilatus (2128 m) in the heart of Switzerland since 1889 with a gradient of up to 48%.

Lake Alpnach, a side arm of Lake Lucerne, is also in the middle of Switzerland. Following the water through an old, geologically interesting area you eventually reach the glassworks of Hergiswil, where you can watch the glass blowers at work. Viewed from above, Lake Lucerne looks like a cross and it is just as complicated to follow it on the ground. Past lovely beaches on the lake you arrive in Lucerne, the social and cultural hub of Central Switzerland. With Chapel Bridge, Reuss Bridge, the Water Tower (Wasserturm), the Culture and Convention Centre KKL, the Swiss Museum of Transport, the picturesque old town, Mount Pilatus nearby and Rigi Mountain, it is one of the most beautiful and popular cities in Switzerland.

There is also plenty to see and do on the Reuss River, such as the Seetalplatz Center with a children’s playground and a bistro, or the wood sculpture trail through the forest. In Cham on Lake Zug you will find a generous park (Hirsgarten Villettepark), a beautiful spot to relax and watch the grey geese. Considered to be a nuisance by some, the local government occasionally pilfers the geese’s eggs to keep their population down. Some lost golf balls might also be pilfered on the nearby golf courses. But everyone will enjoy the 33 pile dwellings in the Canton Zug. Today’s destination situated on the delightful lake is the town of Zug with its lovingly preserved old town – in addition to many tax breaks.
You hardly touch a corner of the Vierwaldstättersee and Pilatus stands in the way. Cove after cove, direct to Luzern, target of every tourist. Even more alluring than Lake Lucerne is Lake Zug, perhaps because of Zug’s famous cherry torte, or could it be the generous tax breaks?
The picturesque village centre of Sarnen is surrounded by old buildings and in the middle of it is a fountain named the Brother Klaus fountain. It was built in 1608. The guildhall from the 16th century and the 600-year old Baroque municipal building of the Canton Obwalden are other impressive structures. More information about the region is found in Sarnen’s History Museum, which also tells about folklore, regional customs, art and craftwork. The route leads directly past the museum. Along the Sarner Aa you get to small Lake Wichel. The reservoir is under natural protection and offers a retreat to a wide variety of birds. The world’s steepest cogwheel train in Alpnachstad has been chugging up to Mount Pilatus (2128 m) in the heart of Switzerland since 1889 with a gradient of up to 48%.

Lake Alpnach, a side arm of Lake Lucerne, is also in the middle of Switzerland. Following the water through an old, geologically interesting area you eventually reach the glassworks of Hergiswil, where you can watch the glass blowers at work. Viewed from above, Lake Lucerne looks like a cross and it is just as complicated to follow it on the ground. Past lovely beaches on the lake you arrive in Lucerne, the social and cultural hub of Central Switzerland. With Chapel Bridge, Reuss Bridge, the Water Tower (Wasserturm), the Culture and Convention Centre KKL, the Swiss Museum of Transport, the picturesque old town, Mount Pilatus nearby and Rigi Mountain, it is one of the most beautiful and popular cities in Switzerland.

There is also plenty to see and do on the Reuss River, such as the Seetalplatz Center with a children’s playground and a bistro, or the wood sculpture trail through the forest. In Cham on Lake Zug you will find a generous park (Hirsgarten Villettepark), a beautiful spot to relax and watch the grey geese. Considered to be a nuisance by some, the local government occasionally pilfers the geese’s eggs to keep their population down. Some lost golf balls might also be pilfered on the nearby golf courses. But everyone will enjoy the 33 pile dwellings in the Canton Zug. Today’s destination situated on the delightful lake is the town of Zug with its lovingly preserved old town – in addition to many tax breaks.
61 km
Asphalted: 50 km
Natural surface: 11 km
420 m | 460 m
difficult

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Sarnen
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

More …

Diversion, Root
Diversion, Root
Duration
03.06.2022 - 30.11.2022
Reason
Construction & maintenance work
The route is being diverted. Please follow the local signposts. See map for details.
Data source: SwitzerlandMobility / Cantonal office
Diversion, Alpnachstad
Duration
08.03.2023 - 21.04.2023
Reason
Construction & maintenance work
The route is diverted via cycle route 4. Please follow the local signposts. See map for details.
Data source: SwitzerlandMobility / Cantonal office
Traffic volume
Beware: busy main through-road Hergiswil.

Hints

Guides
There is a guide available for this route in German and French.
More

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Zug
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

Services

Accommodation

Seehotel Wilerbad
Seehotel Wilerbad
Wilen am Sarnersee
Verena’s Boutique Villa au Lac
Verena’s Boutique Villa au Lac
Sachseln
Camping Seefeld Park Sarnen
Camping Seefeld Park Sarnen
Sarnen
Hotel Kurhaus am Sarnersee
Hotel Kurhaus am Sarnersee
Wilen (Sarnen)
B&B Restaurant Peterhof Garni
B&B Restaurant Peterhof Garni
Sarnen
Haus des Schweizer Rudersports
Haus des Schweizer Rudersports
Sarnen
Hotel Krone Sarnen
Hotel Krone Sarnen
Sarnen
Erlebnisbauernhof Weid
Erlebnisbauernhof Weid
Kerns
Bio Hof Eggmatt
Bio Hof Eggmatt
Alpnach Dorf
Landgasthof Schlüssel Alpnach
Landgasthof Schlüssel Alpnach
Alpnach Dorf
Bauernhof Familie Waser
Bauernhof Familie Waser
Stans
Wanghof
Wanghof
Stans
Holiday Inn Express Luzern-Kriens
Holiday Inn Express Luzern-Kriens
Kriens
TCS Camping Luzern - Horw
TCS Camping Luzern - Horw
Horw
Seeburghof
Seeburghof
Luzern
Backpacker’s Lucerne
Backpacker’s Lucerne
Luzern
Hotel Continental Park
Hotel Continental Park
Luzern
Jugendherberge Luzern
Jugendherberge Luzern
Luzern
B&B Haus im Löchli
B&B Haus im Löchli
Luzern
Gasthof + Spielparadies Chärnsmatt
Gasthof + Spielparadies Chärnsmatt
Rothenburg
Bed & Breakfast Schachehof
Bed & Breakfast Schachehof
Inwil
Hotel Garni an der Reuss
Hotel Garni an der Reuss
Gisikon
Kollers-Hoftreff
Kollers-Hoftreff
Meierskappel
Aparthotel Rotkreuz
Aparthotel Rotkreuz
Rotkreuz
TCS Camping Zugersee
TCS Camping Zugersee
Zug
Jugendherberge Zug
Jugendherberge Zug
Zug
Hotel Löwen am See
Hotel Löwen am See
Zug
Bed + Breakfast one2be
Bed + Breakfast one2be
Zug
Dialoghotel Eckstein
Dialoghotel Eckstein
Baar
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Bookable offers

4 Alpine Panorama Route
4 Alpine Panorama Route
4 Alpine Panorama Route enjoyment tour
4 Alpine Panorama Route enjoyment tour
3 North-South Route Basel-Chiasso
3 North-South Route Basel-Chiasso
9 Lakes Route
9 Lakes Route
9 Rhone Route Central Switzerland
9 Rhone Route Central Switzerland
Swiss
Swiss "Schoggi"-Tour
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Places

Sachseln
Sachseln
Flüeli-Ranft
Flüeli-Ranft
Sarnen
Sarnen
Alpnachstad
Alpnachstad
Pilatus
Pilatus
Stans
Stans
Stansstad
Stansstad
Lucerne
Lucerne
Rotkreuz
Rotkreuz
Zug
Zug
Baar
Baar
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Places of interest

Burial chapel of Brother Klaus
Burial chapel of Brother Klaus
Brother Klaus Museum, Sachseln
Brother Klaus Museum, Sachseln
High Bridge, Kerns
High Bridge, Kerns
Mount Pilatus
Mount Pilatus
Nidwalden Museum
Nidwalden Museum
Medieval town of Stans
Medieval town of Stans
Hergiswil Glassworks
Hergiswil Glassworks
Swiss Museum of Transport
Swiss Museum of Transport
Lake Lucerne
Lake Lucerne
KKL Luzern
KKL Luzern
Schweizerhofquai/Nationalquai
Schweizerhofquai/Nationalquai
Glacier Garden
Glacier Garden
Lion Monument
Lion Monument
Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)
Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)
Rosengart Collection Lucerne
Rosengart Collection Lucerne
Musegg Wall
Musegg Wall
Villette Cham
Villette Cham
Pumptrack Cham
Pumptrack Cham
Zytturm
Zytturm
Zug Castle
Zug Castle
Kunsthaus Zug
Kunsthaus Zug
Höllgrotten Baar
Höllgrotten Baar
Lorzentobel – where bridges meet the sky
Lorzentobel – where bridges meet the sky
Zugerberg Trail
Zugerberg Trail
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