9 Lakes Route
9 Lakes Route

Cycling in Switzerland

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Lakes Route

Stage 8, Einsiedeln–Niederurnen

Route report
128 photos

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Lakes Route

Two lakes separated by a bridge: Lake Sihl, the lovely and important power supplier, and Lake Zurich fringed by villas and mansions. The Escher Channel in the Linth Plain with fields and meadows come to life again.
Getting up bright and early for an exhilarating ride through the landscape, crossing the bridge across Lake Sihl and later the 9 km Etzel reservoir on the Willerzell viaduct, which is about 1 km long. The cars move swiftly, the bridge is narrow and there are no turnouts to let them pass - unfortunately, because the view of lake and mountains is spectacular. It’s best to cross the bridge before you stop and admire lovely Lake Sihl and the Alpine foothills without hurry. Then the ski jumps in Einsiedeln come into view. The climb up to Etzel Pass is almost as steep. The centuries-old crossing on the Way of St. James has gradients of up to 20%. The Devil’s Bridge (1699) across the Sihl and the birthplace of the famous physician and naturalist Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim (for real!) known as Paracelsus, offer a lot of distraction. Born in 1493 or 94 Paracelsus was a specialist in the field of mercury treatments for syphilis. Nowadays, however, you’re more likely to be served specialties from Einsiedeln here.

All this is followed by a marvellous panoramic view of Lake Zurich. If the area around the lake were less built up – only about a third of the shore is accessible now – it would be even more amazing … After a brisk ride via Feusisberg down to Pfäffikon, you will catch sight of the two miniature islands, Ufenau and Lützelau. The bridge that separates the lake in two is clearly less attractive than it appeared from top, but as a reward there is medieval Rapperswil, now known as the city of roses (from May to October, thousands of roses are in bloom throughout the town), with its graceful cityscape and the castle.

The Cistercian convent of Wurmsbach is another highlight. The area with the lovely convent also comprises a farming operation, in addition to a church and a boarding school for girls. The fun on the lake ends near Schmerikon and the route then crosses the Linth Plain and a nature preserve with frogs, insects and a multitude of birds. Herons are soaring into the blue sky and storks also thrive here, as do the river lilies. They bloom from mid-June to July in the most gorgeous pinkish purple. Finally, you follow the Linth channel to reach the town of Ziegelbrücke near Niederurnen, which is separated in two. The northeastern part is located in the Canton St. Gallen, the southwestern half is on the other side of the Linth, in the Canton Glarus.
Two lakes separated by a bridge: Lake Sihl, the lovely and important power supplier, and Lake Zurich fringed by villas and mansions. The Escher Channel in the Linth Plain with fields and meadows come to life again.
Getting up bright and early for an exhilarating ride through the landscape, crossing the bridge across Lake Sihl and later the 9 km Etzel reservoir on the Willerzell viaduct, which is about 1 km long. The cars move swiftly, the bridge is narrow and there are no turnouts to let them pass - unfortunately, because the view of lake and mountains is spectacular. It’s best to cross the bridge before you stop and admire lovely Lake Sihl and the Alpine foothills without hurry. Then the ski jumps in Einsiedeln come into view. The climb up to Etzel Pass is almost as steep. The centuries-old crossing on the Way of St. James has gradients of up to 20%. The Devil’s Bridge (1699) across the Sihl and the birthplace of the famous physician and naturalist Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim (for real!) known as Paracelsus, offer a lot of distraction. Born in 1493 or 94 Paracelsus was a specialist in the field of mercury treatments for syphilis. Nowadays, however, you’re more likely to be served specialties from Einsiedeln here.

All this is followed by a marvellous panoramic view of Lake Zurich. If the area around the lake were less built up – only about a third of the shore is accessible now – it would be even more amazing … After a brisk ride via Feusisberg down to Pfäffikon, you will catch sight of the two miniature islands, Ufenau and Lützelau. The bridge that separates the lake in two is clearly less attractive than it appeared from top, but as a reward there is medieval Rapperswil, now known as the city of roses (from May to October, thousands of roses are in bloom throughout the town), with its graceful cityscape and the castle.

The Cistercian convent of Wurmsbach is another highlight. The area with the lovely convent also comprises a farming operation, in addition to a church and a boarding school for girls. The fun on the lake ends near Schmerikon and the route then crosses the Linth Plain and a nature preserve with frogs, insects and a multitude of birds. Herons are soaring into the blue sky and storks also thrive here, as do the river lilies. They bloom from mid-June to July in the most gorgeous pinkish purple. Finally, you follow the Linth channel to reach the town of Ziegelbrücke near Niederurnen, which is separated in two. The northeastern part is located in the Canton St. Gallen, the southwestern half is on the other side of the Linth, in the Canton Glarus.
52 km
Asphalted: 44 km
Natural surface: 8 km
420 m | 880 m
medium

Arrival | return travel

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

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Traffic volume
Beware: busy main road Pfäffikon–Seedamm (lake dam)
Consideration
Beware: show consideration to pedestrians along Rapperswil–Schmerikon shore.
Diversion, Willerzell viaduct
Duration
28.03.2022 - 23.06.2023
Reason
Construction & maintenance work
The route is being diverted. Please follow the local signposts. See map for details.
Details
PDF
Data source: SwitzerlandMobility / Cantonal office

Hints

Guides
There is a guide available for this route in German and French.
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Arrival | return travel

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

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Family cycling tours
The section between Niederurnen (Ziegelbrücke) and Rapperswil (27 km) is especially recommended with children.
To the Familiy tour Linth Plain–Lake Zurich

Services

Accommodation

Hotel St. Georg
Hotel St. Georg
Einsiedeln
Hotel Drei Könige
Hotel Drei Könige
Einsiedeln
Ferienhof am See
Ferienhof am See
Willerzell
BnB Kastenegg
BnB Kastenegg
Feusisberg
Ferienwohnung / Gästezimmer Kälin
Ferienwohnung / Gästezimmer Kälin
Pfäffikon SZ
Lützelhof
Lützelhof
Pfäffikon SZ
Hotel Restaurant Sternen
Hotel Restaurant Sternen
Pfäffikon SZ
Seedamm Plaza
Seedamm Plaza
Pfäffikon SZ
Sorell Hotel Speer
Sorell Hotel Speer
Rapperswil
Jugendherberge Rapperswil-Jona
Jugendherberge Rapperswil-Jona
Jona
Marina Lachen
Marina Lachen
Lachen SZ
Werni’s Ruhepause
Werni’s Ruhepause
Eschenbach SG
BnB Entensee
BnB Entensee
Uznach
Hotel Restaurant Metzgerei Frohe Aussicht
Hotel Restaurant Metzgerei Frohe Aussicht
Uznach
Parkhotel Schwert
Parkhotel Schwert
Weesen
Hotel-Restaurant Flyhof
Hotel-Restaurant Flyhof
Weesen
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Bookable offers

4 Alpine Panorama Route
4 Alpine Panorama Route
9 Rhone Route Central Switzerland
9 Rhone Route Central Switzerland
9 Lakes Route Eastern Switzerland
9 Lakes Route Eastern Switzerland
9 Lakes Route
9 Lakes Route
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Places

Einsiedeln
Einsiedeln
Richterswil
Richterswil
Pfäffikon SZ
Pfäffikon SZ
Rapperswil-Jona
Rapperswil-Jona
Schmerikon
Schmerikon
Uznach
Uznach
Schänis
Schänis
Niederurnen (Ziegelbrücke)
Niederurnen (Ziegelbrücke)
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Places of interest

Alte Etzelstrasse
Alte Etzelstrasse
Abbey of Einsiedeln
Abbey of Einsiedeln
Altendorf–Etzel
Altendorf–Etzel
The Frauenwinkel
The Frauenwinkel
Alpamare Water Park Pfäffikon
Alpamare Water Park Pfäffikon
Pump track Altendorf
Pump track Altendorf
Ufenau and Lützelau Islands in Lake Züri
Ufenau and Lützelau Islands in Lake Züri
Seebrücke Rapperswil–Hurden
Seebrücke Rapperswil–Hurden
Rapperswil-Hurden Wooden bridge
Rapperswil-Hurden Wooden bridge
Rapperswil Castle
Rapperswil Castle
Freulerpalast
Freulerpalast
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