Golzernsee is a small, pretty alpine lake, in the mountains near the north entrance to the Gotthard tunnel, where you can swim, hike, or just take in the view. After a short cable car, the path to the lake is smooth, wide and stroller-friendly.
There are a couple restaurants before you reach the lake, with excellent views of the valley, lake, and surrounding mountains. If you prefer to picnic, there are several grill pits next to the lake. The lake has several shallow areas where children can wade in and splash around.
It’s a lovely, easy day out with the kids. We had a great day here and hope to go back soon.
| Location: | Canton Uri / Lake Lucerne region |
| Address: | Bristen-Golzern cable car: Talweg 37 6475 Silenen |
| Car: | Parking next to cable car: 46°45’59.2″N 8°42’41.7″E From Zurich 1h15, Lucerne 50 mins |
| Train: | bus stop Golzern, Talstation Seilbahn From Zurich 1hr52, Lucerne 1h40 |
| Trail: | 1.4 km each way to lake |
| Condition: | wide smooth dirt path, suitable for strollers |
| Skill: | easy |
| Services: | restaurants, swimming, changing rooms & WC at lake |
| Cost 2024: | Cable car return CHF 17/adult, Child CHF 7 No discount with Swiss travel passes/cards. |
| Open: | May thru mid October, every 15-20 mins about 9:00 to 17:00 |
| More info: | www.lsb-golzern.ch |
Hike overview
From the top of the Bristen-Golzern cable car, it’s an easy walk on a smooth dirt path to the lake, about 30 mins. It’s mostly an obstacle-free path, possible with all-terrain strollers. As you near the lake, the path gets a bit narrower and bumpy but not difficult.
Before reaching the lake, you’ll pass through a little alpine village with a couple restaurants. The lake itself has a swimming area with changing rooms and WC. There are lots of other more challenging hikes in this area described on their website.
For a longer hike, you can hike past the lake to a viewpoint down the valley. Then loop back a little higher up the mountain for a nice view of the lake. This loop is shown in the trail map below.
Or you can hike down to the river and along the water back to the bottom of the cable car. See trail map.
How to get there
Golzern is located southeast of Lucerne, just before the Gotthard tunnel. To reach the hiking area, you ride a cable car from Bristen.
By car:
Drive toward the Gotthard tunnel, get off the freeway at Amsteg and drive up a steep, winding (mercifully short) one-lane road to Bristen. Drive through town until you reach a large parking lot next to the roaring river (shown below). The cable car base station is here.
By train:
Take a train to Erstfeld, then a bus to Amsteg, Post. Then a bus to Golzern, Talstation Seihbahn. The bus drops at the cable car station.
Planning your day
Tickets
You can purchase cable car tickets on-site (cards, Twint, & Reka accepted). No advanced booking necessary. See current ticket prices.
Free with Luzern Travel Pass. No discount with Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card, or SBB GA.
Opening Times
The Golzern cable car is open year round. Summer hiking season is typically mid June through October.
From June to September, the cable car runs every 15 mins from 6:45-19:00 (does not run at 12:15 – lunch break). It runs less frequently the rest of the year.
Photo story
Here we are on the trail to the lake.
We went on Swiss National Day (Aug 1), so it was a little crowded:
Along the trail, there were a couple stands selling crystals. Our kids bought some to add to their treasure chests at home.
Here’s another view of the beautiful valley before reaching the lake.
Here is the path leading through the village.
We ate at Restaurant Golzernsee, which was exactly what you might expect from a Swiss mountain restaurant, no more, no less. The view, of course, was fantastic. They did have child plates with hot dogs or schnitzel.
The footpath leading from the village to the lake.
And finally, the lake. Here the small “beach” which starts out very shallow, so your tots can wade around before it gets too deep. Before you walk down to the water, there is a public bathroom where you can change into your swimsuit.
We walked to the far side of the lake, where it was a little less crowded.
Here’s the “beach” on the other side of the lake.
I have an irrational fear of swimming in lakes (it’s dark and scary!) but the water was so wonderfully clear and refreshing that I was quickly won over. All the kids in our party had a great time splashing around in the shallow part and venturing out a little farther with floaties. I and my friend’s 9 year old swam out into the lake, where there was a big rock we could stand on. We both thought this was pretty cool.
My husband found a big rock that we could jump off. The tots stayed by the shore and caught tadpoles.
Here are the kiddies searching the reeds for tadpoles and other treasures.
This is another view of the path, leading us back to the cable car.
Back at the bottom of the cable, we spent a few minutes throwing rocks in the river before heading home.
I hope you like it.
3 responses
I wanted to thank you for taking the time to post your trip to Golzern. It’s amazing how some things change in this world and things stay the same. My heart filled scrolled through the pictures. As a family through the late 1980’s and 90’s we always used to vacation for 1 month at a time. We stayed in the chalets with the farmers Family just below the church. I remember grabbing that rope and being lifted into the air as it slid through hands. Then playing in Golzern See and hiking the trails around. Watching the farmer cut and dry his summer hay……so many memories.
The one which got me was the simple play at the lake on the sandy beach. Every time I look at water and sand I am transported back to this place. I am now almost 40 and long for the days when I was 4-15. I don’t see my family much these days, sometimes those memories comes back. Today it was one of those days. Thank you for that small bright spot in my soul today.
A silly question perhaps: would the air/water temperature around the lake be much cooler than the typical lake Zurich temps??? Trying to guess if tomorrow would be pleasant there (26°C in Wadenswil where I live..)?
What a gem! We did this hike today (with a 10 month old and small dog) and really enjoyed it. We were nearly fooled by the smaller (unstaffed, coin operated (!)) cable car about 2 km before the intended one, but saved that particular adventure for another day. A really nice hike that's an easy drive from Zurich. Quick warning – don't ignore the sign as you enter the windy road up the mountain telling you not to enter between certain times (e.g., 10 – 10:10, 11 – 11:10) on certain days. A car behind us “jumped the queue” of waiting cars and then had to reverse quite a way when the Post Bus came barreling down (as the sign warned). Thanks for the great tip!
– Kelly