Haldigrat ridge trail to Brisen peak

I’ve been dreaming of this gorgeous ridge hike near Lucerne since we did the nearby Musenalp hike last October. It was even better than I imagined! The views are spectacular in every direction and seem to get better every minute of the hike.

It’s a tough hike with challenging terrain, steep sections with loose rock and steep slopes to the sides of the trail. For my first time, I went with a friend, not with my kids. But next time, I would take my older kids, but probably not kids younger than 10. Below are all the logistics and some tips based on our experience. Enjoy!

Gallery

Trail Overview

The Haldigrat trail is located in the Maria-Rickenbach area in central Switzerland, shown on the summer hiking map below.

First you ride the cable car from Dallenwil to the mountain village Niederrickenbach. Then walk 2 km along a road to the base of the Haldigrat chair lift. Ride up this lift to the ridge, where you’ll find a mountain restaurant. Hike up the ridge to the Brisenpeak. Then hike down to Steinalper Joch, then down down down to Brisenhaus (another mountain restaurant). Then continue hiking down down down back to Niederrickenbach, where you can ride the cable car down to your car or train.

It’s a long way down from the peak, 1200m of elevation descent and tough going on lots of rocks and steep bits. My friend and I agreed that we might have been better off simply hiking back to Haldigrat and riding back down.

Trail map

Here is a more detailed trail map.

See trail map on Komoot – SchweizMobil – OutdoorActive

Note that the ascent/descent meters vary widely in the different apps.

Tickets & Timetable

At the start of the trip, you take the Dallenwil-Niederrickenbach cable car up to the alpine village. This cable car runs every 30 mins on the :10 and :40 (both directions), from 7:10 to 18:40 (lunch break at 12:00). In 2023, a return ticket costs CHF 25.20/adult, CHF 12-60/child aged 6.16, free under 6. SBB Half-fare, Junior cards, GA and Reka checks accepted.

Then you walk about 30 mins to the base of the Haldigrat chair lift. This lift runs from 9:00 to 17:00. If it’s not running when you get there, you can use the provided phone to call the operator at the top. The chairs are two seaters and there are a few groups of 2-3 chairs that circle up and down, not a continuous stream of chairs. So you may have to wait awhile to go up on a busy day.

You pay in cash at the top. One way costs CHF 12/adult, CHF 6/child aged 6-16. No discounts for travel cards.

The Haldigrat chair doesn’t run in bad weather. At the Niederrickenbach cable car, they post the status of this chair lift. Make sure to check beforehand.

How to get there

By car

Drive to Dallenwil and follow the brown sign to the Niederrickenbach cable car. There is free parking next to the cable car station. There isn’t an address for this, it’s just off the main road here.

By train

Take the train to Niederrickenbach Station. You have to request a stop at this station. So make sure to inform one of the employees taking tickets, who will arrange that for you. The Dallenwil-Niederrickenbach gondola station is adjacent to the train station, just walk under the tunnel.

Photo story of the trail

Riding up Dallenwil-Niederrickenbach gondola in fall.

The walk through the village to the Haldigrat chair lift. Follow the “Sesselbahn” sign below.

It’s about 30 mins on this road to reach the chair lift.

The chairs are two seaters with a safety bar. There are just a few groups with a 2-3 chairs. So if you don’t see any chairs and the cable is moving, just wait and the chairs will show up eventually. There is no attendant. Just get on the chair as it slowly moves through the station. If the cable isn’t moving, use the telephone to call the attendant and tell them you want to go up.

Riding up the chair lift to Haldigrat.

View from the top of the chair lift.

The mountain restaurant at Haldigrat.

Nice benches with a view next to the restaurant. It would be nice just to come up for the view, even without doing the hard hike.

Starting the hike

Start of trail, heading straight up the ridge.

Here you can see the trail working its way up the ridge.

The trail cuts through some grassy slopes.

The slope on the side is quite steep. So walk carefully.

Nice views to Lake Lucerne as you climb.

Getting close to the top.

Looking back down the ridge trail.

This stop sign is telling you that this area is a protected area for wild animals. Hiking in this area is prohibited from mid-December through end of April.

Probably not a great trail if you get vertigo.

Detour to Brisen peak

At this sign, take the short 5 min detour up to the Brisen peak. That’s why you are here. 

The climb to the peak is pretty steep with loose rock.

View from top of the Brisen peak.

More amazing views from the top.

Take your photo here. Don’t fall off!

Remember to sign the guestbook at the cross at the top of Brisen.

Get someone to take your photo here too.

Descending to the Brisenhaus hut

Now hike down following signs to Brisenhuis SAC and Steinalper Joch. You can see the switchbacks going down on the left.

There’s a large scree section that is slippery and a bit hard to manage. Take your time here and use your poles for balance.

Both times I’ve been there in July, there was a snow patch on the section between Brisen and Steinalper Joch. The first time, the patch was so big and slippery that we chose to hike down and around the patch. Hiking down the loose rock was also difficult. Wish we had crampons. The second time we went, the patch was much smaller and we just walked across in the footprints of others.

Looking back at Brisen from Steinalper Joch

Just after Steinalper Joch.

There are trails that lead along the rest of the ridge towards Niederbauen. Haven’t done that part yet.

At Steinjoch, you’ll see this sign. Follow signs to Brisenhuis SAC and Niederrickenbach.

The trail traverses the mountain for awhile.

The views get better every minute.

Now a long descent to the hut.

Arriving at Brisenhaus SAC hut. We ate lunch here – cash only. There’s a toilet downstairs and you can fill up your water bottles in the sink there. They ask for a small donation in the piggy bank.

After the hut, follow signs to Niederrickenbach, which is the cable car you took at the beginning.

It’s a long way down. You start through these fields with lots of flowers. 

Looking back up to the hut.

After about an hour, you reach a gravel service road. You’ll stay on this most of the way to the cable car.

Keep following signs to Niederrickenbach.

Looking up to the ridge, with both the chair lift station and Brisen peak in view.

Road leading into the Niederrickenbach village.

Finishing up in Niederrichenbach.

Hope you like this hike!