This easy hike starts at the top of the Ibergeregg mountain pass, accessible directly by car or bus, no gondola required. The trail traverse the mountain through alpine meadows and forests, with spectacular panorama views around the idyllic Mythen Region.
You’ll pass a few mountain restaurants along the way, so budget time to lounge on the sunny terraces and enjoy some refreshments. This is a great choice any time of year, but particularly in spring and fall when other mountains are closed.
Contents
Quick Info
| Region: | Mythen Region near Lucerne |
| Start/end: | Ibergeregg pass |
| By car: | Metered parking (47°01’02.9″N 8°44’00.2″E) about 1hr from Zürich |
| By public transport: | bus stop: Ibergeregg, Passhöhe
or use the Rotenfluebahn gondola – Rickenbach SZ, Rotenfluebahn bus stop |
| Trail: | 7.2 km loop (shorter version below) |
| Time: | 2 hours |
| Difficulty: | easy • 230m up & down |
| Condition: | dirt path |
| Elevation: | highest point 1550m |
| Open: | year round |
| Cost: | free, no mountain transport |
| Services: | mountain restaurants along the trail |
| More info: | www.ibergeregg.ch • webcam |
Gallery
Trail overview
Ibergeregg is a mountain pass in the “Mythen Region” west of Lucerne and south of Zürich.
Here’s the hiking map for Ibergeregg. Our trail starts and ends at the Ibergeregg pass, accessible by car or bus. See an interactive map on the Mythen Region website.
Trail map
This map shows the lollipop trail starting at Ibergeregg leading up to the Rotenflue peak at the halfway point. Then you loop back to your starting point. I suggest hiking this counterclockwise, so the uphill climb is in the forest.
See trail map on Komoot • SchweizMobil
The path is mostly a wide dirt trail, easy walking. Before reaching Rotenflue, there is a steep section leading up to the peak with a couple switchbacks. But otherwise not difficult.
Shorter: If you want a shorter, easier day, just walk from Ibergeregg pass to Alpwirtschaft Zwäcken (see on map) hut, about 25 mins. Enjoy some refreshments, then walk back the way you came. This version is about 3.5 km round trip.
How to get there
By car
The trail starts at the top of the Ibergeregg pass (47°01’02.9″N 8°44’00.2″E). There is a narrow winding mountain road on either side of the pass. I find the eastern approach from Oberiberg a bit easier to drive. But just take whichever way is closer to you.
At the pass, there is a big parking lot. Don’t forget to pay the parking fee. You can pay with the parking apps and Twint. There is a second parking lot slightly down the hill on the west side (see on map).
By public transport
Bus 505 runs over the pass, connecting the towns Schwyz and Oberiberg on either side of the mountain. Bus stop: Ibergeregg, Passhöhe. It only runs a few times a day. Check schedule here.
Or you could instead ride the bus to the Rotenflue gondola – Rickenbach SZ, Rotenfluebahn bus stop, directly at the gondola station. In this case, you would start the trail at the Rotenflue peak, the opposite end of the trail from Ibergeregg.
Planning your day
Costs
If you drive or take the bus to Ibergeregg, your only cost is parking fees or bus fare.
If you ride the Rotenflue gondola, you’ll need a return ticket on the gondola. Discount with Swiss Half Fare Card. Free with GA and Junior Travelcard. See current prices.
Services
There are a few restaurants along the way. Here’s how long it takes to reach them.
- Sonnenhütte – 5 mins, see on map
- Alpwirtschaft Zwäcken – 25 mins, see on map
- Restaurant Gipfelstubli at Rotenflue – 1h15, see on map.
What to wear & bring
The terrain on this trail is quite mild, so you could do this hike in any comfortable walking shoe. Hiking sticks are not necessary.
This mountain is relatively low elevation. So in summer, temperatures are often quite warm unless a storm is blowing in. Check the weather forecast before heading out so you can dress appropriately.
Photo story of the trail
Here’s the parking.
At the start of the trail near the parking, you’ll see this sign listing the restaurants along the trail. The green light indicates they are open, red means closed.
This map shows the winter trails in pink. We are doing the look that starts at Ibergeregg, hikes to Zwäcken, then up to Rotenfluh and back. I suggest counterclockwise.
The trail starts quite easy and flat as shown here.
After just a few minutes, you reach the Sonnenhütte restaurant.
They have a small playground.
The outdoor terrace is lovely and popular. You might want a reservation if you want to eat at a specific time.
Pass the Sonnenhütte restaurant and keep walking on the gravel path. You’ll have views like this in summer.
After emerging from the forest, you’ll have the Grosser Mythen peak in view.
Zwäcken hut cafe
After about 25 mins walking, you’ll reach the Alpwirtschaft Zwäcken hut. I like to stop here for lunch or at least coffee and cake.
They have a small menu, usually soup, salad, sausage and a hot special. They usually have nice handmade desserts like apple strudel or other cakes.
There’s a small playground just outside the restaurant.
After the hut, just keep walking straight towards the hill in front of you. You’ll have views like this in fall.
Follow signs to Rotenflue.
After a short bit in the forest, the trail splits as shown here.
We prefer to do this loop counterclockwise, taking the right path now. That means will we do the uphill climb in the forest and downhill in the sun. But you can do the other direction if you like.
The path winds back and forth as you walk closer to the Mythen peak ahead.
The path takes you to the forest, then you turn left and hike up through the forest.
OPTION: Instead of hiking up to Rotenflue, you can turn right and hike down to the Holzegg restaurant shown here. The views are fantastic from the terrace. Return the way you came.
Now you follow this path uphill towards Rotenflue. It gets a bit steep in parts, but it doesn’t last long. Just take it slow.
After a couple minutes, you’ll see a short detour (next to a fire pit), leading out to a viewpoint over the cliffs. You get a nice view of Lake Lucerne from here.
Return to the main path and keep climbing uphill until you reach the restaurant. When you exit the forest, you’ll have spectacular views of the Grosser Mythen peak as you exit the forest. Absolutely gorgeous!!! You can hike that peak in summer.
Also nice views down to the Brunni Alpthal valley.
Arriving at Rotenflue, highest point of loop
The uphill climb leads to the top of the Roftenflue cable car. If you rode the cable car up instead of starting at the pass, you will start your hike here.
There is a restaurant here, also with an outdoor terrace. It gets very busy on nice weekends.
There is a small playground next to the restaurant.
Looping back
Walk past the restaurant and follow the trail down and around the peak. This part of the trail has some of the best views, like this one of Lake Lucerne.
This picture is looking across to Stoos.
Looking back on the trail as it winds around the peak.
Some nice views of the peaks at the nearby Hoch Ybrig mountain resort, which has a nice ridge trail.
Looking towards Illgau, another place we like to hike.
When you arrive at the same fork from earlier, turn right following signs to Alp Zwäcken and Ibergeregg pass, retracing your steps.
Such great views in both directions, you won’t mind walking back and forth.
