The Engelstock Rundweg is the prettiest trail at the Sattel-Hochstuckli mountain resort near Zug. It has sweeping panorama views across lakes, valleys and mountains. There are a couple picnic areas with fire pits and a restaurant along the way. The hike loops back to the big play area with bouncy castles, trampolines and summer toboggan – a nice reward for good hiking.
It’s one of the first mountain areas to open for summer hiking season, usually in mid-April, making it a great choice for spring. We’ve done this trail as early as the second week of April and it was full of green hills and flowers with only a few snow patches.
Location: | Mythen Region, Central Switzerland |
Address: | Sattel-Mostelberg gondola |
Car: | Parking next to gondola: Eumatt, 6417 Sattel, SZ-CH (GPS: 47.078528, 8.635008) From Zug 30 mins, Lucerne or Zürich 45 mins |
Train: | Train station: Sattel-Aegeri + bus or 550m walk to cable car From Zug 45 mins, Lucerne 1hr, Zürich 1hr10 |
Trail: | 5.4 km loop, about 2 hours with kids |
Condition: | dirt, gravel, paved – obstacle free |
Skill: | moderate |
Services: | restaurants, bouncy castle complex, summer toboggan, theme trails |
Open: | late April to early Nov |
Prices 2024: | Gondola return trip: CHF 30/25/15 (adult/half-fare & GA/child 6-16) Discount for GA & SBB Half-fare. SBB Junior Cards not accepted |
More info: | www.sattel-hochstuckli.ch |
Location
The Sattel-Hochstuckli mountain resort is located in central Switzerland, near Zürich and Lucerne. See on Google Maps. The trails and amusements are accessed by a gondola from the valley, easily accessible by car or train.
Overview of Sattel Hochstuckli area
Here is a map of the Sattel-Hochstuckli mountain resort. After riding a gondola up to Mostelberg at 1200m, you’ll find a big outdoor play area with bouncy castles, trampolines, and summer toboggan. There are a variety of easy trails and a slightly scary suspension bridge to cross.
In this post, I’ll be talking about the panorama loop trail shown in purple on the right side of the map.
Trail map
The RUNDweg Engelstock is the pink loop trail on the hiking map above. The trail is 5.4 km, though we like to add an optional detour to the suspension bridge as shown in my version below (joining the yellow trail that loops back to Mostelberg). The main trail is suitable for strollers, but you’ll need to skip the suspension bridge, which doesn’t allow strollers in that direction.
See interactive map on Komoot • SchweizMobil • OutdoorActive
How to get there
To reach the trail head, you’ll need to ride up the gondola from Sattel to Mostelberg. The gondola station is located in Sattel.
By car: Drive to Sattel and follow signs to the Hochstuckli Revolving Gondola (Eumatt, 6417 Sattel). There is a big parking lot next to the gondola. In 2021, it costs CHF 5 for the day.
By public transport: The Sattel, Gondelbahn bus stop is directly adjacent to the gondola station. Find your exact connection on SBB.ch.
Planning your day
Ticket prices
You can buy your gondola tickets with cash or card at the valley station. If you are just doing the trail, you need a round-trip ticket on the gondola. In 2021, an adult round trip costs CHF 24/adult, CHF 12/child age 6-16, under 6 ride free. Discount for GA & SBB Half-fare cards.
If you want to add on Rondos Playland (unlimited summer toboggan, bouncy park, etc.), you can buy a day pass, which includes the gondola: CHF 45/adults, CHF 35/child up to age 16. Adults CHF 45, Children CHF 35. Family discounts available. See more about the Sattel Rondo Alpine Playland.
See current prices on Sattel website.
Opening hours
The gondola runs daily from late April to October from 8:30-17:00 (until 17:30 during school holidays from July through mid August). The playland amusements open from 10:30 – 16:30 (slightly longer during summer school holidays). See current opening hours.
Photo story
Rondo Alpine Playground
At the top of the Mostelberg gondola, you’ll immediately see the bouncy castles, kiosk, summer toboggan, restaurants and other amusements. If you didn’t buy a day pass, you can buy entrance to the amusements at the kiosk here.
Normally I recommend that you save playtime for after the hike. But it can get so crowded here in the afternoon, that I think it’s better to play for a couple hours first while it’s quiet. Then go on the hike after lunch, maybe doing a picnic at one of the fire pits on the way.
More details for Rondos Alpine Playland here.
You can also pay for single rides on the summer toboggan.
Photo story of trail
From the top of the Mostelberg gondola, follow the road/path to your right. Note that the yellow trail signs sometimes are labeled Panoramaweg and Erlebnispfad, older names for the trail. In any case, follow signs back to Mostelberg, which is where the gondola is.
When the road ends and trail splits, take the right fork that wraps around the hill and heads into the forest. Below is the start of the trail.
The trail enters the forest and passes a couple picnic spots with fire pits and wood.
There are several interactive stations along the trail, including the little barefoot path.
At this station, you look through each spy-glass and try to spy the animal cutout in the woods. The kids will need help to reach each one.
After leaving the forest, you’ll get this view.
My kids loved this hamster wheel that makes a tune while it spins and hits a series of bells.
After about 1.3 km, you’ll pass this restaurant. The trail forks here, stay to your left.
Look to your right and you’ll get this view of Rigi.
Back in the forest, you’ll see a few bizarre sculptures.
Another educational station below, where you can listen to nature through this megaphone, or something like that. The trail starts to climb at this point and my boys got really tired in the heat. The shady parts were in short supply for awhile.
As you round the bend, you’ll see view of the Mythen peaks.
At about 2.8 km, you’ll pass a farm that has a cooler filled with yogurt and milk drinks. We were so happy to come across this and guzzled down a few strawberry milks while relaxing in the shade. There’s just a change box, so bring some coins to drop in.
Here’s the highest point of the trail at 3.4 km.
It’s all downhill from here, through the valley on a road back to the gondola.
At about 4.1 km, you’ll find this fire pit with wood.
This picture shows the valley you’re walking through as seen from the gondola.
Right after you pass the Herrenboden lift in the valley, a smaller trail breaks off to the right, leading to the suspension bridge. This trail is called the BrückenRUNDweg. Strollers can do the trail, strollers can only go in one direction over the bridge (clockwise around the loop), so you’d need to continue on the road back to the gondola.
Below is the suspension bridge. The suspension bridge leads back to the gondola.
11 Responses
This was our first hike in Switzerland as two U.S. college students visiting for the first time, and it was an amazing trail! Even though some aspects were geared towards children, it was so beautiful and a perfect introduction to the Alps. We were especially excited to hike so close to cows haha. Your blog was incredibly helpful in finding a trail and knowing exactly how to get there/when to go – you’re a lifesaver!
Half of the loop trail is now a Geissä Wäg. It’s an interactive quiz trail about goats (in English and German) with the option of taking part in a draw for a prize. It ends at Blüemlisberg and you can buy goat ice cream there. Very good!
Yes, I need to update my post asap with the new Geissa Wäg!!! It’s on my list and hopefully I’ll get that done this summer.
Hi, I wanted to ask if we can walk back to the bottom of the hike instead of taking the gondola back? Thank you.
Yes, there are trails leading down the mountain. Or you could rent one of the mountain scooters instead.
I am diving deep into your website trying to decide on which amazing hikes we should do on our (hopefully!) next spring trip to central Switzerland. All of the information is so well put together with all the details covered, I just wanted to thank you for this great resource! I was excited reading this post that it opens early after feeling disappointed a few times now after finding out so much is closed in the spring. The website says the gondola doesn’t open till June and the amusement park till July. But you went in April. Have I misread something or maybe was it just this year because of covid? Or do you know if they have changed the opening time? Thanks for your help!
Glad you are finding the blog helpful! You are correct about the 2020 opening times for Sattel. Because of Covid, they couldn’t open until mid-June in 2020. Let’s hope it’s not the same in 2021. I’ve been there several times in late April. It’s always one of the first to open for summer season. I would check back on the times in February. In the meantime, have you looked at my spring guides: https://swissfamilyfun.com/spring-switzerland/
Hi Tanya!! We had an amazing time today, despite the overcast weather. My daughter loved doing the tobbagon by herself! We took advantage of the unlimited rides and went down SEVEN times!! The jumpy houses and bridge were so much fun too. Thanks again for another great recommendation with lots of photos and a detailed description:)
I love hearing your trip report! So glad you had a good time. It was probably good you went on an overcast day, less people. Wishing you many more happy adventures.
First of all, thank you for sharing with us all your hikings. You are doing a very nice job!!!!
Do you think this hike is suitable for children from 2 to 3 years?
Thanks.
Hi Maria. Thank you for the nice compliment! We went to Sattel today and we saw lots of toddlers there. They will need supervision of course, but lots of parents were taking their toddlers on the alpine slide and tubing slide and helping them around the bouncy castles. I’d recommend going early in the day. It tends to be less crowded from 10 to 12:00, then everyone who went on a hike in the morning fills up the amusement park. I hope you enjoy it.