This easy trail wanders through through meadows, forest and the high moorland of Zugerberg, a low elevation mountain near Zugerberg. You’ll get nice views of Lake Zug and Mt Rigi, as well as the quiet charms of the forest and Swiss pastures.
Along the way, you’ll find a a nice playground, picnic areas and restaurants. This place is a favorite for locals as an easy place to enjoy fresh air and sunshine.
The trail is open year round. If there is snow, most of the trail is groomed with machines so you don’t need snowshoes.
It’s a good budget option, as the funicular is relatively expensive. If you drive, you can skip the funicular and park next to the trail.
💡BUDGET TIP: The Zugerberg funicular is free with the Swiss Travel Pass, Saver Day Pass, and GA..
Quick Info
| Region | Urnäsch, Appenzell region |
| Starting point: | top of Zugerberg funicular |
| By car: | parking at funicular station – Schönegg 31, 6300 Zug From Zürich or Lucerne 35 mins |
| By public transport: | Bus stop: Zug, Schönegg From Zürich or Lucerne 45 mins |
| Trail: | 2h30 • ⬇️trail map |
| Distance: | 9.8 km loop |
| Difficulty: | easy • 150m up & down |
| Condition: | usually snow free, sometimes groomed snow |
| Elevation: | 920m to 1003m |
| Open: | year round • trail status |
| Cost 2026: | funicular return ticket CHF 12/adult |
| Discounts | free with Swiss Travel Pass, Saver Day Pass, GA |
| Services: | restaurants, playground, picnic with fire pits |
| More info: | Zugerberg • weather • webcams |
Gallery
My pics are from our hike in January. It’s much nicer in May when the trees have filled out and meadows full of wildflowers.
Trail overview
This trail starts at the top of the Zugerberg funicular. The full loop follows the red line.
If you are hiking with kids, you can do the shorter loop, which has the Zuggi-Blubbi activities for kids.
You can do this with a stroller if you stay on the road and avoid the sections that go onto a footpath.
Hiking map
This trail map shows the route we prefer.
See map on Komoot • SchweizMobil • OutdoorActive
How to get there
This trail is located near Zug, between Lucerne and Zürich.
You can access this trail with the Zugerberg funicular, located at Schönegg 31, 6300 Zug.
By car:
There is metered parking next to the Zugerberg funicular. But there are only a few spots. If this is full, you can park at Parkhaus Casino and ride the bus here.
You can also drive up to Zugerberg on a one-lane mountain road and park near the trail start. See parking. Some roads leading up to this parking are closed to private vehicles. So make sure to drive via Blasenberg.
By public transport:
Take a train to Zug. Then bus 603 to Zug, Schönegg, which drops directly at the funicular station. The bus goes about every 15 mins.
Planning your day
Funicular timetable
The Zugerberg funicular runs year round. It departs every 30 mins on the XX:26 and XX:56. It is coordinated with the bus departure.
NOTE: Usually in early April, they do maintenance on the funicular and have a more limited schedule. Check website for current timetable.
Costs
You’ll need a return ticket for the funicular. In 2026, a return ticket costs CHF 12/adult.
Free with Swiss Travel Pass, Saver Day Pass and GA. Discount 50% with Half Fare Card and kids.
The Zug Day Pass includes Zugerberg. If you get this ticket, you’ll have also have unlimited travel around the Zug area.
When to go
This trail is possible year round. During winter (Dec – March), this trail is open as a winter trail with groomed snow, if conditions allow.
From March to November, the trail is usually snow-free. The pic below is from mid April.
Where to eat
Next to the funicular station, you’ll find Restaurant Zugerberg with a nice view down to the lake. Near the parking, you’ll find Vordergeissboden. On the trail, there is Restaurant Hintergeissboden.
There are a few picnic areas with fire pits. We like Grillstelle Brand, which has a nice view across the meadows. With kids, better at the Adventure Playground.
There is a public toilet at the far end of the loop at Früebüel.
Photo story of the trail
We parked at the bottom of the Zugerberg funicular and rode up the mountain.
Lovely start with views of the lake.
In winter, part of this trail is the Lanternweg, which has lanterns with inspirational sayings lit up in the evenings. This one says “Laughing is timeless, fantasy has no age, and dreams are for forever.”
In winter, follow the pink trail signs to Früebüel, the far end of the loop.
Trail starts on this dirt service road.
There’s a little uphill. This part can get icy as it’s often in the shade.
Happy to be out of the forest.
Here’s what it looks like in mid April.
Views just getting better the farther we walk.
Looking down to Lauerzersee lake.
Nice benches along the way.
Easy walking on this path.
Cute farm stuff
Reaching the far end of the loop at Früebüel.
There’s parking at this end if you prefer to drive here.
Loop back Früebüel
Now follow signs back to Zugerberg. We cut off a bit of the end of the loop and walked thru this tree promenade.
Last look at Mt Rigi before heading into the forest.
Now the trail leaves the road and continues on a footpath in the forest. This was quite icy in parts.
The forest would be nicer after fresh snow. But still charming in its own way.
This is the Grillstelle Brand picnic area. Great views across the meadow from here.
After this, we accidentally missed the fork left to continue to Zugerberg. We headed uphill on a detour before getting a chance to loop back to Zugerberg. Don’t let that happen to you.
Here’s the playground near the end of the loop.
Make sure to keep the funicular departure times in mind, so you don’t have a long wait. It leaves at XX:26 and XX:56. There is a WC at the station.
Hope you enjoy this walk!
