Has The World’s Steepest Cogwheel Railway - Mount Pilatus
A trip to Mount Pilatus isn’t just a scenic excursion — it’s a blend of adventure, nature, legend, and awe-inspiring beauty.
Our Silver Round Trip journey began in Alpnachstad, where we boarded the world’s steepest cogwheel railway. The train climbed at a jaw-dropping 48% gradient, slowly ascending past rocky cliffs, grazing cows, and fields of wildflowers. As we rose higher, Lucerne shrank below us, eventually disappearing into the mist as we climbed into some clouds.
When we stepped off at the summit — over 7,000 feet above sea level — we were greeted by sweeping Swiss Alps views. Up there, you can simply sit and soak in the silence and grandeur of the mountains, or set off along one of the many rugged ridge trails. There’s also the Dragon’s Path to explore, or you can grab lunch with an unforgettable mountaintop view.
Mount Pilatus is steeped in legend — from dragons with healing powers to tales of Pontius Pilate’s ghost haunting the mountain. I didn’t see any dragons or spirits, but these stories definitely add a mythical charm to the dramatic landscape.
We descended in a gondola, gliding over green pastures and alpine forests to Fräkmüntegg. From there, we switched to the “Dragon Ride” — an aerial cableway with panoramic windows that made the already-stunning views feel even more surreal. From the ground, the cable car looks like it’s hanging by a thread, suspended between sky and mountain. Eventually, we arrived in Kriens, where we met back up with our bus — tired, amazed, and already missing the mountain air.
This is what caught my eye - I hope you enjoy!
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What you should know:
Layered clothing, weather can change fast!
Sunglasses and sunscreen, even in winter
Bring water and snacks.
The mountain itself is not accessible by car; you must park at one of the base stations and use the cable car or cogwheel train to ascend. There is paid parking at both Kriens and Alpnachstad valley station.
Reservations are recommended to book your cogwheel train tickets, especially for weekends and peak hours.
There is both a restaurant and hotel at the top.
Public restrooms are available.
Check website for days and hours of operation.
Location:
Kriens station: Schlossweg 1, 6010 Kriens, Switzerland
Alpnachstad station: Brünigstrasse 2, 6053 Alpnach, Switzerland
Lucerne: The boat tour for the "Golden Round Trip" departs from landing stage 2 in Lucerne city centre, opposite the main railway station.
For more information: Mount Pilatus
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