How to: Pilatus, Switzerland

The view to the panoramic terrace of Pilatus Klum

We wanted to visit this place for a very long time and we kept referring to it as Mount Pilatus. And one weekend we just decided that we have to hop on the car (as usual) and just drive there. Upon arriving we went straight to the Info Center, which is only a few meters away from the parking place, which cost us 5 euro for the whole day. An the reason for this was, that we did almost no research beforehand and knew pretty much nothing about this wonder of nature, hence the amazing photos we were seeing around social media. As it turns out, the whole mountain massif is called Pilatus and it consists of several peaks, the highest of which is named Tomilshorn (2129m). And as we always aim for the highest summit and the most picturesque views, we set off to the Horn of Tomil (loose, and probably not as funny as intended, translation). If you've already checked out something about this place, you probably know that there are many options how to do it. I will list them for you down below, but at my post I'll stick to our experience, mentioning some easier ways, because (as per usual) we chose to do it the hard way.

Almost at the top

We started at Kriens. A sweet small city in the Canton of Luzern. The parking place we found was some 100m away from the Info Center, which is also the first "transport" station we saw. It's called Krienseregg-Fräkmüntegg-Pilatus. I intentionally used quotation marks, because, as you'll find out if you continue reading, there are several, not-very-conventional ways of transportation going on around this attraction. The path starts actually right opposite the station. Or simply put, just follow the gondolas floating above your head. The path meanders in such a way, that from up there, it probably looks like a small snake, slowly crawling through the steep meadows to the top. Yep, that's right, almost the whole hike is ascending. And I'm not going to lie to you, it get even worse the last few kilometers. (Although, to be completely fair, at some point I got a tiny bit jealous, looking at those happy, rested-looking people ,gracefully floating above us, and that contributed to my exhaustion). But, at the end of the day, as always, I was really happy of our choice. We saw so many incredible views and interesting places along the way, that every step was worth it. 

The small church after the big ascending

And still...There was so much left unexplored. If you visit the Pilatus website , you will see for yourself. The path that we followed, took us directly to the Rope Park. It was full of families, friends or couples having fun climbing from one rope to another, sliding through the woods or just having a break. From there, our hiking path became more off-road. At first with many ups and downs, later on mainly up, up, up. The first really challenging ascending part was getting to a small church. It was worth it getting there, as the green wide glade was another great place to have a break, recharge with some food and drinks, before the final "attack" to the top. This last part we hiked hugged almost all the time by the clouds. It was a little bit difficult to see at some parts. But once breaking free from those natural huggers, we faced another "challenge". Namely, not spending enough time marveling the tunnels at the foot of the panoramic terrace of Pilatus Kulm. From here, your two nearest view point options are Esel (2118m) and Oberhaupt (2106m). Then, you can take The Flower Trail, that begins at the opposite side of the restaurant, which will lead you to Tomilshorn (2132m). Remember? That was the highest peak at the Pilatus Massif. For the way down, we decided to try out the rides. It was getting late, and dark and we did a great hike up, so...we deserved a ride home.

The hug of the clouds

Now, let's look at the map and your options for Hiking, Riding and Prices. Generally looking at the region, you have two possible starting points. Those are the towns of Kriens and Alpnachstadt, separated by two lakes - Alpnachersee and Vierwaldstättersee. The boat ride between the two would take you somewhere between 60 to 90 min. 

If you start at Kriens, you will need to ride two Panorama Gondolas (to the stations Kriensregg, followed by Fräkmuntegg) and from there by Aerial Cableway to the Klimsenhorn Kapelle - during our visit, this place was under construction. Then, after a short hike at the foot of Mt. Esel, you will see what's all this fuss about.

The start at Alpnachstadt is for railway enthusiasts, as you'll ride the steepest cogwheel railwail. You will enjoy an amazing ride through mountain tunnels and steep meadows, which will take only 30 minutes.

At the top

I won't discuss the hiking options in details, as there are enough of them for every taste. From short, easy ones to some that would make you sorry for not taking whichever other option. But whatever you choose, just remember what awaits at the end - striking views, a feeling of satisfaction, unforgettable experiences with friends and family, unforgettable moments. This region has very much to offer, take advantage and make great memories!