Another place that has been on my watchlist for a long time is the Klewenalp area near Lake Lucerne. Many visitors to Switzerland head for the famous surrounding peaks, such as Rigi, Pilatus, Stanserhorn, and Stoos, but Klewenalp seems to have been somewhat overlooked, despite being included in the Swiss Travel Pass for some time.
In all the time I’ve been creating tailor-made itineraries for clients from all over the world, I’ve never met anyone who wanted to visit this place. And I think that’s a great shame. Especially if you’re traveling with younger children, Klewenalp is worth a visit. Two beautiful playgrounds, a themed children’s trail featuring interactive stations, barbecue and picnic areas, breathtaking views, and restaurants… this place has it all. And as a bonus, in winter it turns into a great family ski resort.
Klewenalp – how to get there
The starting point is the village of Beckenried. It is located 20 minutes by car from Lucerne and less than an hour from Zurich. Take the A2 motorway, exit at Buochs, and continue towards Beckenried. In the village, you will see signs for the cable car to Klewenalp. There is a large car park next to it, with parking costs of CHF 5 per day.
By public transport: take the train to Stans station, then bus no. 311 to the Beckenried, Post stop. From there, it is a 5-minute walk to the cable car station.
Cable car to Klewenalp
The cable car to Klewenalp operates every 30 minutes, and the ride up takes under 10 minutes. During busy periods, the cable car runs continuously. For this trip, you will need a “Wandertageskarte,” (Day hiking pass), which includes not only the cable car ride to Klewenalp and from Stockhütte to Emmetten, but also the post bus between Beckenried and Emmetten.
The Wandertageskarte costs CHF 42 for adults and CHF 21 with a Halb-fare card. In summer 2025, children under 16 accompanied by an adult travel free of charge. Anyone celebrating their birthday travels free of charge on their birthday. The SBB Tageskarte is also valid here.
If you want to ride scooters from Stockhütte to Emmetten, do not buy a wanderticket; instead, purchase a ticket for the ride up and then a separate bus ticket.
The cable car will take you up to an altitude of 1,600 meters. Be sure to stop at the viewing terraces, where you can enjoy the most beautiful views of the lake and surrounding peaks.
Goldi-Gwundernasenweg themed trail
The kids will want to play on the playground anyway, and you’ll have time to enjoy the scenery. This is the first of ten stops on the Goldi-Gwundernasenweg themed trail. It’s free, but two of the stops require you to have a wooden marble with you. If you don’t have your own (e.g., from the Kugelweg Hasliberg or Charmey), you can buy one for CHF 2 at the cable car station.
Once the children have had their fun, you can set off along the wide gravel path towards Stockhütte. On the way, you will pass a charming little mountain church.
If you remembered to buy a marble or have one with you, you can use it at the second station.
At the next signpost, turn right, and the trail begins to descend. When you turn around, you will once again be treated to beautiful views. The trail continues to another restaurant and ski hut, then turns left again. What are lush green slopes at the beginning of June, are ski slopes in winter.
The next stop on the themed trail is near the Berggasthaus Tannibüel restaurant.
The trail continues downhill, and at the signpost, keep left again.
Behind station number 6 (there was also a barbecue area at station number 5), the route splits: the path down to the right is intended for strollers (marked in blue dots on the map).
We continued to the left, and after a few dozen meters of climbing, the trail led us to a viewpoint. This is a great place for a picnic (there is even a fire pit) with amazing views.
Then the path slopes downwards – it is pretty steep and slippery in places due to loose stones. Theoretically, it is passable with a stroller, but definitely one with brakes and suitable for rough terrain.
After station number nine, we can already see our destination – Stockhütte – within sight.
Spielplatz Goldi-Park playground, Stockhütte
The highlight of the hike is a beautiful playground. You will also find a treetop trail here, which is short but well-designed and accessible even for the youngest children. There is even free firewood, a fountain where you can fill your bottle with water, and a barefoot trail.
Of course, you can also enjoy a delicious meal at the Stockhütte restaurant. And as I mentioned in the introduction, you can ride down to Emmetten on “bikeboards.” The price per ride (including helmet rental) is 18 CHF. Children under 12 must ride on a scooter with an adult.
When you get off the cable car, turn right across the parking lot to the bus stop, which will take you back to Beckenried.
Back in Beckenried, you can take a break right by the lake or hop on a boat and enjoy the rest of the day on Lake Lucerne.
Summary
- The route is 5.4 km long and is suitable for strollers.
- There are three fire pits along the route where you can have a picnic (one of them is right on the playground at Stockhütte).
- Don’t forget to bring your wooden marble if you have one. If not, be sure to buy one at the cable car station.
