# Lake Lucerne, Rigi and the Klausen Pass

> 4-day road trip of about 123 km (77 mi) with 9 stops, from Lucerne to Glarus. About 1 h 42 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b14-lucerne-klausen/

**At a glance:** 4-day road trip of about 123 km (77 mi) with 9 stops, from Lucerne to Glarus. About 1 h 42 min of driving in total. Two cog railways to Lucerne’s mountains, then along the lake past Schwyz and William Tell’s Altdorf, and over the Klausen Pass to Glarus.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 123 km (77 mi) |
| Driving | 1 h 42 min |
| Suggested days | 4 |
| Stops | 9 |
| Route | Lucerne → Glarus |
| Countries | Switzerland |
| Updated | June 19, 2026 |

## Route description

From Lucerne drive 12 km south to Alpnachstad and ride the Pilatus cog railway, which climbs gradients of up to 48 percent to the top at 2,128 m. It runs from about May to November; in winter use the gondola and cable car from Kriens instead. Swiss motorways need a vignette, now also sold as an e-vignette online, but the lakeside roads around Lucerne are toll-free.

Next day follow the north shore of the lake to Weggis, a quiet resort with a palm-lined promenade. The cable car to Rigi Kaltbad leaves from the village; from there walk or take the train to Rigi Kulm. The Vitznau cog railway, the first mountain railway in Europe, opened in 1871, runs up the other side. Continue by Brunnen to Schwyz, where the Federal Charter Museum keeps the 1291 alliance document.

Drive along the Axenstrasse above the Urnersee to Altdorf, the town of the William Tell legend, with its statue on the main square. From here, road 17 climbs east through the Schächen valley to the Klausen Pass at 1,948 m. The road is narrow in places, with blind bends and waterfalls, and it is closed in winter, usually from about November to May.

East of the pass, the road drops in hairpins to the Urnerboden, a long flat alpine pasture full of cows in summer. It then falls steeply to Linthal and follows the valley to Glarus, about 60 km from Altdorf. Motorhomes can manage the Klausen road with care, but avoid summer weekends when cyclists and motorbikes crowd it. Lake Lucerne is lovely from May to October.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Lucerne** (Switzerland)
2. **Pilatus** (Alpnachstad, Switzerland): Lucerne’s rugged home mountain, 2,128 m, reached by the world’s steepest cog railway from Alpnachstad (May to November) or by gondola and cable car from Kriens. Short paths lead to viewpoints over the lake.
3. **Weggis** (Switzerland)
4. **Rigi Kulm** (Weggis, Switzerland): The 1,797 m top of the Rigi, looking over Lake Lucerne and a long line of Alpine peaks. Take the cable car from Weggis or the cog railway from Vitznau or Arth-Goldau; no roads go up.
5. **Schwyz** (Switzerland)
6. **Altdorf** (Switzerland)
7. **Klausen Pass** (Unterschächen, Switzerland): A 1,948 m pass on road 17 between Uri and Glarus, with waterfalls on the Uri side and big cliffs above. Closed in winter, usually from about November to May; lay-bys at the top.
8. **Urnerboden** (Spiringen, Switzerland): One of the largest alpine pastures in Switzerland, a flat green valley below limestone walls where hundreds of cows spend the summer. The Klausen road crosses it; small parking areas by the hamlet.
9. **Glarus** (Switzerland)

## FAQs

**How long is Lake Lucerne, Rigi and the Klausen Pass?**
4-day road trip of about 123 km (77 mi) with 9 stops, from Lucerne to Glarus. About 1 h 42 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Lake Lucerne, Rigi and the Klausen Pass?**
We suggest 4 days: about 1 h 42 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Lake Lucerne, Rigi and the Klausen Pass start and end?**
It starts in Lucerne and ends in Glarus.

**Which countries does Lake Lucerne, Rigi and the Klausen Pass pass through?**
Switzerland.