Experience the unique panoramic hike from Halsegg to Wildspitz on the border of Canton Zug and Schwyz.

Text and pictures Marc Gottwald

• – Barbecue sites with wood are available on the Wildspitz hike.
• – In summer, the Wildspitz mountain inn is open (note opening hours). This means that it is not only a restaurant, but you can also spend the night here.
• – Unique panorama with views of the Rigi and the Jungfrau.

Duration of Wildspitz hike: approx. 2.5 hours
Difficulty: easy-medium (one passage with ladder. There is also another variant without ladder).
Metres in altitude: 300 metres ascent

Golden sunrise panoramic hike up the Wildspitz

You take a deep breath. A few more steps and the grey, dense fog turns into a pink-red sea of mist. It looks as if it has caught fire and is burning brightly. You are beaming with joy. Happy hormones are flooding you non-stop. “Wonderful! Fantastic! Indescribable! “you say overjoyed to your colleagues with whom you are hiking towards the Wildspitz.

And now you realise what you have gone through all this trouble for. This morning, when you were torn out of bed and wanted to kick the alarm clock flat.

Yes, let’s be honest about that. A sunrise hike is not for everyone. Or let’s put it that way. At least not for late risers.

Especially not if you have to get up at 4.30 a.m. in the winter months, and even earlier in the summer. But you don’t have to, because this hike to the Wildspitz is a pure panoramic experience at (almost) any time of day. But it is still recommended that you take on these exertions. You will be grateful, I promise!

Adventurers and bon vivants love just such experiences as the hike up the Wildspitz on the border of Canton Zug and Schwyz.

By car to Halsegg

By car, you drive to Halsegg above Lake Ägeri. Unfortunately, this place cannot be reached by public transport. Early in the morning you can choose your parking space for the “Wildspitz Hike” like a king. As there is also a restaurant and the Dufour Museum at Halsegg, free parking spaces become rare as the day progresses.

Then it’s off with the sunrise dream hike up the Wildspitz.

Packed with warm tea, coffee and everything else your heart desires early in the morning, you and your comradeship march off in the dark.

With the torch lit, all you see are trees and fog. Let’s face it, there are nicer things. “What would it look like without fog?” you ask your friends curiously.

A rustle in the forest

Again and again you hear the rustling of a deer, stag or fox. Curious, you look into the forest, but see nothing. Nevertheless, you sense that nightlife still has the mountain in its grip. Not for long, because the pure march time to the summit called Wildspitz is only 1h 15 min. But in this time, around 300 metres of altitude are covered to reach the breathtaking destination, the Wildspitz.

It is a steep climb. You need to be sure-footed and free from vertigo for the circular hike you are doing. A ladder even makes it easier for you to climb a high rock.

Yes, this hike is definitely something for adventurers. But don’t worry, the easier option would be to take the same route as the way back on the way there. This way, even people with a fear of heights can reach the Wildspitz without any problems.

And slowly it gets lighter, the birds start to whistle and chirp. “Time is running out, but we’ll keep at it,” you tell your friends. After all, you want to experience the whole sunrise on the Wildspitz from the beginning. You make it over the fog cover and see a wonderful sea of fog, illuminated in pink. Indescribably beautiful. It’s only a few metres to the top. We made it!

Indescribable moment on the Wildspitz

At first you think of nothing, take a deep breath and enjoy the sunrise with your friends overlooking this wonderful dream scenery. The Mythen, the Rigi, even the famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau present themselves in the most beautiful light. You’d almost think they’d dressed up especially for a photo shoot with you.

After a few photos, you unpack the picnic. A breathtaking retreat. Only two or three people get lost here, the Wildspitz belongs to your friends and you alone. During the day, more people flock to the mountain. That’s why the mornings are especially beautiful for those seeking peace and quiet, adventurers and photographers.

After a delicious breakfast and enjoying the warming rays of the sun, you continue hiking along the ridge (Gratwanderung) back to Halsegg. This section only takes 50 minutes, but is also steep in parts.

Passing a fireplace where you could also barbecue with a magical view, you discover the rock type “conglomerate” on the way down. Almost the entire upper part of the mountain consists of Nagelfluh. This indicates sedimentary deposits from the Alps, which were additionally formed by the glaciers a good 15,000 to 500,000 years ago.

After 50 minutes on the dot, you reach the car park on Halsegg. There is still the possibility to visit the only Dufour Museum in Switzerland.

Alternative route: Arth-Goldau – Gnipen – Wildspitz – Sattel

There are various ways to hike up to the Wildspitz. The most leisurely option is probably the previously described hike “Halsegg – Wildspitz”. If you would like to do a longer hike, you are more than welcome to join us.

The second variant takes about 5.5 hours and has an ascent of about 1200 metres in altitude. It starts in Arth-Goldau and goes along the Goldau landslide to the first peak, the Gnipen. On a Sunday in summer there are quite a few people here.

But the view of the Rigi and the surrounding Swiss Alps is phenomenal. Also exciting to know: Like the Wildspitz, the Gnipen also marks the border between Canton Schwyz and Canton Zug.

Since the mountain is quickly snow-free at around 1500 metres, the hike can be done as early as mid to late April, depending on the year. However, please check with the local tourist office beforehand.

The last 1.5 kilometres from Gnipen in the direction of Wildspitz run along a ridge. It is half in the forest, half with a great panoramic view. During the hike from Arth-Goldau to the Wildspitz you will see beautiful orchids again and again. These wild plants are now strictly protected and very rare.

Now you have made it! After this climb with so many metres in altitude, you deserve to have something to eat. The Wildspitz mountain inn is the perfect place for this.

After a break and enjoying the great view of the Rigi and, on a good day, even the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, the descent begins. First in the direction of Halsegg, where theoretically another restaurant awaits you. Then the last stretch to Sattel-Hochstuckli. Here you can start your journey home by public transport.

Conclusion Wildspitz Hike

Hiking up the Wildspitz is quite something. The panoramic view of the Rigi and the surrounding mountains is simply breathtaking. Especially at sunrise, it is worth visiting the Wildspitz on the border between the cantons of Zug and Schwyz. The more leisurely option is definitely number 1 with only 300 metres of ascent and a hiking time of about 2.5h.

But the second variant is also very rewarding, simply less strenuous. Either way: the Wildspitz hike is a highlight.