Chilchsteine
Description
From Alpnach, you initially climb up the little road to Lütoldsmatt. Eventually you reach Deneten, where the route continues on a gravel path to Fräkmünt. The increasingly rough path rides up to the Chilchesteine Pass below the Pilatus summit. At 1865 meters above sea level, the pass is the highest point of the tour, and now the descent begins. The single trail to Matt and further along the tracks of the Pilatus Railway is very technical, steep in places and interspersed with many hairpin bends, especially in the upper section. At Ämsigen you reach the forest, where the trail continues in the same style, but becomes increasingly smoother. At the lower edge of the forest, the route turns into a forest road, which you follow to the left for a few meters and then head north of Widibach on a singletrail downhill to Niderstad. You return to Alpnach along the lakeshore and on designated cycle paths.
Map & GPX-Track
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Details of the tour
22 km
1430 m
1430 m
431 above sea level
1852 above sea level
1 day
Alpnach
Alpnach
1272
not suitable
More information
More tours nearby
User comments (7)
About the author: Thomas Giger
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.
Rode on 12.07.2025, with Biobike.
The ascent is moderate at the very beginning, but very steep from the halfway point. From the last remaining 300 meters in altitude, the ground becomes so steep and impassable (loose, coarse gravel) that there are pushing passages. You can then carry your (organic) bike up the hiking trail for the last 150 meters. Although it is only around 1,500 meters in altitude, it is very hard work.
The way down... if I had to describe it in just one word, it would be "serpentine". Most of the descent is down countless narrow hairpin bends in steep terrain. The rock typical of the entire region makes a controlled ride quite difficult (rough, misshapen and loose boulders that make the tires salsa dance), but requires it all the more (circling around countless blocked spots). In other words: there is no flow at any time, precise circling around technical sections is made more difficult by the slippery/unstable surface. Rightly has its 4 out of 6 "riding technique" points.
For me, the highlight was the view of the Pilatus. I didn't think the downhill was worth the uphill effort, but it was still "ok". An XC bike with smooth-running tires would be welcome on the way up, but on the way down it should be an enduro bike with chunky soft tires...
A few more tips
- On a nice weekend, there are a lot of hikers on the downhill section
- From kilometer 8.6 it goes up a rutted hiking trail to the adjoining alpine road. You may be able to avoid this part by turning sharp left at KM 7.1 and then turning right again
- The transfer between the trails from km 17.6 no longer seems to exist. Instead, I went straight down the trail and then left back up the road. The following trail drops significantly compared to the previous part.
Simply awesome. Already ridden 3 times with Biobike. Rode an e-bike today, Aug. 1, 2022. Limits for me in terms of fitness and riding technique.
I'm just so happy that you did it :-)!
On Ascension Friday at 1200 in Alpnach with the idea that few to no hikers are on the way from 1600, has proven itself. Hot at first and fresh on the final ascent to Pilatus Kulm. Still many train tourists at the top. Drinking coffee in the Steinbockbar was a lousy experience with correspondingly bad staff in these mass tourism destinations....
Downhill first rocky and blocked and later rough but flowing. All in all brilliant, trail, landscape & view....will be repeated :-D
The start in Alpnach is pleasant and ideal for warming up. The route soon starts to climb gently uphill on tarmac to Lütholdsmatt. From there it is a natural road with three rather steep climbs up to the Chilchsteine saddle.
From there it's another 210 meters up to the Pilatus, carry it! I just had to get that over with!
Once at the top, the panorama is sensational! You can see the whole of the Central Plateau and the entire Alpine chain. Suuuuuuper!
Then comes the trail to Alpnach. Rough at the start and rocky with slightly rooty sections alternate almost the whole way.
There are also beautiful hairpin bends and the Vierwaldstättersee is always in sight.
From time to time you can also see the Pilatus Railway. In many places you ride down along the steep tracks of the cogwheel railroad.
A beautiful tour, strenuous both up and down.
The video shows you a small impression of the tour.......
https://youtu.be/Ck_dt37zTOc
Checked 2020
the trail from dürren is closed and impassable due to storm damage. it feels like there is a tree in the way every 5 meters.
the path is now passable again!