Erlebnisweg Obersee: Rapperswil - Lachen

At the Visitor Center of Rapperswil Zürichsee Tourismus you get your discovery backpack.

Then set off from the Visitor Center to the OST – Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences. There you can meet the Student. To get to her, you have to push your bike because cycling is prohibited on the beach path section. Around OST there is a playground and many sports facilities (exercise equipment, slackline, beach volleyball).

Now the path leads you back and over the Seedamm towards Pfäffikon. On your left, you will see the longest wooden bridge in Switzerland and in front of you on the right, the two islands Lützelau and Ufnau appear. You also pass the Dreiländerstein to your right in the lake.

In the middle of the Seedamm in Hurden, you reach a traffic light. Now turn onto the hiking trail (turn right). Along the way, you will find a very beautiful and spacious picnic and playground area.

Tip:

• If you want to dine fine and elegant, make a detour to the Hotel Restaurant Rössli in Hurden. Beautiful place with a garden terrace directly on the lake.

Before the entrance to the Seefeld inn, keep right and go through the underpass. By the way, you are in the Frauenwinkel nature reserve. Various info panels provide you with information about flora and fauna.

Now continue straight ahead to the SEEDAMM PLAZA hotel. Take the underpass there to get under the railway tracks to the hotel.

You can take a break at Seedamm Plaza and treat yourself to some culinary delights. If you do not yet have a discovery backpack, you can also get it there.

Tips:

• If you want to spend some time in Pfäffikon, we can recommend cooling off at the public pool or having fun swimming in Alpamare, the largest water park in Switzerland.
• For those interested in culture, the Vögele Cultural Center offers multimedia exhibitions on relevant everyday topics.

From Seedamm Plaza, head to the main road. Unfortunately, you have to cycle on the main road until the beginning of the municipality of Altendorf as there is no alternative cycle path. Attention: this road is heavily trafficked.

Follow the main road to the height of Lidwil until you reach the pedestrian crossing. There cross the zebra crossing and switch to the hiking trail. After about 200 m, you will meet our Edward Quinn.

Continue on the hiking trail past the pump track towards the public pool Altendorf. Next to the pump track, directly by the lake, there is a barbecue area with tables.

If you want to cycle, you now have to switch to the main road because cycling is forbidden on the next approx. 300 m of hiking trail. We recommend you push your bike now and stay on the hiking trail until the public pool Altendorf. After the pool, cycling is allowed again.

Further ahead you will meet the Countess of Altendorf. From her spot, you have a magnificent view of Rapperswil Castle and the lake.

At Knobel bakery awaits the Schlipfloch Witch. For this, you have to leave the hiking trail via the bridge towards the main road.

Tip:

• If you have time, a detour to Seestatt Altendorf, a place of historical significance, is worthwhile. Occasionally, a ZSG scheduled ship or the Obersee ferry docks at the pier.

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If after the pump track you switched to the main road (recommended only for experienced cyclists because of heavy traffic), follow it to Knobel bakery. The Schlipfloch Witch awaits you there. You can refresh yourself and gain strength for the onward journey.

From Knobel bakery, cycle towards Seestatt. After the railway bridge, you find the Countess of Altendorf.

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Cycle on the main road to Engelhofstrasse (approx. 50 m). There turn left and cycle under the railway line to the railway path. Follow this path to the main road and continue on route 32 towards the lake. In Lachen, ride past the Holy Cross parish church onto the old schoolyard towards Seeplatz and the harbor. If you come via the main road towards Lachen: at the roundabout, go straight ahead and onto route 32 towards the lake. In Lachen, ride past the Holy Cross parish church onto the old schoolyard towards Seeplatz and the harbor.

On Seeplatz you will discover the composer Joachim Raff and the Raff archive.

At Marina Lachen, you can end the day with a wonderful view of the harbor and lake.

Congratulations! You have completed a stage. 

Tips:

• If you have enough time, we recommend a detour to the Lachen Sycamore. There you will find the Great Crested Grebe.
• Or treat yourself to a cool down at the public pool Lachen.

• Bicycle equipment
• Water bottle

By SBB from Rapperswil station, Pfäffikon station or Lachen station

• SBB timetable

• You are partly on cycle routes 32, 9 and 99 (Heart Route) and hiking trail 84 from SchweizMobil.
• Please be considerate between hikers and cyclists on the hiking trails.
• Please note: On the beach path near the OST there is a ban on cycling on the beach path.
• You can of course also start the route in Lachen and cycle to Rapperswil
• Drop-off points for the discovery backpack:
  • Rapperswil-Jona: Visitor Center Rapperswil Zürichsee Tourismus
  • Pfäffikon SZ: Hotel Seedamm Plaza
  • Lachen: Marina Lachen

The path will be equipped with more characters or members of the secret society by the end of 2022. So it's worth setting out on the route from time to time.

Currently, you can discover along this route:

• Student
• Edward Quinn
• Schlipfloch Witch
• Countess of Altendorf
• Great Crested Grebe (with detour)