WanderWunder Schwyz: Circular hike around the Grossen Mythen

The Grossen Mythen offer more than just a summit hike: the circular route around the Schwyz landmark promises fantastic views and wildlife observations. The route starts after the ride with the Rotenfluebahn from the upper station «Rotenflue» towards «Holzegg» and «Zwüschet Mythen». Before the path leads down again via «Günterigs» towards the mid-station «Rätigs» of the Rotenfluebahn, an exceptional view of the mountains and lakes of inner Schwyz opens up.

The hike leads through the «Mythenbann», the oldest hunting reserve in Switzerland dating back to 1492, where depending on the season, wildlife such as chamois, eagles, and marmots can be seen.

Mountain restaurants along the way Between Rotenflue and «Zwüschet Mythen» there are four mountain restaurants along the hiking trail: the Gipfelstubli restaurant on Rotenflue, the Skihaus Holzegg, the Berggasthaus Holzegg, and the alpine inn Zwüschet Mythen.

More ambitious variant with ascent The excursion starts in Rickenbach: with the Rotenfluebahn you go up to «Rätigs», the mid-station, where the hike starts via «Trogeli» over the sheep pasture and through the forest up to «Günterigs». From there, the hike continues with a short steep ascent on a well-developed trail through forest sections and over scree to «Zwüschet Mythen», overcoming about 300 meters of elevation. Then the more relaxing part of the hike begins, where chamois are also most frequently encountered. From the alp «Zwüschet Mythen» the path leads behind the Grossen Mythen towards «Holzegg». With a bit of luck, one can quite often see a family of marmots near Holzegg. From «Holzegg» there follows a final ascent to Rotenflue, where the gondola takes you back down to the valley.

The starting point is Rickenbach ob Schwyz, where both the Rotenfluebahn and the starting point for the hiking variant without the mountain railway are located.

Variant 1: With the gondola directly to Rotenflue. From there on foot via Holzegg - Alp Zwüschet Mythen - to the viewpoint Zwüschet Mythen and over Günterigs to the mid-station of the Rotenfluebahn in «Rätigs».

Variant 2: From the mid-station Rätigs further via Hasli - Günterigs - Zwüschet Mythen - Alp Zwüschet Mythen - Holzegg - on foot back via Hasli - Rätigs - Huserenberg - Rickenbach.

Variant 3: With the gondola directly to Rotenflue. From there on foot via Holzegg - Alp Zwüschet Mythen - to the viewpoint Zwüschet Mythen and back again to Rotenflue or from Holzegg on foot to Rickenbach.