Fronalpstock, Switzerland: Photography and Hiking
Fronalpstock, Switzerland
Fronalpstock is a mountain destination in Switzerland that offers unforgettable panoramic views. It’s located in the municipality of Stoos in the Canton of Schwyz, central Switzerland, overlooking Lake Lucerne with an elevation of almost 2,000 meters.
Getting to Fronalpstock
You can access this world-class view by first taking a cable car to the village of Stoos. This means you will park your car and buy a ticket at the main building. If you’ve entered Fronalpstock in Google Maps, you can’t miss it. The cable car/funicular is the steepest in the world with a slope of 110% so it’s highly recommended! You can also take a ride up from Moscharch, but, personally not recommended.
After you’ve reached Stoos, you have a few options. First, you can board another cable car that will lead you to the main viewpoint of Fronalpstock. You also have the option of taking a cable car in a different direction, towards Klingenstock. For both these options at the main building where you buy your tickets, you will specifically need to mention that you need tickets for both cable cars. More information, advance tickets, and locations are available here. Please pay close attention to the timings of the cable cars. I recall one of them has a last ride time of 4 PM!
Hiking
Another option is to only take the first cable car, then hike from Stoos to Klingentock. Hiking trails here are well-marked. Whether you decide to take the second cable car or hike up, I highly recommend at least hiking from Klingenstock to Fronalpstock, meaning taking the second cable car towards Klingenstock. The hike from Klingenstock to Fronalpstock is one of the best there is. I recommend doing this route specifically because the main viewpoint is towards Fronalpstock. You want to be hiking toward here, slowly leading you to the epic viewpoint and not the other way around. This is known as the Panorama Path, a trail that circles around the summit. This path provides you with stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains, lakes, and valleys. Along the way, there are information boards that provide insights into the local flora, and geology. The hike is about 5 km long in one direction. Of course, in mountainous areas, it’s more about the elevation. I didn’t find the elevation too bad as I took my time. There was a stretch that does have some tough parts, but the beautiful views will distract you.
Photography and additional activities
At the summit of Fronalpstock, there is a restaurant where visitors can indulge in delicious Swiss cuisine while enjoying the incredible views. Additionally, there are restroom facilities and other amenities available to ensure a comfortable visit. The restaurant also has lodging options available, surprisingly affordable at times compared to other options around Switzerland. Where the hotel becomes useful is (especially) for photographers. Fronalpstock can get very cloudy at times due to its altitude and getting a shot you want may be challenging. While I did manage to get photos with no clouds (on a day with plenty of rolling clouds), I had to wait quite a while for the clouds to temporarily disperse. On clear days, it is even possible to see the distant peaks of the Swiss Alps. You can embrace the clouds as well, to provide you with some atmosphere. But when your whole frame is a whiteout, that won’t be an option.
Prepare for cold and windy weather conditions at times as well. In addition, as previously mentioned if you’re planning a day trip here, the last cable car is only until 4 PM. If you’re planning a sunset shot, the hotel makes perfect sense. Furthermore, you’re allowed to fly your drone in the area, following proper drone protocol of course. If you have one, don’t be shy to explore the area with your drone and hunt for those dreamy sunrise and/or sunset shots.
The main viewpoint in Fronalpstock (again, can’t miss it) will provide you with good photos. I recommend trying a little higher and towards the left of the viewpoint. This will provide you a better angle of the sun as well during Golden Hour. On the other side, towards the right of the restaurant is another option.
In terms of lenses, I found my 24-70mm and telephoto lenses to be good options and they were all I needed, mostly the 24-70mm. Personally, I didn’t find much use for the ultra-wide angle here but you may find a spot and frame that makes sense for it.
Drone shot near Fronalpstock
I hope you get the opportunity to visit and enjoy this special location. For me, despite all the beautiful places in Switzerland, this is in the top 3. It’s popular but still quite underrated. Most likely due to its proximity and logistics of accessing the place.
Enjoy!
