Staying in Beckenried in May: will Axenstrasse be open + activity tips
Debi and Eric are planning a trip around Lake Lucerne in May, staying for four nights in Beckenried. They want to know if the Axenstrasse is closed to auto traffic and are looking for other activities in the area. It's good to check the traffic status before their visit due to potential road closures.
- The Axenstrasse is usually open in May, but check traffic updates as parts may close due to rockfalls.
- Lake Lucerne offers many activities; consider exploring the hiking trails and boat services for travel across the lake.
- The Swiss Travel Pass provides great value for unlimited travel on trains, buses, and boats in the region.
- The local train service and cable cars are good options for reaching tourist spots easily.
- For a quicker route to Luzern, take the bus to Stans and then the train.
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What is the situation with the axenstrasse? Are parts of it closed to auto traffic ? We are planning for a trip around the lake when we visit next May. Also other things we might enjoy in that region. We will be staying four nights in Breckinreid. Thank you Debi anf Eric Stevens
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Hi Debi and Eric, welcome to MySwissAlps!
How lovely that you’ll be staying in Beckenried.
Yes, the Axenstrasse is normally open for traffic in May. It’s a vulnerable route, though, so parts can be closed due to the risk, or the actual occurrence, of rockfalls and landslides. An extensive project over the coming years will result in an entirely new route with more tunnels and with improved safety and accessibility. More about this project: https://axen.ch/
In short, I recommend checking the traffic status shortly in advance: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/car/traffic-info/
There’s lots to do in the Lake Lucerne area. You’ll find suggestions in our Lake Lucerne guide: https://www.myswissalps.com/region/lake-lucerne/
Does this get you started?
Hello Debi and Eric
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
Thanks for your interesting enquiry; and for giving us plenty of time to answer!
First, some notes on place names.
(Get out a good map.)
The lake which most of the world calls Lake Lucerne is known locally as the ‘Vierwaldstätteresee’.
The city known internationally as Lucerne is known locally as Luzern.
The eastern end of Lake Lucerne (the stretch between Brunnen and Flűelen) is referred to locally as the ‘Urnersee’.
The Axenstrasse is the road down the eastern shore of the Urnersee. It is part of the Swiss national road system (it has the number E41), It is open all the year round, but note that a lot of the road is in tunnel. There is no scheduled bus service.
The main Gotthard railway line also runs down the eastern shore of the Urnersee, but most of it is in tunnel.. The village of Sisikon has an hourly train service (and the occasional boat).
There is no road or railway on the western shore of the Urnersee – you will need to take a boat, or hike!
The’Swiss Path’ hiking trail runs from the Rűtli to Brunnen via Flűelen
Lake Lucerne Passenger Boats run 365 days a year.
From mid-April to Mid-October the main line service runs hourly Luzern-Weggis-Vitznau-Beckenried-Gersau-Treib-Brunnen- Rűtli- Flűelen. South of the Rűtli some boats go down the west side via Bauen and Iselten. Others go via Sisikon.
(There is also a car ferry which from April to October shuttles between Beckenried and Gersau every hour.)
Mountain Lines
There is a cable car from Beckenried to Klewenalp, and another form nearby Emmetten to Stockűtte. This year they started their summer season on May 14th.
A bus runs roughly every 30 minutes Stans-Beckenried-Emmetten, and then hourly on to Seelisberg.
From Stans there is a line up the Stanserhorn which I would expect to operate throughout May next year.
Between Treib and Seelisberg there is a funicular which runs all year round. It connects with the boats at Treib and with the buses at Seelisberg.
Other Possible Excursions
Luzern/Lucerne. You can take the boat all the way. But taking the bus to Stans and then the train is usually quicker.
Ticino Canton. Fluelen harbour is about 150 metres from the train station. The boats connect with the Treno Gottardo trains which run hourly over the spectacular old Gotthard railway all the way to Locarno.
Kind regards
Roger
Ps. I wrote this not knowing of moderator Annika’s reply. Obviuosly, note what she says about rock falls!
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