The Morgarten Trail Family Guide
- Family Fun Factor
- Apr 23
- 5 min read
5 km hike through the original site of the Battle of Morgarten with 7 storytelling stations, barbecue spots, playgrounds, and a visitor centre
Sattel - Lake Ägeri | Canton of Schwyz (Switzerland)
The Morgarten trail | The "it" factor
What makes it special:
Easy access: Starts in Sattel, next to the church, with parking and train station nearby (no gondola access needed).
Real historical location: You walk through the original site of the Battle of Morgarten (1315), not just read about it.
Audio storytelling along the route: 7 stations with QR codes explain the battle and its context.
Landscape variety: Mix of forest paths, open fields, and lake views at the end.
Family-friendly stops: Playground at the start and end, barbecue spots, and a small visitor centre.
Nice finish: Ends by the lake with a playground and restaurant — easy to turn into a relaxed outing.
Things to consider:
Parking is limited: Small parking area at the start — public transport is often the easier option.
Content is more suitable for older kids: The storytelling is factual and mostly audio-based (often in Swiss German), with limited interactive elements.
Return requires planning: You need to take a bus back — check timings and the correct stop.
Not a panoramic hike_ Views are pleasant but not alpine — more valley, forest, and lake.
Not stroller-friendly: Only the first and last sections are suitable; the forest part can be narrow and slippery.
Don't feel like reading? Watch a video instead!
Morgarten Trail Walk-Through Video
Check out our step-by-step story on Instagram!
The Morgarten Trai | Practical Info
Arrival by car: There is a small Parking next to the Pfarrkirche Sattel, St. Peter und Paul church (Dorfpl. 1, 6417 Sattel), next to the beginning of the hike. Places are very limited.
Arrival by public transport: Take the train to Sattel Train station - and walk back 5 minutes to the start of the hike (Dorfstrasse 35, 6417 Sattel)
Step by step directions:
The path starts next to the Pfarrkirche Sattel, St. Peter und Paul church (Dorfpl. 1, 6417 Sattel)
Follow the Morgarten Pfad signs.
The path ends at Lake Ägeri at the Morgarten Monument (Morgarten Denkmal) with great lake views. From there, you can take a bus back to the starting point (Sattel, Krone) either from Morgarten, Denkmal or walk back to Morgarten, Hotel, where there is a restaurant with a playground and take the bus from there.
Tip: Take the bus from the stop on the same side of the road as the lake (not the side with the monument and restaurants).
From Sattel, Krone bus stop, walk back either to Sattel train station or your car.
The Morgarten Trai | Detailed Info
The fun factor
The Morgarten Trail is a free, 5 km themed family hike, from Sattel to the Morgarten monument at Lake Ägeri. It takes you through the original site of the Battle of Morgarten (1315), one of the most well-known early victories of the Swiss Confederates against the Habsburg army.
It’s a point-to-point hike — you return to the starting point by bus (see practical info for details).
The Battle of Morgarten took place in 1315, when a smaller group of Swiss Confederates ambushed a much larger Habsburg army along this narrow pass between the lake and the mountains. The terrain played a key role — the path was so tight that the Habsburg troops couldn’t properly organise, and the Swiss used the element of surprise to their advantage. It’s considered one of the early moments that shaped Switzerland’s independence. Walking the trail today gives you a good sense of how strategic this location was — it’s not just history on a board, you actually see the landscape where it all happened.
Along the route, there are storytelling stations that explain what happened here and how the battle unfolded. It’s a straightforward way to explore Swiss history as a family — not just reading about it, but experiencing it on location. There are also barbecue spots along the way, a playground, and a small visitor centre, which makes it easy to turn it into a relaxed family outing.
Here are our top 3 Fun Factors of The Morgarten Trail
Listen to the Battle of Morgarten stories
Along the trail there are 7 stations with recordings explaining the history of the Battle of Morgarten.
You scan QR codes and listen to them on your phone.
The content is quite factual, so it’s better suited for slightly older kids. The recordings are done as audio stories (often in Swiss German), and are well produced.
Some stations include small interactive elements, but overall the focus is on listening rather than play — and there are no playgrounds directly at the stations.
2. Explore the museum and visitor center
Along the trail there is a small visitor centre with a simple exhibition about the Battle of Morgarten and its historical context. It’s not a large museum, but it helps make sense of what you see along the trail and adds a bit more depth beyond the audio stations.
There is also a barbecue spot here (although we preferred the one earlier along the trail), and a fun photo opportunity nearby — so it works well as a longer break during the hike.
The trail itself is open year-round, but the visitor centre is closed in winter, so it’s worth checking opening hours in advance.
3. Hit the playground
There is a large public playground right at the beginning of the trail and another one towards the end, next to the hotel Restaurant Morgarten am Ägerisee.
The first one (featured in the picture below) is a good spot for a quick picnic before you start the hike. The one at the end works well as a reward — we paired it with an ice cream break while waiting for the bus back.
The fitness factor
The hike is around 5 km long with about 120 m ascent and 195 m descent, so overall quite manageable for a family hike.
It starts slightly uphill on a concrete path — this part is stroller-friendly.
After that, the trail continues through the forest, where it’s no longer suitable for strollers. Some sections are steeper and can be slippery, so good shoes are a must. It ends with a final straight stretch on a concrete path.
We would recommend this hike for kids who are confident walkers.
It ends on a flat, paved, easy path.
The views factor
This hike is set in the valley, so you won’t get classic alpine views. Instead, it’s a mix of open fields and a really beautiful forest section. It ends by the lake, where the views open up again and are especially nice. Not dramatic, but still very enjoyable — we were pleasantly impressed.
The food factor
Barbecue: There are two barbecue spots along the trail: one in the forest and another near the visitor centre. We would recommend the first one: it’s set nicely in the forest, next to a small viewing platform over the lake, and feels more special. The second one, closer to the visitor centre, is right by the parking and road — there’s more space for kids to run around, but it’s less scenic.
Restaurant: There are a few restaurant options along the route: one near the visitor centre — Restaurant Schornen (with limited opening hours), and two at the end — Hotel Restaurant Morgarten am Ägerisee, which has a playground (we stopped here for a well-deserved ice cream after finishing the hike), and Restaurant Buechwäldli, which doesn’t have a playground.
The value factor
This hike is completely free. You just need to pay for the bus to return to the starting point.
More info: Official Website
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