Appenzell

Appenzell is a village and the capital of the Swiss canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden. It has a height of 780m. and lies at the foot of the Alpstein massif. The town of Appenzell lies partly in the district of Appenzell, on Schwende and on the Rüte. Most of the town belongs to the Appenzell district. Because the village belongs to different districts, in the 16th centurycentury The important tasks, such as fire brigade, building police or energy and water supply, are carried out via the special community that was founded for this purpose.

Appenzell as a village is a tourist center in the Appenzellerland and is considered the starting point for many hiking routes in the Alpstein area from the northern side.

Appenzell presents an image that shows its influence on buildings after 1560, the period after the fire. Its special character comes from the colorfully painted wooden houses with their curved or broken gables, which are known as the most original houses on the main street. The “Kreuz” and “Raben” houses are particularly notable for this unique style.

Hiking in Appenzell

The Alpstein is made up of gentle hills and rocky mountain ranges. There are a variety of presentations to discover for hiking fans. Total 1.200km.Hiking trails represent a wonderful landscape that leads past waterfalls, mountain lakes and beautiful peaks. The king of the Alpstein, namely the Säntis and many other mountain heights are waiting for you to see for yourself in the Appenzell region. Here you can choose one or more of the top 10 hiking routes.

1-      Ebenalp – Schifler – Meglisalp – Seealpsee – Wasserauen

The route starts at the cable car mountain station on Ebenalp. Right at the beginning you have the opportunity to take a 15-minute detour to the Wildkirchli and the prehistoric caves. Using this option, we hike past the east of the rock face, along a wooden gallery, to the Äscher mountain inn. The mountain inn has a very spectacular view thanks to its buildings built on the rock face. We then take the same route back to Ebenalp.

After this detour, we walk uphill on the path in front of us to the Ebenalp mountain inn and from here always uphill across the alpine meadows to the Chlus. A steep climb on the well-developed hiking trail on the southern slope takes us along to the Schäfler mountain inn. As soon as we reach the summit, we can enjoy the fantastic panoramic view of the highest mountains of the Alpstein, the Pilatus over the Napf and the Feldberg up to the Zugspitze and even further down Lake Constance.

We continue along the south walls of the shops and the Altenalp towers on a secured path, down over the Altenalpsattel, from approx.300m. downhill with the view of Seealpsee. Because there is a wide and high view here, you should have a head for heights. We continue hiking along the Steckenberg and over the Upper Mesmer. Here we reach the Mesmer mountain inn. It's worth planning a stop here to strengthen yourself for the steep climb ahead.

Now we come to the steepest and most demanding part of the route. You definitely need to have a head for heights and be sure-footed. We are on the T4, which should not be walked in wet and snowy conditions.

We go approx.250 meters of altitude in a zigzag around the very steep rocky path over the Ageteplatte, on the path that is secured with wire ropes. At the height of Rossmad, in the heart of the Alpstein, you have a magnificent view of the Säntis. From here you can see the alpine huts of Meglisalp and we zigzag back down to the Meglisalp mountain inn.

From Meglisalp we go downhill via Kreuzböhl and reach Seealpsee. On the way we continue past the Seealpsee mountain inn and the Forelle mountain inn to Wasserauen, the end point of the route.

2-    Bridges and ravines near St.Gallen

We start at Haggenschlössli and walk on the marked bridge path St. Galler to the Haggenbrücke, with its 355m. Length and approx.100m. Height above the sitter. The Sitter Bridge spans the river in the Kubel before it flows into the Urnäsch. The Südostbahn and SBB trains each run high up on a viaduct. Now we leave the St. Galler Brückenweg over the Urnäsch Bridge and first climb steeply uphill to Rumpfenegg, then downhill to Stösselbach and to the old Urnäsch Tobelbrücke.

Here in the hamlet of Moos we turn sharp left, go through the Rachentobel from the Sonderbach and on meadow paths to the village of Stein with its well that provides spring water. After we have descended to the Sitter, we walk along the path along the beautiful bank, uphill to Niederteufen and downhill again to the Wattbach, where we come to one of the Zweibrucken. On the large Hüsli Bridge we cross the path in front of us and continue on below the Haggen Bridge. Now we cross the Sitter and come back to Haggen accompanied by the Alpine view of the “Ganggelibruck”.

3-    On the high path from Egg

The Eggen high trail offers a very surprising panorama of the Appenzellerland. Our starting point is at Stein AR, where the Appenzell Folklore Museum is located. Following the cemetery and between the church we reach the hiking trail, the cultural trail of Appenzellerland. We follow this route to our destination Trogen.

The route initially descends via Böhl into the Sittertobel and shortly afterwards we come to the so-called. Bathing place where we cross the sitters. Uphill, on the opposite side of the slope, we walk uphill to Gmünden and on a less steep path to the Capuchin monastery in Wonnenstein. We reach the village square of Teufen via the Rotbachtobel and briefly uphill to the high path in Eggen. Here we have a delightful view of the hilly landscape of Appenzell and the magnificent Alpstein massif on the horizon. At Oberhorst we walk a bit uphill, accompanied by the wonderful view of the Fürstenland and Lake Constance. We then go down to Vogelinsegg and walk on the ridge to Holderschwendi. We reach the destination of the hike, Trogen, the rural community via Speicher and Witi. Here you should pay attention to the magnificent stone palaces built by the Zellweger family in the 18th century. Century were built.

4-    Stauberen – Zwinglipasshütte – Wildhaus

The route starts at the Stauberen mountain station, which can be reached by cable car from Frümsen. We start hiking over the Saxerlücke, at an altitude of 1650m. and further along the Kreuzbergen, over Roslenalp. Here it is worth taking a detour to the Mutschen, which is 2122m. is high, on the Mutschensattel at 2069m. height and over the Chreialpfirst to the Zwinglipass hut at 1999m. Height If there is a clear view here, you can get a view from the hut from the Piz Palü to the Mönch, including the Alvier area and the Churfirsten in the foreground.

There are many caves in the Zwingli Pass karst area, which are being explored by a group from the “Eastern Swiss Society for Caving (OGH)”. Many of the caves are shaft caves with very large dimensions and one of the caves is an ice cave.

A steep descent from the Zwinglipasshütte, starting at 900 meters above sea level, takes us to Alp Tesel, at 600 meters above sea level and to the Wildhaus at 300 meters above sea level. At the end of the route we follow the path over the Teselalp and go through the Flürentobel to Wildhaus.

5-    Spear of Amden

Our challenging route begins with the ride in the Mattstock chairlift. When we arrive at the mountain station, we walk along the hiking trail to the east, across the Strichboden alpine pastures and along the Gäudighütte to the Hintere Amdener Höhi. This raised moor landscape will impress you with many beautiful pine trees.

The path takes us west and goes along the north side of Mattstock. Above Alp Vordermatt we continue to Alp Oberkäsern and reach a mountain restaurant with a warehouse that serves us delicious meringues with a side of hand-whipped cream.

We climb a steep zigzag uphill for approx.45 minutes to the striking summit at 1950m. The unique panorama gives us a view that extends from the Glarus, Schwyzer and Graubünden Alps across Lake Zurich and the Lake Constance area. After enjoying the rest at the summit, we take the same route down to Oberkäsern and choose the opposite direction from the way there. We walk around the Mattstock massif southwestwards and over Alp Hintermatt to Blaggenboden, where we turn over the alpine path into the small hiking road, reach the Durschlegi viewpoint and return to Amden.

6-    Brülisau – Sämtiser See – Hoher Kasten

In Brülisau, a quiet little street leads us from the Kasten cable car along old wooden houses into the valley, in the direction of Plattenbödeli, to the rocky crown of the Hoher Kasten. A forest path begins under the Sigelwand, behind the last house, which leads us past the roaring Brüelbach and through the Brüeltobel.

On a path we reach the Plattenbödeli inn, which is at an altitude of 1279m. high hilltop. Past the chapel and just behind the refreshment stop we go downhill to Sämtiser See, at 1209m. Height We continue along the picturesque lake shore towards Hoher Kasten. A trail rises from a pasture hollow through clearings, where we soon branch off onto a forest path. On this forest trail we reach Alp Grueben at 1370m. Altitude meters

In a zigzag, after the pasture slope we have to overcome a steep forest. Now a Rätikon panorama awaits us on the southernmost Alpstein mountain fold. Here we pass the huge summit wall below, which may have given rise to the name Hoher Kasten. On the rocky north spur (secured with wire ropes) we carefully walk to the revolving restaurant with an alpine flower garden and a transmitter on the summit. Here you have a view that extends to the Allgäu Alps and Silvretta.

Our direct descent takes place over the spur and from the box saddle. We hike under the rocky bulwark in the direction of Brülisau over the Alpsteig windings through the loose forest and arrive on a trail over cattle pastures to the Ruhsitz mountain inn. After stopping for a break, we hike back to Brülisau on the paved hiking trail.

7-    On the backdrop of the Säntis

Our route starts in Urnäsch, Steinfluh at the post bus stop. We follow the main signpost and hike in the direction of Spitzli/Petersalp. After 70m. we turn left and walk along the path in the direction of the mountain. Here you have to be careful not to follow the road, but to hike up on the left side of the ridge. When you arrive in Ober Gerstengschwend, it's worth taking a break at the alpine huts because of the beautiful view.

We then walk steeply uphill across the alpine pastures, turn left and climb up to Spitzli. When we arrive at the summit cross, the summit book is waiting for us, packed in a weatherproof package. We look far across Lake Constance, to the summit of the Alpstein and to the Alps. Now we go back the same way to the Gschwendsattel. Then we continue straight on in the direction of Hoch Petersalp/Kronberg. Our path continues uphill across the alpine pastures to Hoch Petersalp. Now we reach the highest point of the hike, an altitude of 1569m. over sea.

We continue hiking below the alpine hut towards Kronberg, which leads over soft forest paths and through blueberry bushes. This path takes you down to Alp Grossbetten. As soon as we see a signpost on the right in front of us, we follow the direction of Kronberg/Langälpli and continue straight ahead until we follow the sign and go downhill to the right to Chammhalde/Schwegenalp.

We follow the gravel path to the right and go down to Langälpi. We then walk along the road above the stable and follow the direction of Riglen/Steinflue. We hike slowly and always downhill through the Bruggerwald until we turn right onto Alte Schwägalpstrasse and continue hiking to Steinflue and end our tour.

8-    Goldach – Eschlen – Eggersriet

Our hike begins at the train station at the roundabout in Goldach. Here we continue on the ascending one-way street following the signpost “Eschlen”. We hike along a small, quiet road along the highway into the Witenwald. The road leads us further to two farmhouses, where we have a beautiful view over the German shore of Lake Constance.

From the Eschlen Weiler we climb on the traffic-free mountain road in the direction of Spitze, up to the Alpenau. We pass this on the right side and follow a lane on the flat forest path, before the farm road, in the direction of the peaks. A pedestrian path leads us gently downhill to the village of Eggersriet and we stop here.

After the stop, follow the sign “Iltenried” on a forest hiking trail downhill to the Sennweid farms, where we join the road. Our next destination is the forest tavern to the old castle. Behind this castle we continue on the lonely, unmarked forest path that runs downhill between horse pastures and a ravine. After Iltenriet we continue on the road through the desert of Bettleren, past a pond with the decorated Sulzberg castle estate to the starting point in Goldach.

9-    Swiss Rheinspitz

We start the relaxing hike at the Landgasthof Schiff in Buriet. We walk through the railway underpass in the direction of Rheinspitz to the forest nature trail in Buriet. A farm road leads along a strip of alluvial forest past two black poplars, the oxbow areas of the former Rhine. We walk along the bank on a hiking trail to the Swiss Rheinspitz, which is located on the outskirts of Altenrhein.

Through the nature reserve we find an educational hiking trail in the direction of Staad. On the fen we come to the habitat for rare flora and fauna, which is of great national importance. At the sign “Jägerhaus” in Altenrhein we go to the harbor with the park, follow the signpost after the Jägerhaus restaurant and continue towards Staad. At the end of the village we take the farm road where we touch the lake shore again.

Arriving in Staad we turn off onto the Blattenweg and walk along the houses of Blatten into the Buechen district.The “Fuchsloch” sign directs us onto a forest path that offers us a nice view of the lake over the small ridge.

In the forest we come to the blocked entrance at the Fuchsloch under the small sandstone wall and walk along the farm path over the railway. Shortly behind this we turn onto a path that takes us along the Seegraben through a wetland from the former Buechsee. Shortly afterwards we arrive back in Buriet on a small road.

10- Am Walensee: Weesen – Quinten

We start our tour at the “Weesen See” post bus stop and continue on the main road to Fli. We continue hiking through a few tunnels on a small road that is partly carved into a rock and is just above the water level. We then arrive at the historic Strahlegg watchtower, where we have a fantastic 360° panoramic view.

Here we continue via Betlis to Vorderbetlis and turn left onto the path to the Seerenbach Falls, where from 600m. Height the water falls on several steps. Another water spectacle awaits us on the next viewing platform.

We hike back to the main route on the same path and reach over 200m. long climb to the Seerenwald.On the first section, we walk on the beautiful, wide path for a while and then hike steeply and stony uphill on the secured path. Then it goes downhill again to the car-free village of Quinten. Here we take a short tour of Quinten and follow the same route to the end point.

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