Appenzell Switzerland Hiking
/Hiking in Switzerland: Alpstein Edition
Alpstein Hikes
In the following section, I’ll be writing about my two favorite Alpstein hikes in Appenzellerland. Jake and I explored this region in July of 2020 and have picked these two must-hikes to inspire your future travels.
Are you looking to become more sustainable in your travel practices? Consider checking out my ecotraveller packing guide and this carbon offset guide for more information on eco-travel.
Alpstein Hikes // Hike to Seealpsee Lake
In Short: 7 kilometers, 3 hours, family-friendly but with harsh uphills and downhills
A Bird’s eye view of Seealpsee
Where to Begin // The lake can be reached in about an hour and a half from the Wasserauen train station but there are two options to begin this hike. The first is heading up an easy paved path at the end of the village and the other, more scenic but also exerting, is taking a dirt trail off to the left-hand side—which is the one we took on the way up!
Hiking Duration & Difficulty // The distance is about 7 kilometers and without breaks, walking the loop to the lake and back takes about 3 hours. This hike is not difficult but it is strenuous because of the ascent. The trail is very well clean, well maintained, and clearly signed.
A Close-up view of Seealpsee
The hike up to Seealpsee through the forest path
Hike to Seealpsee Lake // Itinerary
Seealpsee is one of the most beautiful lake of the Alpstein region. This Alpstein hike begins steeply and crosses a forest of towering trees. On the way, we stopped at a small waterfall to snap a couple of shots before winding up the last stretch of steep steps that, ultimately, plateaued in an incredibly picturesque alpine pasture which leads to the lake. The direct route, which we took on the way down, is also beautiful but it is paved almost the entire way through.
The hike up to Seealpsee through the forest path
Making adorable friends on the way up
Once we made it to the lake we decided to take the 2 kilometers scenic trail that circles it. As you walk around the lake, you will get different perspectives and find new reflections for some great photos. Alternatively, renting a rowboat from the Seealpsee Berghaus costs about 5 euros for 30 minutes and could be a fun way to explore the lake. For the more adventurous souls, you could even take a dip into the lake! Don’t forget to bring a towel or a blanket if you’d like to set yourself up on a little corner of the lake.
A view on the looping trail around seealpsee
The hike back down to Wasserauen train station takes about one hour and a half and can be very strenuous on the knees. Make sure you plan in advance not to finish in the dark!
Alpstein Hikes // Hike to Schäfler Ridge and Schäfler Hut
In Short: 8 hours, (-2 hours and a half with the cable car), family-friendly hike but with harsh uphills & downhills
View of Schäfler Ridge From the trail
Where to Begin // Wasserauen is the start point for the Schäfler Hut hike and is easily accessible by train, van, or car. There are plenty of parking spaces there, but if you are planning to hike on a weekend, I do advise you to come in early to make sure that you can secure a spot close to the trailhead while also avoiding some of the madness of the mid-morning hiking rush.
On the hiking trail up to Schäfler Ridge
a view of Schäfler Ridge, walking past the first viewpoint
Hiking Duration & Difficulty // The total hiking time up to Schäfler Hut from Wasserauen is of about 3 to 4 hours at a moderate pace and although the hike has an over a thousand-meter incline, there are no challenging or dangerous sections and the trail is very accessible for children and dogs.
Green Wanderlust tip: If you’re not feeling the 8-hour hike, you can also take the cable car up to Ebenalp, which will reduce your ascent time by about 2 hours and a half. If I remember correctly, the cable car costs about 25 euros per person, one way.
Hike to Schäfler Ridge // Itinerary
As you can see in the map below, there are many different ways to hike up to the ridge, and even if you don’t follow our itinerary exactly, trust that you’ll be gifted some amazing views regardless. The whole region is magical! Here is the overview of our hike:
OUR ROUTE
Begin in Wasserauen
Take the cable cat up to Ebenalp
Enjoy the Ebenalp viewpoint
Continue further to Fuessler viewpoint
From there, ascend to Chlus following the ridge
Continue to reach Schäfler Hut
Head over the hill and explore Schäfler Ridge
Make sure you check out Ascher Cliff Restaurant either on the way up or down. This restaurant made it on the cover of National Geographic one year and since then has become a true landmark of the region.
snapped on the trail from Ebenalp to Schäfler
on the trail from Ebenalp to Schäfler
Ebenalp sits at 1644 meters above sea level and once you reach the viewpoint, you’ll find a restaurant and a couple of shops. From there, the trail from Ebenalp to Schäfler stretches about 3 kilometers and gets you up another couple of hundred meters. This section might test your legs, so consider stopping along the way and snapping a couple of pictures from the mesmerizing scenery sprawling behind you. Except about an hour of hiking to finally reach the promised land: Schäfler Ridge and hut.
on the hike up, between Ebenalp to Schäfler
A view point just past Ebenalp
Schäfler Hut
The first viewpoint is really close to the hut and from there, you’ll get a view of the ridge and the valleys on either side. Jake and I ventured slightly further down the path, past the viewpoint, and stopped for lunch at the tip of the cliff. I cannot exactly say this was one of the most comfortable lunch in my life—I’m slightly afraid of heights and we were circled by about 300 degrees of drop-offs, but this certainly makes it on the list of the most beautiful lunch stops I have ever eaten at. After our lunch, we circled back to the ridge path and ventured a couple of hundred meters out towards the peaks to capture a few images.
view of Schäfler Ridge
On the way down, we grabbed a cup of coffee at Schäfler hut and began our descent shortly after. The path down is very hard on the knees but well maintained and indicated, and overall very much worth the sights of the setting sun on the mountains. Our descent took about 3 hours with numerous photos breaks and a few shoes fixing breaks as well.
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