Alpine Panorama Trail
Overview
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Distance 16 km
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Duration 5 h 30 min
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Ascent 1150 m
Intro
The route from the Innerrhoder main town of Appenzell to Gontenbad (with natural moor bathing pool) is level. From there along the «Barfussweg» (barefoot path) to Jakobsbad and through forest and meadows to Urnäsch (AR) famous for its Silvesterkläuse (New Year tradition).
Description
Appenzell is the main town of Appenzell Innerrhoden, the second smallest canton in Switzerland. The municipality is situated at the foot of the Alpstein in the middle of a picturesque hilly landscape. Characteristic of the car-free village centre are its houses, richly decorated with paintings. You can also still find traditional crafts here: upholsterers, goldsmiths, wood turners, farm-style painters and hand embroiderers. The top-secret recipes for various Appenzell specialities are also centuries old.
After leaving the town, you ascend towards Kaubad and cross a pretty section of forest, past the Eischen campsite and along several pastures. The trail continues uphill to Alp Wasserschaffen. Here the scenery changes: where before you were admiring the gentle hilly landscape, once on the mountain ridge, the view now turns south to the cliffs of the Alpstein. With this imposing backdrop, you hike on to the Scheidegg inn which welcomes you for a rest after a little more than two and a half hours hiking time.
Thus refreshed, you tackle the last 300 metres of altitude to the Kronberg. After another hour, the highest point of the hike is reached at 1662 metres. The Kronberg ridge runs parallel to the Alpstein - with a matching fantastic view. As there is a cable car to the summit, this section is much more crowded.
Finally, you descend through the Bruggerwald forest to the Chammhalden hut and continue over the "grosse Schwägalp" to the stage destination at the cable car valley station. Via the Säntis summit, the cable car continues into the Alpstein massif. Schwägalp, on the transition from the Appenzell region to Toggenburg, is situated in a moorland area that is listed in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes of National Importance. A footbridge leads into the heart of the mysterious moors with their rare plants and animals.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Appenzell
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Schwägalp
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| Direction |
One way
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| Ascent |
1150 m
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| Descent |
580 m
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| Distance |
16 km
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| Duration |
5 h 30 min
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| Duration back |
5 h
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| Technical requirements |
Easy
|
| Physical requirements |
Difficult
|
| Season |
All year
|
Quick Facts
Route number
