Rheintaler Höhenweg
Overview
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Distance 22 km
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Duration 6 h 30 min
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Ascent 1000 m
Intro
Mansions dating from the economic heyday in Altstätten; quaint townscape in Eichberg; bread from traditional wood-fired ovens in Hölzisberg; calcite crystals and stalactites in the unique Kobelwald water-bearing crystal caves.
Detour / Closure
There are detours or closures along this route, for more information see https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-86/stage-3
Description
Altstätten lies in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley, close to the Austrian border and at the foot of the Alpstein. This small country town developed into a well-known market place and an important centre for textiles in the 13th century. In the 18th century, merchants supplied customers throughout Europe from here.
This long stage requires stamina: Around 1,000 metres of changes in elevation are spread across the varied stretch between the edges of settlements, hamlets and sections of forest. The route initially skirts the suburb of Forst, Hinterforst and Strick. Up to this point, the trail is shared with the Wildmannli Bike route.
From here, the Schachenbach stream, open passages and smaller settlements characterise the transition towards Eichberg and Hard. Along the route, you'll see the former Gnadenhof Eichberg zoo, which is now an animal shelter.
The next highlight is the Kobelwald crystal cave. The cave's ambience is created by the many crystals, stalactites and stalagmites, and the rushing water – a unique experience in Switzerland and a special feature of this otherwise scenic route. If you have the time, you should definitely visit the cave.
The terrain opens up again above Kobelwald. The stage continues through the Rhine Valley via Rehag and Rüthi before climbing again after Plona. The last stretch of woodland takes you up to the highest point – 900 metres of elevation – at Schwendi. Then comes the final descent to the destination for this stage: Sennwald.
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 |
Altstätten
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Sennwald
|
| Direction |
One way
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| Altitude (meter above sea level) |
600 m
|
| Ascent |
1000 m
|
| Descent |
1000 m
|
| Distance |
22 km
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| Duration |
6 h 30 min
|
| Duration back |
6 h 30 min
|
| Technical requirements |
Easy
|
| Physical requirements |
Difficult
|
| Season |
All year
|
| Theme |
With panoramic view
|
| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/r... |
Quick Facts
Route number
