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Intro

The mostly flat winter hiking trail leads through the snow-covered high valley of Gonten. The tour through the protected Gontenmoos moorland will captivate you with its unique nature and the numerous "Toobeschopfe" (old peat huts).

Description

The winter hiking trail begins at the cable car valley station in Jakobsbad. Jakobsbad is not only known for the longest sledge run in eastern Switzerland, but also for its traditional Capuchin convent. In the convent shop, one can find fine house specialities and natural products made from old recipes. After a short stretch along the Weissbach stream with its spectacular ice formations, you pass the Jakobsbad campsite. Surrounded by the high valley's mountain scenery, the winter hiking trail leads across snow-covered meadows toward Gonten. Always in plain sight: the elegant tower of the Church of St. Verena in Gonten. If you want to shorten the tour, you can reach Gonten by train and enjoy the winter hiking trail through the protected upland moor.

Shortly before Gonten, you come across the first "Toobeschopfe" and enter the unique Gontenmoos moorland. The protected area includes an upland moor and several fens of national importance. In the past, peat was extracted on a large scale here, at the foot of the Alpstein. The "Toobeschopfe" are small wooden huts where the peat, called "Toobe" in Innerrhoden dialect, was dried. As a result of years of peat cutting, only a few upland moor areas remain. Shortly before Gontenbad, you leave the idyllic moorland behind you and reach Gontenbad railway station, the hike's final destination. Take the train back to the tour's starting point at Jakobsbad or continue to Appenzell.

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

Technical information

Show Technical information content
Start location
Jakobsbad
Destination
Gontenbad
Ascent
80 m
Descent
70 m
Distance
5 km
Duration
1 h 25 min
Physical requirements
Easy
Signalization
Signalisation in both directions

Map

SwitzerlandMobility Map: This element is not accessible for disabled people.

Contact

Appenzellerland Tourismus AI
Hauptgasse 4
9050  Appenzell

Phone  +41 (0)71 788 96 41
info@appenzell.ch
appenzell.ch

Quick Facts

Route number

No. 111

Distance

5 km

Duration

1 h 25 min

Ascent

80 m

Travel information: Jakobsbad

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