Hörnli Bike
Overview
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Distance 44 km
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Ascent 1250 m
Intro
From Winterthur along the Töss and over wooded hills to Hulftegg, the pass into Toggenburg. Travelling through the rural, pleasantly remote area, it’s easy to forget that bustling Zurich city is only a stone’s throw away.
Description
The first stage of the Hörnli Bike route sets off from Winterthur. The sixth biggest city in Switzerland is a treasure trove of art, history and nature. Cycle through the old town, with the largest continuous pedestrianised area in Switzerland, until you reach Mattenbach. Follow the river to Waldegg. Pass through the residential neighbourhoods until you reach the woods at Sonnenberg.
Uphill all the way, alternating between gravel and surfaced roads, keep going for about two hours until you arrive at the ruins of Schauenberg Castle. You can still make out the foundation walls of an impressive inhabited tower from around 1300. The castle was destroyed in 1343 by Habsburg, Zurich and Winterthur troops. It’s not only the ruined castle that draws people to Schauenberg. There are also captivating views of dozens of Alpine peaks.
Schauenberg is the perfect spot to take a break before tackling the descent. After Turbenthal, you will cycle along the Töss for a couple of minutes. At 56 kilometres in length, it flows from its source in St. Gallen around the Tösstock mountain into the Tösstal valley, before joining the Rhine.
Now comes the somewhat steeper ascent to Hofstetten, covering a good 300 metres of elevation gain. With beautiful views along the way, you will cover the same amount of elevation again at a more leisurely gradient until you reach Silberbüel. This viewpoint is also the highest point of the cycling route. You will find yourself admiring a yet higher hill – Hörnli, for which this route is named. The stage ends a short distance later at Hulftegg, the mountain pass that connects the Toggenburg region with the Tösstal valley.
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 |
Winterthur
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Hulftegg
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| Direction |
One way
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| Ascent |
1250 m
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| Descent |
740 m
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| Distance |
44 km
|
| Distance on tarred ways |
25 km
|
| Distance on natural surface |
19 km
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| Technical requirements |
Medium
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| Physical requirements |
Difficult
|
Quick Facts
Route number
