Here are the summary hike details
- Start/ end location: Staubern Berggasthaus
- Ascent /descent: 550 m/ 1.804 ft.
- Distance: 10 km/ 6.2 miles – see our exact Strava route at the end of the post
- Duration: 4-6 hours (lunch and photo breaks included)
- Technical and physical requirements: Medium
- Season: June – October
Introduction
The Appenzel region located in the Eastern Switzerland has a huge variety of spectacular hikes that you can do and this is one of them. We did the Staubern – Saxer Lücke – Bollenwees hike end of August 2022, after a first failed attempt mid August when we got to Staubern cable car only to realize that we forgot our boots at home and we had to cancel our hiking plans for the day.
Getting there by bus or car
Assuming you have your hiking boots ready, for doing this hike you have to get to the Staubern Luftseibahn, in Frümsen, here is the direct Google Maps link (address: Frümsnerbergstrasse, Frümsen, 9467 Sennwald). There is a free parking space right on the spot and if that’s full, there’s also plenty of parking places along the road. With the bus you have to get to Frümsen, Luftseilbahn Staubern, and then do a 450m casual walk to the cable car.
Tickets and gondola details
In 2022 tickets for the Staubern cable car cost CHF 36 for an adult (up and down) and CHF 18 for children aged 6-15. For children under 6 years old is free. One single ticket up or down for adults costs CHF 18. The machine for buying the tickets is right next to the gondola and all is automatic, including ticket scanning for up to 8 persons, door closing and start / stop. There are no ticket discounts available for the GA or Half Fare Travel card. Running times for the gondola are between 8.00 to 22.00 and it runs continuously with a capacity of 8 persons. There might be some waiting time required at the gondola if it’s really crowded, so it’s better to go in the morning if you want to avoid that. A trip up takes around 7-8 minutes. The Staubern cable car takes you up to Berggasthaus Staubern (restaurant & hotel) from where you directly start the hike. If you want to eat, you can have lunch either here at the Berggasthaus Staubern or our recommendation would be at Bollenwees, which is also what we did.
Hike details
To start the hike just follow the sign toward Saxer Lücke, which is right behind the hotel. The path starts with some rocky paths, but it’s safe and well marked, however you will need some boots for maximum safety. Also, if the path is wet, pay attention as it might get slippery here and there. On the way there is a small portion of steep decline, which in case you have vertigo, you might not like. Depending on good weather, soon you will start to see the amazing Alpstein ridge, which for us happened a bit later, since it was cloudy. But then we got really close to it, and some of the clouds made it even more spectacular. We continued on our way down to Bollenwees restaurant where we also had lunch. Next to the restaurant you will also find the beautiful Fälensee (lake) which is also nicely visible on most of your entire route here. Bollenwees is famous for their unique rösti dish (see picture below) which is delicious but heavy so it might be as well a portion for two persons.
The hike length from Staubern to Bollenwees is around 5 km and it takes around 1,5 hours, and you go back on the same path. In total you’re looking at a hike length of 10 km and up to 4-6 hours duration, including lunch and photo breaks. Make sure that you have proper equipment based on the weather forecast, it can be very hot or cold and windy. For more technical details you can check our Strava route at the end of the post, which you could use if interested in this hike.
