Appenzell – Kronberg (1662m) – Appenzell

This walk up to Kronberg is great in any season, but what’s special about it is that from Scheidegg upwards, it is prepared as a proper winter walk even when there is lots of snow. And it’s also a sledge run in winter. So, if you feel like walking in the deep winter, this is a great place to get some fresh air.

Start in Appenzell, which can be reached by train but also had plenty of parking. Make your way to the backside of the train station and follow the signs to Klosterspitz. It leads through the village and then up through the meadows beyond. Soon you will see the pillars of a ski lift running up the slope parallel to your path and then the trail will meet a small road in Obere Sollegg, where the lift ends.

Turn left onto the road until it turns into a path and turns uphill. Soon you will reach the top of a ridge from where there is a great view of Alpstein on the other side. Once on the ridge, the path turns right, following its line gently uphill.

At Vordere Wasserschaffen, turn right and then left past the huts and then continue up along the ridge, enjoying the views on either side. The path keeps following the ridge until Blatten, where you will reach a small road, which leads to the Scheidegg guesthouse soon after. Now you can properly see the top of Kronberg.

Keep walking along the ridge and very soon you meet the charming little chapel of St. Jakob. The views are absolutely stunning along here, and you will now meet more people as there is a gondola going to the top of Kronberg.

On some days, when there is fog in the valley, you may start the hike in the clouds but then suddenly step out into the sunshine, with a sea of clouds below. This makes for some stunning views.

Almost at the top you will get to an impressively long bench, plenty of room for a break for all the hikers that make it up here. From that bench you will have an amazing view of Säntis.

And then you finally made it to the top of Kronberg. On a sunny day you might meed quite a crowd up here. But the stunning panorama of Alpstein sure makes up for it. There is a restaurant at the top, in case you are in need of refreshments, and a playground in case the children are still not tired.

For the way down you have several options. The obvious one is to trace your steps back and walk into Appenzell the way you came up. Then there is the easy way down – the gondola. It leads directly into Jakobsbad, from where you can take the train back into Appenzell.

You could also walk back to Scheidegg and then turn left and walk down into Jakobsbad. And when you get there and are still motivated, there is a lovely walk back to Appenzell along the valley.