Rebstein – St Anton (1107m) – Waldegg (986m) – St Gallen

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This stunning hike starts from Rebstein in the Rhine valley and ends in the town of St Gallen. It passes through beautiful and less well known areas of Appenzellerland. It is a perfect long day hike at almost any time of year - even in winter!

This hike starts from Rebstein and ends at St Fiden, St. Gallen (Appenzellerland, north-east Switzerland).

Time
8 hours
Distance
26.4 km
Difficulty
2
Ascent
1300 m
Descent
1070 m
Highest elevation
1210 m
Lowest elevation
422 m

Time of year: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

Tags: Public transport, Food en-route, Accommodation en-route, Ice-cream at end of hike, Can be shortened

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Hiked by us on: 31st December 2017

This gentle hike literally starts from the bottom of the Rhine valley and ends in the pretty town of St Gallen. Passing through the very scenic and less visited regions of Appenzellerland, it is a lovely hike at any time of year – spring, summer, autumn or winter. While we have already done it in the Summer, it is now becoming somewhat of a tradition for us to do it around New Year’s time. So 2017 was no different and we enjoyed an incredible blue-sky winter’s day.

Starting from Rebstein, we follow the signs to the highest hill above, which is St Anton at 1107m. Already after 15 minutes of hiking, the views of the Rhine valley are wonderful.

The Rhine valley looking south-west towards Chur
The Rhine valley looking south-west

Already 400 height meters higher and close to Fegg, we are in the winter snow and have a drink and Swiss chocolate at a perfectly located bench.

The perfectly located bench close to Fegg
The perfectly located bench close to Fegg

From Fegg it is another 40 minutes to St Anton. This is the highest hill above the most northern section of the Swiss Rhine valley, therefore offering great panoramic views of 4 countries – Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

From left to right - Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland
From left to right – Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland

After reaching St. Anton, we walk along the quiet road for around one kilometre to reach Landmark. From here we follow the signs to Gäbris with its fantastic views across the Alps.

Views from Unterer Gäbris across the Alps
Views from Unterer Gäbris across the Alps

Just after the restaurant at Unter Gäbris and before reaching the summit of Gäbris, we turn left and head north. Now we no longer have views of the Alps but instead enjoy the rolling Appenzell hills with views to Lake Constance.

Appenzellerland with Lake Constance
Appenzellerland with Lake Constance

Onwards we walk, passing by Ebnet, Frühweid and then slightly uphill again to Waldegg.

View from Waldegg looking towards Saentis, Appenzellerland, Switzerland
View from Waldegg looking towards Saentis

This is a very popular restaurant with its own bakery. Always a good place to stop and re-charge the batteries! Especially the bakery is really worth seeing as it is set up with old baking equipment that you can still see in use.

The bakery at the restaurant at Waldegg
The bakery at the restaurant at Waldegg

You can even wander in and watch the bakers in action. If you are lucky, you even get to try some freshly baked goodies.

Preparing the dough in the bakery above St Gallen
Preparing the dough in the bakery

Once we manage to part with the bakery, we stroll down towards the town of St Georgen. Afterwards it´s todays final uphill to Freudenberg with its curious solitary trees.

The summit of Freudenberg above St Gallen
The summit of Freudenberg

Finally we get to enjoy the views over St Gallen and Lake Constance. Beautiful!

Views from Freudenberg across to Lake Constance near St Gallen
Views from Freudenberg across to Lake Constance

We head down into the town and catch the train back to Rebstein – a wonderful hike.

Please wait a moment while we get the maps!
Gasthaus Oberer Gäbris

Gasthaus Oberer Gäbris

(Food only)

We would like to cordially invite you here on our web for a virtual walk. Experience our "Upper Gäbris", with the webcams, with photos and information from the Appenzeller area. Get a foretaste of a trip in healthy air, enjoying a unique landscape, our specialties from the kitchen and the cellar. An unforgettable event in one of the most beautiful panoramic views in the area.

Restaurant Waldegg

Restaurant Waldegg

(Food only)

Natural - regional - classic. Everything revolves around these three buzzwords. Our job is to prepare fresh products using crafting techniques to preserve their original character and bring out the pure, pure aromas. We are not only sensitive when it comes to the taste, but also the origin and the sustainability of our raw materials are important to us.

Restaurant St. Anton

Restaurant St. Anton

(Food only)

Nestled on one of the most beautiful viewing terraces in eastern Switzerland, St. Anton offers its visitors a unique panoramic view: from Lake Constance via Thurgau up to Appenzellerland, the Alpstein area and Säntis, to the Grisons Alps, Liechtenstein, Vorarlberg and southern Germany - the panoramic views do not stop at the borders!

Ondere Gäbris

Ondere Gäbris

(Food and accommodation)

The typical Appenzellische restaurant offers space for 40 people. The magnificent tiled stove always provides great amazement. Hikers like to visit the restaurant all year round, enjoying the warm atmosphere and the delicious food.

We could not find any webcams in the area close to this hike.

If you need a day off from hiking, below are some of the great things you can do within 30 km from the start of this hike.

Berneck outdoor pool

Berneck outdoor pool

(3.6 km away)

Wonderful, quiet outdoor pool with lots of grassy areas. Perfect place to relax

Badestrand am Rohr

Badestrand am Rohr

(5.6 km away)

Relax and swim in the lake which is the old Rhine

Heiden Schwimmbad

Heiden Schwimmbad

(6.1 km away)

A lovely outdoor pool with large grassy areas on which to relax.

Festungsmuseum Heldsberg

Festungsmuseum Heldsberg

(6.7 km away)

Look back into Switzerland's second world war history in this perfectly preseved fort built into the hillside

St Margarethen mineral baths

St Margarethen mineral baths

(7.0 km away)

Recently fully refurbished wellness center - spend an afternoon to recover

Rhein railway

Rhein railway

(8.0 km away)

Travel on the Rhein railway to the delta of the river

Götzis outdoor pool

Götzis outdoor pool

(9.0 km away)

Beautiful area for enjoying the sun and a relaxing swim

Kobelwald crystal caves

Kobelwald crystal caves

(9.2 km away)

Fascinating underground caves - worth a visit in any weather

Gais outdoor pool

Gais outdoor pool

(10.5 km away)

Small quiet outdoor pool in Appenzellerland

Rolls Royce museum

Rolls Royce museum

(14.6 km away)

Fascinating museum of the world's most famous car.

Rappenlochsclucht

Rappenlochsclucht

(14.7 km away)

Impressive stroll on elevated walkways through narrow gorge

Appenzell outdoor pool

Appenzell outdoor pool

(14.7 km away)

Great outdoor pool in the shadow of the Alpstein mountain range

Appenzell town

Appenzell town

(15.1 km away)

Wonderful historic picturesque town at the foot of the Alpstein mountain range

Lindau island

Lindau island

(18.0 km away)

Visit the unique town of Lindau on the island

Laterns summer sledge run

Laterns summer sledge run

(19.4 km away)

Sledging in the summer on the Laterns Sommerrodelbahn

Kronberg Alpine park

Kronberg Alpine park

(21.0 km away)

Alpine "park" with summer sledge run and rope park - fun for all!

Hot-pot Appenzellerland

Hot-pot Appenzellerland

(21.1 km away)

Relax in a a unique hot-tub surrounded by Appenzeller hills and mountains

Wälderbähnle

Wälderbähnle

(23.7 km away)

Steam railway through the Bregenzerwald.

Allgau Skywalk

Allgau Skywalk

(26.1 km away)

Tree top walk through the woods of Allgau.

Badi Schönenbodensee, Wildhaus

Badi Schönenbodensee, Wildhaus

(26.8 km away)

Beautiful small lake for swimming above Wildhaus below the Alpstein

Werdenberg

Werdenberg

(27.2 km away)

800 years of history and the smallest city in Switzerland - beautifully preserved places to visit

Bischofszell outdoor pool

Bischofszell outdoor pool

(28.1 km away)

Relax in this lovely pool in the historic town of Bischofszell.

Hittisau outdoor pool

Hittisau outdoor pool

(29.1 km away)

Lovely outdoor pool which is never too busy. Perfect for relaxing after a long hike!

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