Jakobsbad – Kronberg (1662m) – Petersalp – Jakobsbad

Jakobsbad is quite a family playground and there is even a gondola going up to Kronberg from here. But once you step out of this tiny village, a beautiful and quiet hike leads you up to the top of Kronberg. The hike is very gentle and offers great views of Appenzellerland. Most impressive however, is the fantastic view of the north wall of Alpstein, once you get onto Kronberg ridge.

Start in Jakobsbad, which you can reach by train. There is also a large parking lot by the gondola station. Cross the train tracks and make your way to the caravan park. Walk around the campsite and follow the little stream upwards.

The path will lead along a small wooden area and soon reach a road in a bend. Do not follow the road but leave again in the same bend, just a few meters further. There is a very small path leading into the woods. Follow it uphill, until it leaves the woods again and leads uphill across gentle slopes through open fields. You can already see the ridge leading up to Kronberg on your right with a little chapel halfway up and the top a bit further along.

The hike will lead past a couple old farmhouses until it finally reaches a small mountain road. Turn right along the road and follow it around along bend. It will gently take you up the slope until you reach the ridge leading up to Kronberg.

Follow the path along the ridge, leading upwards. You will pass a set of houses at first and then walk towards a little chapel on the ridge. Most importantly though, you now have a fantastic view of Alpsteins north wall.

On the top of Kronberg you will find an abundance of benches to take a rest. There is no cross on the top, only a border stone. But there is the top station of the gondola, a playground and a restaurant up here, so it can be crowded up here. Best continue as soon as you have had your break.

At the gondola station turn left and make your way downhill, basically towards Alpstein. Walk past a couple of farmhouses, until you reach a sign post. Here take the path on the right, which leads along the top of the slope.

Soon the path leads slightly uphill again, until turning off the ridge to the right and leading downhill to Grossbetten, a set of three little farmhouses.

From Grossbetten it’s another hundred height meters uphill through the woods, but soon the path levels off and when you step out of trees, you will see Obere Petersalpe before you. This is not a restaurant, but still a lovely and quiet place to find a seat in the grass and enjoy the views.

From Obere Petersalpe continue along and down the ridge, until you get to the next sign post. Here you turn right and make your way to Untere Petersalpe.

Just past Untere Petersalp you will reach another sign post. Turn right and the path will now lead below a small but impressive rock wall. Cross the small stream and scramble up the rocks on the other side. Then continue downhill through the fields.

When you reach the small road, turn right and follow it until you reach the Blattendürren Restaurant. This is a good place for a break because the next bit will be uphill again.

Turn right behind the restaurant and follow the road uphill. Once it levels off at the top, turn left into a gravel road. It leads to a farmhouse where you turn right, onto a small path. Cross the field until you reach the gravel road, which you follow along for quite a while. It’s a gentle downhill, so this is a very easy part of the walk and you can enjoy the views around.

At some point along the gravel road, you will pass underneath a ski lift. Shortly after, turn off the road and onto a small path that leads more steeply down through meadows. It eventually leads through some woods and on the other side onto a road again. This road now gets rather steep but soon you will see the Jakosbad nunnery below.

Cross the train tracks and walk along the nunnery garden wall. Finally, walk through the little gate and you’re back in Jakobsbad.