Malbun – Sassförkle – Schönberg – Malbun

This is a wonderful and fairly easy round hike up Schönberg in Liechtenstein. There are a couple exposed sections during the hike but nothing difficult and the views are simply amazing.

Start in Malbun, a lovely little village in the heart of Liechtenstein. Make your way up to the first houses and turn left (east) at the Hotel Vögeli. Walk uphill towards the chapel and enjoy the view to your right across Malbun and the surrounding mountains. Just before the chapel, turn left. Now it’s a steady but gentle uphill. You will pass a few games for kids to play (to add some entertainment), a few inviting benches and a little pond, before you get to Sassförkele, a junction of hiking paths.

At Sassförkle turn left, following the signs to Schönberg. You now walk through some grassy fields, hosting cows during the summer. Soon the path turns to the left and you are entering a sort of bowl. Schönberg can be seen across the valley on the right.

When you reach the Kelchle, a prominent rock with a cross on top, you could shorten the hike by turning left and making your way down the other side. The path will lead you right for a little while until you meet another path which leads back into Malbun.

However, to get to Schönberg, make your way right, past the Kelchle, and steeply up towards Stachlerkopf. Now you are coming to the slightly exposed section below Stachlerkopf and Drei Kapuziner, where the path is occasionally covered in scree. Overall though this is not very tricky. Once you’re past Drei Kapuziner, you reach a grass covered ridge with amazing views into the Rhine valley. Follow this ridge up to the top of Schönberg.

From the top of Schönberg you can see quite a few countries – Liechtenstein of course, but also Austria, Switzerland and Germany. There is also a Gipfelbuch to leave some greetings. Once you have had your fill of views, turn back the way you came and turn right at the first sign post. The path now leads you around the other side of Drei Kapuziner and Stachlerkopf. There are a couple of steeper sections, but mostly this is a very gentle walk back, allowing you to enjoy the views. There is also a wonderfully placed bench to enjoy the views from, though it is treacherously wobbly.

The way back is now a very easy hike through open fields and past wooden huts. Enjoy the wonderful views along here! This section is also rather quiet, so you might have it all to yourself.

When you get to a couple of huts with a water trough, the path does a short uphill before you will reach a track. Turn right and soon you will be back in Malbun. You are sure to find an option for some ice cream eating here.