Winter Walk on Mount Flumserberg to Seebenalp

(This post published on December 12, 2023)

Wednesday March 9, 2016 -- On March 8th it snowed quite heavily here in Switzerland, even down to the lowlands where we got about 10 cm. In the mountains they finally had a really nice dump, and for those who could take the next day off to go skiing, it was a great day with lots of sunshine and fewer people on the hills.

The mountain we chose to go up this time was the Flumserberg, in Eastern Switzerland not far from the border of Liechtenstein, and on the other side of Lake Walensee from Quinten, the little village accessible only by boat. Flumserberg is a popular ski mountain with many lifts, but also several walking trails. There was a bit of an icy wind blowing, but the snow was good for walking, and except for a few spots on the shady side of the hill, we had sunshine and some nice views over the lake and the Churfirten Mountains. When we arrived at our destination at Lake Grosssee, we had lunch at the Seebenalp restaurant and then enjoyed some basking in the sun and watching the skiers. I even got a bit of colour in my face from the strong mountain sun!

It wasn’t a long hike as our hikes go, only 4 km each way, 2.5 hours of walking altogether. But this is long for walking on winter trails, as walking in snow, even if on prepared trails, is more strenuous...

Every excursion begins with a memorable trip to the start of our planned hike. Heading toward Lake Walensee, we always pass the "entrance" to the Linth Valley, a beautiful view every time.

The train stops in Walenstadt. These are the peaks of the Churfirsten Mountains

A view westward over the rooftops of Unterterzen and Lake Walensee as the gondola cable-car makes its way up to Tannenbodenalp, the popular little ski resort on Mount Flumserberg.

This is the Flumserberg gondola from Unterterzen in the valley to Tannenbodenalp, the ski village where the ski lifts start.

We got to Tannenbodenalp at 9:50, and reached the restaurant at Seebenalp at noon. With lunch there and some relaxing time, we headed back at about 2 p.m., and were back in Tannenbodenalp at 3:40 p.m.

A fantastic day and well-prepared walking trails. From the peaks of the mountains to the East you can see that the wind is really blowing there.

This view is to the Alvier mountain range in the East, the high plateau of Palfries, and in particular a peak called Mount Sichel which even now in winter demonstrates the curved striations indicative of the folding of the Earth's crust when the mountains were formed.

This view is to the north and northwest across Lake Walensee, and to Unterterzen on the lake where we started with the cable-way.

There is nothing prettier in winter than freshly-fallen snow on the evergreens

This "fellow" is almost totally buried in the snow.

Look how much it snowed here!

Heading to the lake we had to walk along the north side of the hillside, where there was shadow and it was cold

Panorama view of Lake Walensee and the Churfirsten mountains.

It is a pleasure to walk on the prepared mountain trails, away from the ski hills!

The sign points us in the direction of the Seebenalp Hotel and restaurant

Our first glimpse now of the ski slopes at Lake Grosssee (= Large Lake). I believe that peak is called Sächsmoor.

Hotel-Restaurant Seebenalp, where you can take a break from skiing for a bite to eat. The frozen lake is on the left. We got here at about noon and had something to eat.

Relaxing and watching the skiiers on the other side of the lake

Relaxing and watching the skiiers on the other side of the lake, and enjoying the sunshine at the Seebenalp restaurant. The lake is called Grosssee (= Large Lake). There are two other lakes here. [NOTE: Later, in June 2022, we did a hike around Mt.Sächsmoor, the peak in the center. Photos are HERE)

At about 2 p.m. we started on our way back.

It's a happy day!

Another look down at Lake Walensee, on our way back to Tannenbodenalp.

We shared the walking trail with a few skiiers

Chair lifts and gondolas

And now another close-up look at the Alps to the east. I think these are the mountains that form the border with Liechtenstein (Falknis?).

The late afternoon sunshine

Very clever, a Toblerone-shaped roof!

Heading back down now to the lake at 4 p.m. for the train ride home.

What the hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps.

Additional photos: On our way back home, traveling along Lake Zurich, we had to wait for a connecting train, so we spent about 20 minutes at the lakeshore in Wädenswil, watching the waterbirds...