After the valley hike along the Weisstannen Valley a week earlier, we decided on a canyon hike, also in the Eastern part of Switzerland but further North near the Alpstein Massif (Mount Säntis), although the area itself is also Canton St. Gallen.
The canyon we walked into is called Ofenloch (translates to Oven Hole) because a large cave in the canyon wall looks like a pizza oven. The canyon itself is nicknamed "Grand Canyon of Eastern Switzerland", although I guess they can just find the largest "hole" somewhere and call it the Grand Canyon of "Something".
We started at the Schwägalp Pass just below Mount Säntis (a popular motorbike road) and headed West, mostly through forests and into the canyon. Although the canyon and its rather unstable-looking Nagelfluh (molasse) walls were impressive, my favourite part of the hike was after descending to the place we planned to get back on the bus, and we were there at 14:41 but even though a bus ran practically every hour at 41 minutes past the hour this was one exception, so we decided on another 1.5 km through a much more picturesque landscape to the next bus stop. Like it was meant to be!
Interesting information: The Necker River, a 32-km river which flows into the Thur River, has its source in this canyon.
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| Heading by train wth the Appenzeller Railway toward Mount Säntis |
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| This is the winding road up to the Schwägalp Pass, a favourite of motorcyclists |
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| Our 11 km hike starts at Schwägalp Pass below Mount Säntis and heads westward |
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| What would any hike in Switzerland be without the cows |
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| A final view of the Alpstein Massif and Mount Säntis before heading into the canyon |
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| Heading into the impressive canyon with its vertical molasse walls |
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| The trail was adventurous but not dangerous. Although the cable for handholds was snapped in two. Wonder how that happened? |
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| The impressive Ofenloch Canyon |
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| The impressive Ofenloch Canyon |
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| I marvel always at how the trees can thrive on this stony terrain! |
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| Stiles to ford the fences are fun |
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| We had to exit the first part of the canyon before heading back into the second. This view is to the Toggenburg area of Switzerland. We stopped for lunch here. |
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| Picnic lunch before heading back into the canyon |
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| This was a very cool spot! You don't often get to walk behind the waterfalls |
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| This pizza-oven-shaped hole gives the canyon its name: "Ofenloch / Pizza Hole" |
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| After leaving the canyon we had to decide to walk uphill another 40 minutes, or down the mountain to the South. We chose the latter, as we'd already completed our goal. |
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| When we got to the road, we saw that there was a break in the schedule, so we decided to walk to the next stop over.... |
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| The first thing we came across was a community-created frog pond. Also special. |
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| I was especially pleased with our decision to walk the extra 1.5-km as this view behind us and the lush meadows we walked through were worth it. |
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| At the final bus stop where we caught the bus back up to the Schwägalp Pass, we learned that there is a healthful sulfur spring just five minutes from here. A detour for another day maybe... |
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| Back at the Schwägalp Pass, the futuristic summit station of the Säntis cable car glows in the afternon sunlight. |
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| Back at the Schwägalp Pass, the futuristic summit station of the Säntis cable car glows in the afternon sunlight. |
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| In total this trip was 11 km and took us a little over 4 hours (which includes time to "marvel") |
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