From Alp Sigel to Lake Seealpsee in the fabulous Alpstein Massif

Wednesday July 13, 2022 -- Today was a family hiking day, as Urs' brother wanted us to come to the Appenzell region for a hike, along with Urs' two daughters. Near Appenzell is the fabulous Alpstein Massif, a unique and beautiful alpine landscape totally separated from the "other" Alps. The tallest peak in the Alpstein is Mt.Säntis, accessed by cable car and recognized from afar by its 124-m tall transmission tower. 

We had done many hikes in this area, so we had to plan something different: A cable car ride to Alp Sigel above Lake Sämtisersee, and then crossing over into the main valley with the popular Lake Seealpsee, which is accessed on foot in about an hour from Wasserauen, or by descending from the beloved Ebenalp and Wildkirchli restaurant (made famous by being on the front cover of National Geographic's "Places of a Lifetime". Huffington Post calls it the most interesting restaurant in the world. And there is no point in going to visit it, it is now so overrun by tourists.)

Alp Sigel, on the other hand, is much less well-known, although just as beautiful a spot as any of the others here. Maybe it's because you have to walk for 20 minutes first from Brülisau. In any case, there weren't a lot of people doing the same trail we were. And we were very lucky with extraordinarily clear visibility this day. We could see Lake Bodensee quite clearly to the North, and far beyond into Germany, plus far into the Austrian Alps to the East. It was fabulous.

After a steep descent, the wide road to the lake was a bit tiresome in the heat. After a lunch at the Seealpsee Gasthaus, some of us walked around the lake, others went swimming, and I took photos. We ended the day by walking all the way down to Wasserauen train station. In all about 11 km and 3.5 hours of walking time, and not the hottest day during this heat wave.

On our way to Brülisau by bus from Weissbad, we can already see the top mast of the Alp Sigel cable-way. There are no other masts between the bottom and that one!

Heading out from Brülisau on our 20-minute walk to the cable car

Typical Appenzell house

The valley with Lake Sämtisersee is up ahead. (Many people hike up there. We hike OUT of that valley in 20149. On the left is the cable car to the Hoher Kasten. We are heading up the hillside on the right

The cable car up to Hoher Kasten on our left

After 20 minutes we reach the Alp Sigel cable car. There are no other support masts between here and the top!

Alp Sigel cable car, can transfer 6 people at a time. It is rather expensive (17 CHF) but worth it for the ascent it saves us!

A look down at Brülisau as we go up with the Alp Siegel cable car

We passed very close to these cliffs!

Alp Sigel Cableway

Some magnificent views as we exit the cable car station. To the East is the Hoher Kasten (there is a revolving restaurant on the summit, and you can do a fabulous crest hike from there) and beyond that the mountains of Liechtenstein

The view to the North over the rolling hills of Appenzell, and far into Germany past Lake Constance (Bodensee)

We are all thrilled at the fabulous visibility we have this day!

Across the valley to the West is Ebenalp, also accessible by cable car and very popular. Everyone wants to see the Aescher-Wildkirchli Gasthaus built into the cliffs there

A close-up view of Aescher-Wildkirchli Gasthaus and Restaurant. Tourists from all over the world flock here now, since it was featured on the cover of National Geographic

Off we go toward Lake Seealpsee, just a little over two hours walk from here. 

From the Alp Sigel Cableway, we walked along the beautiful alpine pasture called Alp Sigel, and then down to Seealpsee, where we ate at a restaurant there, and then walked out to Wasserauen. It is from Wasserauen that one can step right out of the car or train onto the Ebenalp cable car. 

First glimpse of the farm houses on Alp Sigel, about 15 minutes walk from the cable car station. 

We have walked the crest on the left twice now, and ascended or descended in each of the valleys behind me. 

In September 2021 we walked up that beautiful valley beneath those crags, and crossed a passage called the Mutschensattel. Those photos are HERE

On the small narrow mountain trail across Alp Sigel, heading to the passage called Mans. 

Hoher Kasten in the background

After crossing the Alpine pasture called Alp Sigel, we now cross into the next valley over (this farm/pastures is called Mans)

Another view to Lake Constance (Bodensee)

Aescher-Wildkirchli is now directly across from us, and better visible below the cliff

Our first glimpse into this fabulous valley

And the first glimpse of Lake Seealpsee, still a long way away!

Mt. Säntis on the left

Right to the left of Mt.Säntis is a practically vertical wall called Agete-Platte, which we crossed on our 2-day trip in 2014.

Heading down to those farmhouses below. From there it's about 30 minutes to the lake (to the left). After lunch we walked back the same way and down to Wasserauen on the right. 

Down at the farmhouses now, it's always impressive to look up and see where we came down from. 

Heading up the valley toward the lake. 

These cows have the freedom of this entire valley!

First glimpse of the popular Lake Seealpsee

Looks like the cows like to bathe in the lake as well!

An idyllic scene

Heading to the Gasthaus Seealpsee for lunch

It was good to have shade for our lunch

From our spot on the terrace, a view at another of the several alpine pastures (above the cliffs on a mid-plateau). This one is called Meglisalp, and we spent a night there in 2014, on a 2-day hike which we did from this lake to up there and then over into the valley where Alp Sigel is. 

This rock in the lake was right next to where we sat in the restaurant. I thought this was a very cool photo. 

Getting ready for a swim

Enjoying a dip in an alpine lake. Unfortunately, the cooling off didn't last long. Soon after we started heading back along the trail, the effect was already gone. 

Time to head down to Wasserauen

A last look at the lake as we head back the way we originally came. 

Here is the barn which we reached when we first came down from the left. We are now continuing down the valley. 

This is called the Hüttentobel, and it was a very long series of stairs. We were glad it was in the shade of the forest.

Down below is the paved road which is the other access to the lake

A look down at the train station in Wasserauen, our goal for this day. There is a huge parking lot here for all the people who take the cable car up to Ebenalp

At the Wasserauen train station. 

What the hike looks like on Google Maps. Starting in Brülisau, 20 minutes to the cable car, then across Alp Sigel, down to Seealpsee, and back to Wasserauen. 

All the hikes we have done in this beautiful region! Including the crest hike from Hoher Kasten (2-day hike over the Zwingli Pass in purple) and the 2-day hike starting in Wasserauen, overnight on Meglisalp and descent bak to Brülisau. We have yet to walk up to Mt. Säntis!

On my way home by train, a look at the North side of the Alpstein Massif, with Mt. Säntis on the right. 

And this is what Alp Sigel looks like from the summit of the mountain called Hoher Kasten. This was taken on our 2-day hike in July 2019 (way more snow than this July!):

The location of the Alpstein Massif in Switzerland. 

Other blog entries for hikes we did here:

1) 2-day Hike July 2019 (Hoher Kasten to Zwinglipass):  HERE

2) Crest hike September 2021 (over the Mutschensattel):  HERE

3) Loop tour August 2018 (from Ebenalp to Schäfler and Wildkirchli): HERE

(I have no blog entries for the hikes we did here from 2013 to 2015)