Toggenburg High Trail from Alp Selun to Wildhaus

Wednesday June 7, 2023 -- Urs has several days off in a row starting today, so obviously we are going to make most of the nice weather to do as many hikes as possible. This will require lots of studying of weather maps, as most of the forecast is sunshine till noon, with significant cloud cover and possible electrical storms later on.

Once again, the best forecast was for the east, in Canton St.Gallen (which is a large and unusually shaped Canton), so we chose to do another section of the Toggenburg High Trail along the north side of the Churfirsten mountains and just south of Mt. Säntis and the Alpstein region. It is tricky to find the right timing for this one, as there is too much shadow from the mountains here in late fall or early spring. Furthermore, to reach the starting point of the section we wanted to walk (Alp Selun to Wildhaus) we had to use one of those small farmer's cable cars, which is quite popular and often has long waiting times. (In fact, we planned to do this hike on Sept.4 last year, which was a Sunday, and there were so many people there that we would have had to wait at least an hour for our turn, so we changed plans that day).

With the weather being best right now in the early morning, we got there before 9 a.m. and not only were we the first people there, we got to ride the little cabin alone! (This is because it was a work day). Once at the top we headed east on a fairly easy trail with a combination of all types of trails and landscapes. The first part was through mountain pastures with the backdrop of the stunning Churfirsten peaks (unfortunately the cows hadn't been brought up yet, but there were few other people on the trail), and the second part, where the valley opened up, was rather less interesting for us, as the trail was easy, and part of what is called the "Klangweg", or "Sound Trail", featuring lots of interactive stations with unusual materials that you can make noise with. Needless to say, this is popular with families!

In all it was a very successful hike again, about 14 kilometers and four hours of walking. And most fabulously, the entire trail was replete with flowering meadows, so wonderful at this time of year!

Photos from the bus window as we head through the Toggenburg region of eastern Switzerland

The church in Stein, St.Gallen. Once when we hiked over the pass from Schwägalp (below Mount Säntis), we caught a bus from here. 

From the bus stop near the Thur River at Starkenbach, we first have to walk 10 minutes to the cable car station. 

A look behind us to the east to Mount Säntis, as we head to the cable car station. 

I had called ahead to check at what time operation would start here. The owner said he'd be here at 8:45. So we were here first (exactly at 8:45) and only had to wait a few minutes for the cabin to return (some farmers were on their way up). The nice part is that we got to ride alone this time!

We didn't have to share the cabin with anyone this time, for the 12-minute ride up to the upper alpine pastures at Selun (700m above the valley bottom). When we first rode this cablecar in August 2020, we had to share with five other people, and still wait for at least two runs (those photos are HERE)

Cows with a white band are unusual, and more unusual are this many in one place!

A look east down the Thur Valley toward Wildhaus and Mount Säntis. 

A look to the north across the Toggenburg region, and where the Thur River flows. 

Starting off on our  hike eastward, from the upper cable-car station at Alp Selun. 

Following the Toggenburger Höhenweg (Trail no.48) to Wildhaus this time. In August of 2020 we walked toward Arvenbühl, but had to wait much longer for our turn in the cable-car! Those photos are HERE.

The four hour, 14 km hike along the Toggenburg High Trail (starting with the cable car at Starkenbach). We didn't walk all the way to Wildhaus because there was a bus stop on the road where we got off the mountain. 

Right from the start it was a perfect day for this walk. 

The first stop was at a large accessible cave called Wildenmannlisloch. a 140m tunnel in the limestone hillside. 

At 60 meters into the tunnel there is a large cave where evidence of prehistoric life was discovered. 

We went a long way into the tunnel to where it narrowed, and we would have had to crawl on to find the wider cave, but it was pitch black and very slippery, and there was no way I was going into a crawl-sized tunnel! 

The opening of the Wildenmanli tunnel in the cliff wall

Enough of the side-tracking, I want to start walking!

For the first 1.5 kilometers (about 20 minutes) we were on a wide road like this, and from there on it was a narrow trail. Up ahead to the North is Mount Säntis.

To the south, we had the peaks of the Churfirsten mountains. 

In all directions there are themed trails called "Sagenweg", or "Legend Trails" where at intervals large boards are set up with various stories of legends as told in these parts. 

A bit of an interesting section. 

It looks like there might once have been a pond here. 

A nice look at the summit of Mount Säntis with its weather station. 

For the first half of our hike, we had the jagged peaks of the Churfirsten mountains as a backdrop

This mountain looks like it might once have been like a table with a large horizontal table-top, and then the whole thing just got tipped!

One of several such panels with a story or legend from the area. (Mostly about witches, dragons and goblins).

I could not get over the lush flowering meadows which we passed through on the full 14 kilometers!

Lots of barns, but no cows yet in this region. 

Lochhütte

An ideal place to stop for lunch

My favourite flowers next to daisies. You would think I could remember what they are really called. We call them Rigi Bollen, because they are plentiful on Mount Rigi.

A section of forest which is specially notable for new-growth trees on old rotten and dead wood. We had left the main trail using a short-cut and came across this interesting forest. 

A special region of forest where the forest regenerates by growing new trees on old humus material. The information panel indicates a "Learning Trail". We also saw two chamois bound out of a clearing after leaving this forest. We were surprised to see them so close of trails where a lot of people walk.

At this point our trail joined the official "Klangweg", or "Sound Trail", a specially-created trail between the popular Alp Sellamatt and Oberdorf (from where we ultimately descended to the valley road). For 20 years this unique trail has gotten yearly visits from about 50,000 people. We did a section of the trail in winter, in 2016. 

VIDEO:
Children ringing cowbells of various sizes

Another unusual structure that you can make sounds with. Kind of like a xylophone?

VIDEO:
Making noise with a xylophone of sorts, made with various sizes of sticks

This is the large cable-way at Iltios that takes people up to the summit of Mt.Chäserrugg, the best-know peak in the Churfirsten range, and one with an allegedly fantastic view. We have not yet been up there! First summer run this year is this weekend.

The cable-way up to Chäserrugg

From Iltios onward there were cows in the pastures again. This section was so totally different from the first half. 

The "Klangweg", or "Sound Trail" is a well-laid path also accessible to wheelchairs. This is still part of the Toggenburger Höhenweg (High Trail) no.48 

A look down at the villages in the Thur Valley (Unterwasser, Wildhaus). We hiked down a pass to the left of the green horn once. Those photos are HERE

Zoomed view of the weather station on the summit of Mt. Säntis

Always have to beware of those cows!

Another cool way to make "music", by pulling on the bell cords (This is called a Bell Tree)

VIDEO:

Urs making noise with the cowbells on the Bell Tree

A very neat alleyway with overgrown meadow plants on both sides!

Can you get more Swiss than this? I think only the fondu pot is missing

Vorderschwendisee

Another beautiful meadow, shortly before our descent to Oberdorf

A sampling of the flowers found in the expansive meadows

Oberdorf is a restaurant and the base station of the Gamsalp chair lift. (The lift opens for summer operation on July 1st, and possibly mid-June depending on weather). There was a test run being done on the chair lift this day. 

The Toggenburg High Trail starts/ends in Wildhaus (no.48) as does the Rhine Valley High Trail (no.86), which continues eastward from here (we walked a section of that recently). 40 minutes to our bus stop in Lisighaus.

Descending to the main road at the valley bottom. 

There is a chair lift from Lisighaus (one village over from Wildhaus) to Oberdorf, but it's only 200 meters, so we decided to walk down. 

Walking down to Lisighaus to catch the bus on the main road. 

Purchasing a nice cold drink at the "Hofladen" ("Farmer's Shop"). 

A look up the hill to where we descended from Oberdorf. The farmers here are also busy mowing the meadows. (The upper ones where we walked don't seem to get mowed). 

What our 14-km hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps

All the hikes we have done so far in the region of the Churfirsten mountains and the Alpstein Massif. 

We don't often get a chance to ride double-decker buses, so since they run here between Wildhaus and Wattwil, we always try to get the upper front window seat when possible!

Where the Thur Valley region is located between the Churfirsten mountains and the Alpstein range. 

On our way home from this hike we did a stop-over in the city of Rapperswil on Lake Zurich to admire the famous rose gardens there (four official gardens featuring 1500 different kinds of roses). The photos are HERE. Also, here is photo of a few of the large variety of roses.