Alpine Panorama Trail from Arvenbüel to Stein in St.Gallen

Tuesday June 25, 2024 -- As the weather forecast was for sunshine until noon in many places, I took advantage of this to get another 10-km hike done... it had to be close by so that my travel time wasn't too long, though.

I have been trying to complete sections of National Trail no.3: "Alpine Panorama Trail", and have long wanted to do a missing stretch in Canton St.Gallen, near the Churfirsten Mountains again (we seem to be doing a lot of hiking there in the last while!). The starting point was in Arvenbüel on a sunny hillside above Lake Walensee, the final bus stop on the trip up the mountain, and less than two hours to get there.

I was able to start just after 8:30 a.m., and after walking up another gorge (a trail I had not done yet, although we have been here often), and then reaching the highest point at a farm we visited on a winter hike once before, I then descended on the north side along some surprisingly nice narrow paths through alpine pastures and forests, mostly along a river into which have been built a long series of steps (this prevents flooding if waters are high) with many lovely waterfalls. My goal was the town of Stein in the Toggenburg region, which was the end goal of another section of Trail no.3 which we did in August 2019 when we started further north at the foot of Mt.Säntis (those photos HERE).

This time the weather forecast was pretty accurate, as the clouds moved in just before noon, but by then I had already enjoyed all the views from the top, as I reached my goal just in time for the 1 p.m. bus for my trip back home.

It's a good thing I was able to start early (leaving home at 6:45) to get this wonderful view with clear blue skies as the bus heads up the mountain on the west side of Lake Walensee. The side valley at the back is called the Linth Valley in Canton Glarus. 

Having passed through the mountain village of Amden, another view down to the west end of Lake Walensee and the Linth Valley. 

Nearing the final bus stop at Arvenbüel, another look across the sunny mountainside, village of Amden, and the massif called Mattstock, where we did a very nice hike almost exactly a year earlier, on June 13, 2023. 

End of the bus line here in Arvenbüel, a 30-minute bus ride from the train station in Ziegelbrücke, and less than two hours to get here from home. I started my hike at about 8:40, for the approximately 3-hour hike to Stein across the saddle called Vorder Höhi. Weather forecast was for clouding over by noon. It took me longer than on this sign as I did a detour to a look-out point at the top. 

Still some lovely meadows full of daisies here in Arvenbüel. 

I started in Arvenbüel at 8:40 and took the less direct way through a ravine called Schwaderloch to reach the highest point at Vorder Höhi shortly after 10 a.m. After a detour to the look-out point, I continued along Trail no.3: "Alpine Panorama Trail" on the north side mostly along a lovely stream called the Durrenbach to reach Stein in the Thur Valley for the 12:54 bus. (The ride home was 2 hours and 20 minutes). 

As I head into the ravine, a wonderful view of Mount Mürtschenstock which is one of the more prominent peaks in Canton Glarus and part of the Sardona Tectonic Arena. (UNESCO World Heritage Site). 

The more direct trail to get to Vorder Höhi is along a paved road higher up on the left, but we had done that once before on a winter walk, so I chose the less-traveled route along the river in this ravine. It took a bit longer, but was so much nicer, and always relatively cool in the forest and close to the water. It took me about 90 minutes to reach the farm at Vorder Höhi.

The highlight of the day again were the many meadows full of flowers! These here look like bottle brushes.... 

A lovely cool walk along a stream. This is the best, as you are always accompanied by the sound of the water and the twittering of the birds. 

As the ground is a bit wet here, there were several of these boardwalks along the way. 

Walking in the cool morning shade in the Schwaderloch ravine. 

Before leaving the ravine and coming into the sunshine, there was a lovely waterfall 

Back up out of the ravine I get to enjoy the view of the Glarus Alps again as I have to detour a bit to the south again before joining the paved road to Vorder Höhi. I was the only person far and wide in these hills this morning. 

A close-up view of the Glärnisch Massif in the Linth Valley. These mountains form the south side of Lake Klöntal. 

When Urs is not along, I have to find suitable spots to take some self-timed photos! From here I had to walk for 1½ kilometers (30 minutes) up this paved road.  

A buzzard attacking a crow. You see this a lot in the mountains, although mostly it's the crows chasing the buzzards!

Looking behind me again at the peaks called Mürtschenstock on the left and Fronalpstock (pointed one in the center) and Glärnisch on the right. The small farm below is called Altschen. We passed through here on our lovely winter hike in December 2018 (Those photos are HERE)

The view to the south now as I reach the highest point of my hike at 10 a.m., the farm at Vorder Höhi. 

At the Vorder Höhi Farm, I get the first look at the Churfirsten peaks to the west. We also passed through here on a fabulous hike we did along Trail no.48 "Toggenburger Höhenweg" in AUGUST 2020. This time I will descend via Trail no.3 after a detour to a nearby look-out point. 

First a quick look in the direction that I would later be descending. This is on the north side of the range. 

A 20-minute (1 km) detour to the look-out point where I get the first glimpse of Mt. Säntis and the Alpstein Massif. 

The large meadow was actually quite marshy and FULL of this cotton grass

Perfect place for a "longer" break at this look-out point. I stayed here for 20 minutes, which is a long break for me!

Enjoying the view of the north side of the Churfirsten mountains, where we walked in August of 2020.

Too bad that the air is hazy, as this view is eastward up the Thur Valley to the Alps in Liechtenstein, which I can barely make out. We were there recently, about 4 weeks ago (Photos HERE)

So many pretty flowers up here, including the wild orchids (lower right), and my favourites, the Globe Flowers (upper right). 

Heading back now to the Vorder Höhi farm from where I will continue my hike down the hill to the right. The owner of the farm was out with his dog checking the fences, and I chatted with him for a bit. A real Swiss mountain farmer with a white beard. 

At the farm, a pretty young calf (umbilical cord had not yet fallen off) was all excited to see me!

A final look to the south before starting my descent down the hill to the north. It's 10:50 now, and you can see that the clouds are already starting to move in over the mountains. According to the sign, it should take me 90 minutes to walk to Stein. 

Heading off now down the north side of the mountain.

So lovely and peaceful, an alpine meadow with the sound of cow bells. 

The bees are enjoying the flowers as much as I am!

And so many more pretty flowers on this alpine meadow and in the forest as I start heading down the mountain. 

More views of Mount Säntis as I head down the north side of the mountain. 

Also on this side some of the trail was soft and marshy. These bridges really help. In any case, the whole way down was on soft and narrow paths. 

VIDEO:

What it sounds like in the forest with the birds and the water

 Straight ahead is the Risipass, which leads to Schwägalp at the foot of Mt.Säntis. We crossed that pass from the other side when we walked the section of the Alpine Panorama Trail down to Stein (goal of my hike) from the north in August 2019. (Those photos are HERE).

Following the Alpine Panorama Trail from Vorder Höhi to Stein. On this side of the mountain several people passed me going in the opposite direction. 

This is the Dürrenbach stream, which was so fascinating to walk down, as there were dozens of these "steps" built in, forming so many waterfalls along the way. 

VIDEO:

A sample of the forest trail and the many waterfalls I passed along the Dürrenbach River

(3-minute video)

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So many waterfalls on the way down through the forest. 

Final set of waterfalls before I exit the forest in the Thur River Valley. 

VIDEO:

Bottom end of the set of waterfalls before I leave the forest.

A large sign at the base of all the waterfalls informs about the Dürrenbach stream, which falls over an altitude of 650 meters along 4 kilometers. Previously the river was responsible for many floods and mudslides, so building the steps to create the waterfalls slowed the water down to stop the flooding. 

At 12:20 I found a bench just out of the ravine where I could look over the Thur River Valley. The next bus in the village of Stein below was at 12:54, so I had some time to sit here for a while. To get to the bus stop from here would take about 15 minutes. 

A close-up look at the village of Stein (Canton St.Gallen). 

There were some very pretty farmhouses here. 

Another pretty farm house

Heading down to the village of Stein, I pass some more pretty houses. 

And another fantastic linden tree. The blossoms are pretty much finished now and I miss the perfumed air I have been enjoying the past couple of weeks!

The bus stop is past that church below. 

Main street in Stein. This is Canton St.Gallen, but very close to Canton Appenzell, and therefore influences from that region. 

The Thur River as it flows past the church in Stein. In the end, I really only made it to the bus stop with a couple of minutes to spare!

What my hike looks like on Google Satellitte Maps, starting in Arvenbüel on the south side, and ending in Stein on the north side, in the Thur River Valley. 

All the hikes we have done in the region of Lake Walensee and the Alpstein Massif (Mt.Säntis). 

Location of Arvenbüel and Stein within Switzerland. 

The weather forecast was pretty accurate for the day, clouds having moved in some time after noon. But it didn't rain at all before I left the valley. In fact, even on the bus ride to the train station after 1 p.m. the weather was still nice, but hot. For the hike, it was actually quite comfortable.