From Degersheim to Mogelsberg in the Toggenburg Region

Friday April 4, 2025 -- I went to visit a friend today, who lives in Mogelsberg in the Toggenburg region of eastern Switzerland. But because it was such a spectacularly beautiful day, I incorporated a late morning / early afternoon walk, starting in the town of Degersheim nearby, and walking about 6 kilometers, (two hours) to her village. 

In most towns are two churches (Catholic and Evangelical) and even though these particular buildings aren't very old, I checked both of them out. Then after a short climb I walked along the crest of a hill above the railway line with lots of nice views of the Alpstein Massif and Mt.Säntis to the southeast. Lots of small footpaths made it a pleasant walk, except for the final ascent to the village at about 1:30 p.m. At that point the day was quite warm, and I could have used a shower by the time I got to Mogelsberg.

On the way to the Toggenburg, the train passes through the landscape at the south end of Lake Luzern, and here the large trees are starting to blossom! Leaving home at shortly before 9 a.m., it was a trip of less than two hours to get to Degersheim where I was starting my walk. 

View from the train toward the mountains of the Linth Valley to the south. 

The train passes via the charming town of Lichtensteig on the way to Degersheim. This is a town we haven't visited yet. 

Starting at 10:45 in the town of Degersheim, I got to Mogelsberg at 13:40. After visiting with my friend, it was a 10-minute walk to the train station, and from there a 2-hour trip home. 

I got to Degersheim at about 10:45, and went to have a look at the two churches dominating the townscape. This is the Evangelical church, built at the start of the 20th Century, so not very old. 

Inside of the Evangelical Church in Degersheim. The Evangelical churches are usually less ornate than the Catholic ones. 

After walking down the main street in Degersheim, I went to have a look at the Catholic church, which is called the Jakobuskirche.

These very pretty and typical Toggenburg houses are just across from the Catholic church. 

The original Catholic church built in 1494 burned down in a town fire of 1818. So this building is not very old, completed in 1924. 

The interior of the Jakobus Church is in Neobaroque style. The church was built in 1924 after the original chapel was mostly damaged in a massive town fire in 1818. 

Details of the altar in the church. 

Back of the church with the massive organ. 

Across from the church is the "Gemeindehaus" (Town Hall). 

Heading through the town, I admire some of the typical houses of this area. 

I enjoy looking at the seasonal (or otherwise) decorations people make in their windows or their yards. 

This stoic cat was sitting in the middle of the road, totally oblivious of what was going on around him. 

The path now heads up the hill and to the left into the forest and the upper farmlands. 

A look behind me at the town of Degersheim as I head up the hill. 

The Toggenburg countryside with typical rolling hills

This is right near the look-out point 

I got to the look-out point at "Chruz" (Cross) at noon, from where I got the first view of the Alpstein Massif and Mt.Säntis to the southeast. These wooden recliners are kind of cool!

I preferred a bench where I had my picnic lunch!

The look-out point is called "Chrüz" because there is a cross monument up here. 

As I walk along the crest of the hill, this is the view to the north. The little village here is called Mämetswil. 

A nice soft footpath follows the tree-line along the crest of this hill. 

Only two other hikers on this particular trail this day. 

Past the leafless branches I get the odd look at the summit of Mt.Säntis to the southeast. 

The landscape to the southeast. Below is a valley where the train runs between Mogelsberg and Degersheim

My first glimpse of the village of Mogelsberg where I will end my walk. The railway station is in the valley below, and it is quite a walk from there up to the village! I will be descending into the valley further to the west, and approaching the village from the west side. 

This little cluster of buildings which I am now approaching is called Hueb. 

Attempting another self-timed photo, so that I can be on some of my pictures!

Passing through the little hamlet called Hueb. 

Another clearer look at Mt.Säntis and the Alpstein Massif. 

The tower of the parish churc in the village of Mogelsberg is quite visible now. 

This little group of houses is called "Egg". I passed through there, and then descended to the stream called Böschenbach. On the far side of another ravine is a small village called Nassen.  

Crossing the Böschenbach stream. From here it was a very hot 20-minute ascent to Mogelsberg. 

Approaching Mogelsberg from the west side. I have been here many times, but have always come from the train station to the north.  

This large Gasthaus is on the main street in Mogelsberg. My friend's house is right next to it, both quite old, traditional Toggenburg houses. I got here at 13:40.

After a three-hour visit, I headed to the train station at just after 5 p.m., for the 2½-hour trip home.  

This is what my walk looks like on Google Satellite Maps

These are all the hikes we have done in the region around Degersheim and Wattwil in the Toggenburg region of eastern Switzerland. 

More of the Toggenburg countryside in the lovely late afternoon sunshine, as the train makes its way toward Wattwil.

One of my favourite views of the Churfirsten mountains, as the train leaves the Wattwil station. I take this photo every time, and we have passed through here many times!

From the Toggenburg, the train passes through the Ricken Tunnel and emerges along the upper part of Lake Zurich, called the Obersee. Here the train passes over a land-bridge between Lake Zurich and the Obersee from Rapperswil to Pfäffikon. There is a boardwalk in the lake, which we have walked once before. The beautiful mountains at the back are part of the Glarus Alps. 

And on the final stretch of the train from Thalwil on Lake Zurich to Zug, we get this view of Mt.Rigi as the train passes through Baar. 

Location of this part of the Toggenburg region within Switzerland. 

Mountain Hike at the Base of Mount Rossberg, from Sattel to Steinen

Tuesday, April 1 2025 -- Due to previous Wednesday commitments,  we swapped the midweek day off again to Tuesday, which actually turned out to be a pretty sunny day, although a cold wind was blowing. (Later we learned that there were gusts of 70 km/hr at the Zurich airport, making it difficult for the airplanes to land, and even up to 100 km/hr in Geneva!)

After months of fairly level or downhill hikes, we attempted our first "major" uphill hike of 400 meters, which wasn't nearly as strenuous as expected, probably because it really wasn't that warm! 

We did a 3-hr hike at the foot of Mt. Rossberg near Goldau--this was the site of one of the most catastrophic landslides in Swiss history--starting in Sattel and ultimately descending to Steinen near Lake Lauerz. For a large part of the uphill section, we walked on typical paved roads past mountain farms, but then descended the 700 meters on lovely footpaths, with views of the Schwyzer Alps and valley basin before us. 

Along the way we did an unplanned stop at an old farmhouse to have a long conversation with a fellow who was renovating old American roadsters and Ford cars from the 1920's! His collection was fascinating.

Heading south along Lake Zug toward Goldau by train, this view is across the Lake to Immensee on the west side of the Lake. Usually we get a good look at Mt.Pilatus, but today it's covered in a lot of clouds! 

From Goldau we take another train up the hill toward the east. From here we can see the summit of Mt. Rigi. There is still a lot of snow there. It is about a 50-minute trip for us from home to the starting point of our hike. 

We started shortly after 10 a.m. in Sattel and headed up the hillside at the foot of Mt. Rossberg. At the 1130 meter mark, we then turned to head back down the mountain, arriving at the Steinen train station at 14:45, just in time for the 14:55 bus to Goldau (and total 50 minute trip home). In the blue circle on this map, you can see where the Goldau Landslide of 1806 occurred, the largest natural catastrophe in the history of the Confederation. 

A large part of our uphill walk was on these small, paved roads, past several farms. 

Passing farms on our uphill walk. It was quite windy and somewhat cold, but nice with the sunshine. 

At this location, a previously sunken stream has been "brought back to life" and a pond created to protect some endangered species of crayfish. 

View south toward Mount Fronalpstock

Crossing a stream now on a section of trail with a trodden footpath. 

This stream is called Schäfbodenbach

A well-situated bench for a bit of a rest. 

View from the bench where we had a break. To our south past the Schwyz valley basin is the mountain range on the south side of the Muotatal Valley, with Mt. Fronalpstock. 

The view we had for most of our walk here at the foot of Mt.Rossberg. 

It's the time of year where the fountains are turned on and I can replenish my water bottle!

Here it was less cold and we had nice soft pasture paths to walk along, before returning to the paved road. 

At noon we reached a junction from where we could have ascended more toward the summit of the mountain (another 400 meters or so), but this is where we now made our way down. Most of the descent was on narrow footpaths, so it was fun. 

More nice narrow paths across clearings as well. 

These are all the new flowers, the first flowers we find in the forests at this time of year. 

This was the perfect place for our picnic lunch at 1 p.m. It was sheltered from the wind, and nice and sunny. 

The view we had from the spot we had picked to have our picnic. On the left are the Mythen mountains, and on the right is Lake Lauerz. 

The trail passed right down past this house on the right, but we spotted something interesting on the far side of the house, under the gazebo: It was a rebuilt roadster, and we asked if we could have a look. We spent quite a long time here visiting with the owner who showed us all the American memorabilia he has collected, and refurbished. He also told us the house is over 100 years ago. 

This is the interesting car we saw and asked about. It's not in working order, but has had some interesting things built onto it. The man loves to tinker. 

In the man's garden, he had three small trees: Pear, peach and apricot, which were just starting to blossom. This one was a peach tree with the most beautiful blossoms.  

A look back at the house we had just looked at, as we continue down the mountain. 

We passed under the railway tracks from the line we had traveled to get to Sattel to the starting point of our hike. 

A look to the west as we descend. We can see Lake Lauerz and the east part of the Rigi range. 

To the south are these fabulous peaks, part of both the Schwyzer and Uri Alps. 

Fields are full of dandelions now, and the old fruit trees are starting to blossom. 

We passed a barn full of sheep which were bleating like crazy! It was like they were talking to us!

VIDEO:

The sheep were talking to us really loudly!

Continuing down the mountain. 

These signs celebrate births of children on the farms. I have never heard of the name Ylvi before. Apparently it is associated with Nordic Mythology and means "Little She-Wolf". 

Down below is the town of Steinen, the end of our hike. 

Another nice section through a pasture, before we do the final descent through the forest. 

These large-growth fruit trees will blossom soon!

Lovely contrast on the mountains in the afternoon sunshine. 

At 2:30 p.m. we got down to the bottom of the valley and still had about 10 minutes to walk along the railway line to the station in Steinen. 

A quick peek at a small old chapel which we see every time we pass here with the train. We have not yet had a look at this one, but didn't feel like heading over there this time, as we had already walked for three hours!

Waiting at the Steinen train station for the bus which we will ride back to Goldau. 

This is what our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps, starting in Sattel and ending in Steinen.