Alpine Panorama Trail from Heiden to Rorschach near Lake Constance

Saturday April 19, 2025 -- Today the weather was pretty nice all over the country, so we had a lot of options. Our choice was to travel to Lake Constance (Bodensee) in the Northeastern part of the country, for two reasons: Urs still can't walk for more than two hours, and there is a two-hour section of National Trail no.3: "Alpine Panorama Trail" that I had wanted to walk, but would not travel this far for simply a two-hour walk.

Furthermore, the region near Lake Constance is known for its abundance of apple and pear orchards (Canton Thurgau is actually nicknamed "Most Indien" because so much of the fruit is made into "Most", which is a fruit juice), and the tourism website stated that the trees were currently in full bloom, so we wanted to enjoy that as well.

The two-hour hike on the "Alpine Panorama Trail" started in a town called Heiden in Canton Appenzell, where we had ended another 10-km section of this trail almost exactly six years ago in April 2019 (photos are HERE), and ended in the city of Rorschach on the lake after crossing into Canton St.Gallen. In all, this section was 7½ kilometers. 

From Rorschach we took a 45-minute train and bus ride into the town of Altnau, which is further to the west, also along Lake Constance, but in Canton Thurgau. In the end, we ended up doing another 4-kilometer walk in the apple orchards there (photos HERE), for a total of over 11 kilometers this day.

We got to the town of Heiden (in the Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden) at about 10:25, after riding the Appenzell Railway from Rorschach on Lake Constance. It is here that we ended a 10-km walk along the Alpine Panorama Trail on Easter Sunday exactly six years ago (photos HERE). 

 

Heiden is the end of this line coming up from Rorschach on Lake Constance. This is the train we came up on (a 14-minute train ride) and it is now making its way back down to Rorschach 

Parked at the Heiden train station are a few older wagons of the RHB (Rorschach-Heiden Bahn). When it involves trains, Urs will actually pull out his camera unpromted. 

Starting in Heiden train station at about 10:30, we walked the 7½ kilometres along the "Alpine Panorama Trail" (Trail no.3), mostly along the railway line, past the Wartensee and Wiggen Castles and ultimately back to Rorschach where the Rorschach-Heiden railway ends/starts. We got back to the Rorschach train station at about 13:45, so about three hours after starting. 

Here we saw many blossoming trees as well, so pretty. 

Often, trees are planted against house walls. These are usually apricots. 

This is a unique type of fountain structure (we pass lots of such private water basins). We had never seen such clean water! The metal grill prevents people from letting their dogs jump into the fountains. 

Pleasant day for a walk like this. It was sunny but not hot. 

The view to the east shows us the Austrian mountains in the background, and a village called Wolfhalden, which one passes on another themed trail from Heiden called the "Witzweg" ("Trail of Jokes") which I walked in 2014. (Those photos are HERE) 

We are following National Trail no.3: "Alpine Panorama Trail" and heading toward Schwendi and Wienacht-Tobel, two other railway stations on the Rorschach-Heiden line. 

We are so happy to see all these beautiful blossoming trees. 

Lots of pretty houses along the way as well. 

Some typical Appenzell-style farm houses 

Why are these sheep huddled so closely together? Looks like they are seeking the shade, but it wasn't really a hot day. 

We descended into a little gully and from there headed to the next train station along the line: Schwendi.

Schwendi train station. 

We had to pass under the railway line, but this looks unusual as there is no concrete on this bridge!

A train was just pulling up into the Schwendi train station, so we ran back to the underpass to watch the train cross that metal bridge. 

This looks really weird!

Continuing on from Schwendi on this lovely walk. 

A view of the Austrian mountains to the east. 

On the bench in front of this beautiful house is where we had our picnic lunch at 11:30, and spent 15 minutes here.

We are always happy when the trail follows a narrow footpath!

Then the trail crossed the railway line..

More far-reaching views

More beautiful blossoming trees.

More cute sheep. 

A slight mist hangs in the Rhine Valley to the east. Weather forecast had for quite strong Föhn winds there, but here it was pleasant. 

We got to the next station at Wienacht-Tobel at about 12:05. From here it should be another 50 minutes to get to Rorschach, via the Castle at Wartensee. 

Shortly after crossing the railway tracks, we reached the border with Canton St.Gallen. (This is the little train station at Wienacht-Tobel). 

Walking through a forest section, we get our first look at Lake Constance (Bodensee). This is along the border of Cantons Appenzell Ausserrhoden and St.Gallen. 

Leaving the forest above the Wartensee castle 

A pond on the grounds of the Wartensee Castle. 

Walking through the grounds of the Wartensee Castle. It is actually now a hotel, and according to Booking.com, it's actually not that expensive to spend a night here. 

View of Lake Constance from the castle grounds. The lake is the border between Switzerland and Germany, so the line of hills we see at the back are actually in Germany.  

Down below is another castle called Schloss Wartegg (Wartegg Castle). We didn't head that way, though. 

That is another HUGE tree!

A look back at the castle gate as we continue down the mountain to Rorschach. 

A view over the city of Rorschach and the southern lakeshore of Lake Constance. 

Our trail passed a third castle called Schloss Wiggen. Unfortunately, because the building is being renovated, we couldn't really see what it looks like. 

We caught sight of a young boy hopping through this meadow. The grass is so high that the boy almost disappears!

It looks like he is having fun, hopping through the tall grass!

We got to the Rorschach train station at 1:30 p.m. (The station is actually further west of this large building, which advertises the company name Würth Group). In the sky we caught sight of a "zeppelin", which had just made its way across the lake from Friedrichshafen on the German side. (The Zeppelin Museum is in Friedrichshafen). 

These aircraft are used for advertising!

Last stretch through Rorschach on our way to the train station.. 

This fantastic structure is a bridge from the upper street to an elevator to get down to the underground passage to the train station and the platforms (mainly built for wheelchairs). We walked down to here, but had enough time to ride the elevator to the viewing platform at the top. 

From the top of the elevator, a view of the railway line along the lakeshore, looking west.

And a close-up look into the heart of the city of Rorschach. In January of 2024 we did a hike which ended here in Rorschach, coming directly through the city from the southwest (St.Gallen). At that time we did look at two large churches, but did not pass this one at the time! (Photos of that hike are HERE). 

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps, starting in Heiden and ending in Rorschach, a hike of about 7½ kilometers. 

Location of Heiden and Rorschach within Switzerland.