Toggenburg Mountain Hike from Krinau to Wattwil via Chellenspitz

Saturday April 5, 2025 -- Our choice for the day was a mountain hike in the Toggenburg region again, near the Canton Border of Zurich and Mount Schnebelhorn, which is the highest mountain in Canton Zurich, and a mountain we walked across in October 2020 (photos HERE). 

We started in a small village called Krinau, the final stop on a bus run from Lichtensteig in the Thur Valley and up a side valley to the west. We climbed from there to a peak called Chellenspitz, walked along a crest, and then descended to Wattwil. We chose this tour because it would be an introduction into mountain hiking, not having a really high ascent, and following lots of small footpaths. The entire hike was just over three hours, which is typical for our mountain hikes. 

As we ascended, the views of the Alpstein Massif and Mt.Säntis became more and more impressive, and on the way down we were impressed by a view of the Churfirsten mountains. Most disappointing for me was that even though the forecast was for pure sunshine all over the country, once again it was only here, where we were walking, that the clouds formed shortly after we reached the summit, and most of our descent was rather cold. 

Highlights of the hike were the first crocuses and gentians on the hillsides, and the sighting of a herd of chamois, which is always a treat. 

A train ride to the town of Lichtensteig in the Thur Valley (near Wattwil) and from there a 9-minute bus ride into a side valley to the west, ending in the village of Krinau. With my luck a Kindergarten class also rode the bus in the valley. Good thing it was a short bus ride!

An interesting sculpture comes into view as the bus heads up the valley. 

We got off the bus one stop before the end of the line, as we wanted to visit this church, which was, unfortunately, locked. From here it was just a few minutes to walk into the village of Krinau. 

A look at the village of Krinau as we walk up the main road toward the start of our uphill walk. 

A look back at the little church in Krinau as we enter the village proper. 

These is the typical style of houses in this region. Very pretty. 

Another pretty house as we start on our uphill climb at 10:30. 

Having left home at 8:20, our walk started at 10:15 in Krinau at the end of the bus line from Lichtensteig. After a steep (and warm!) uphill climb (with two rest stops on benches!) we reached the farm at Unterälpli at 11:30. Then a walk along the crest below the Chellenspitz summit, a very cold picnic lunch on a bench below Alplispitz at 12:30, the rest of the descent to Wattwil was slow, as Urs has lower back pain. We got to the train station at 15:40. The trip there and back was less than two hours each way. 

This was the first break we took on a bench at 10:45, with a look down at the village and the first views of Mt. Säntis (at the back on the right).

At 11:00 we found another bench and stopped here again for a short break! (We are not yet used to the warm weather for uphill hikes!)

After an ascent of about 300 meters, we got to the little farm and restaurant at Unterälpli at 11:30. From here we had some really nice views in all directions.

We debated stopping here for something to drink (the owners are hoping we do, taking a break themselves from their farm work, most likely!) but we had barely started our hike, and wanted to go on. 

A look to the east again into the Toggenburg region, and where we had hiked up from. 

This view to the east was of particular interest: At the peak in the center (at the arrow), is Mt.Schnebelhorn (1292 meters), the highest peak in Canton Zurich. Although we are currently in Canton St.Gallen, this mountain range forms the border with Canton Zurich. Back in October of 2020 we walked across the top of Mt.Schnebelhorn and over the next peak to the left, descending into this valley along the crest in the center (those photos are HERE). 

From the little farm at Unterälpli, we continued uphill along the peak called Chellenspitz, just west of the actual summit. Till now the weather was simply perfect. To the right was a cross with a bench, which might have been a good place for our picnic lunch, but we wanted to get to the highest point of our hike before stopping. 

Far and wide, the hillsides here were full of crocuses, the first flowers to appear shortly after the snows have melted. 

After a short stretch along the crest (without view because of the trees), we finally got a view of the mountains to the south and a bench up ahead—just below a peak called the Alplispitz—perfect for our picnic lunch. But barely five minutes after getting to the bench (12:30), the only clouds far and wide covered the sun, and it got extremely cold. I had to put on all the layers of clothes I had along!

The view from our bench toward the east. Everywhere except right here, the entire Toggenburg landscape is enjoying sunshine! Directly across from us and on the other side of Wattwil in the Thur valley is the mountain called Köbelisberg, where we did a very nice late season hike in November of last year (Photos HERE). We had more sunshine on that day!

A small window of sunshine as we sit and contemplate where our hike continues. It would be along the lower edge of the forest on that hill (Geiss-Chopf), and to the small building straight ahead. 

Close-up view of thte little building which we reach later, and from where the steeper descent toward Wattwil starts. 

Continuing on our hike now at 12:45 (it's too cold to sit any longer on the little bench), this is the view of another peak along the same ridge as Mt.Schnebelhorn. This one is called the Tweralpspitz, part of a very popular loop hike starting from the summit of the Atzmännig chair lift on the other side. We did that hike (which goes right over that summit) in late October of 2019, unfortunately on a lovely Sunday, when everyone from the city of Zurich was also up there. (Those photos are HERE). 

On the other side of this "saddle" is another farm restaurant called Schwämmli, but we weren't going that way. We are now headed down toward Wattwil, usually a two-hour walk, but it took us three hours. 

Very excited about the first small gentians! We almost missed seeing them, even though they were all around us. But a lady up ahead on the trail stopped to photograph something in the grass, and that's how we became aware of them!

After a small window of sunshine, more clouds gathered. Up ahead we get the first look at the Churfirsten mountains to the southeast. 

Our trail heads along the forest line to the small building in the clearing up ahead. The forested hill is called Geiss-Chopf (= "Goat's Head")

Zoomed view of the small building which we had seen from the picnic bench. Also, a close-up look at Mt.Säntis to the east. 

And further to the south, a zoomed view of Mt. Mürtschenstock, one of the main peaks of the Glarus Alps and the UNESCO Heritage Site Sardona Tectonic Arena. 

Always a bit of fun!

After reaching the little building, we head down the Geisskopf trail with our first views of the city of Wattwil, which is the end of our hike. 

This next farm is called Alp Geisskopf, and from here starts the steep descent toward Wattwil. 

I always enjoy seeing these fungi on the tree trunks. They remind one of of the footholds in climbing walls

Urs observed that this one looks like a shark!

After a stretch through the forest, we arrive at a farm called Stämisegg.

We are being watched by the cows below! They were headed somewhere.... 

Another view of the Churfirsten Mountains. 

We had a good laugh at this chicken coop in the small hamlet called Steintal. Besides the large variety of chickens (all beautifully healthy), that little white one in the middle was a rooster! He raced out to us and started crowing like mad, throwing his head back each time. It seemed like he was trying to appear larger than he was! I should have make a small video. 

Trail markers had shown us the trail went right through here from the back of that barn, and those sheep were pretty surprised! (We then had to descend back to the road, as the next section had mother cows with babies, and that can become dangerous). 

Curious sheep and cows. On our map, the trail would have passed through the cow pasture as well, but we don't trust cows when they have babies nearby, so we headed back down to the road. 

The final farmhouse in Steintal. As usual, the sun reappeared from behind the clouds just as we ascended on a paved road, the toughest type of path for me!

The final uphill stretch was made easier by Urs spotting a herd of chamois near the edge of the forest below! This is always a treat and makes me forget any sore feet I might have had!

Close-up look at the herd of Chamois which we saw near the edge of the forest.

One last stretch before the final descent to Wattwil. 

Down below is the city of Wattwil, the Thur Valley, and the Churfirsten Mountains. For a change,we have sunshine here, and the valley below us has the shadow. (Which was also kind of unfortunate, as we couldn't see the Wattwil Forstress so well). 

A peek at the Wattwil fortress tower from a small window through the trees. 

The Wattwil fortress as seen from the train at 10 a.m., and then again as we passed it on our way down the mountain later that afternoon!

Just before reaching the main road in Wattwil, we come to the former Capuchin Monastery grounds, from above. The site has been here for over 400 years. The nuns left this convent in 2010 to join other convents, and it is now a facility called ""Fazenda da Esperança", a type of residential treatment center for troubled youth. 

We entered the grounds of the former Capuchin Monastery, which is open to the public. We visited the church and the small cemetery. 

Some of the details of the former monastery grounds. The door handle to the church in particular is unusual!

The date inscribed on the lintel of the front door of this building is 1756. 

These sheep with their skinny legs and huge wooly bodies looked like walking mops!

VIDEO:

I just caught the last of the herd of these funny sheep heading away from us.

It looks like a bunch of walking mops!

A look behind us to the former monastery grounds and buildings as we walk the final stretch to the train station, where we still had to wait about 20 minutes for the train back to Wattwil and Rapperswil, for the 1¾-hour trip home.  

A main street in Wattwil just before we reach the west side of the railway station. We got here at 15:45, and still had to wait 15 minutes for the 4 p.m. train home, which was a trip of 1¾ hours.  

What this day's hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. 

These are all the hikes we have done in this part of the Toggenburg region near Wattwil 

Always a favourite sight into the Glarus Alps after the train leaves the Ricken Tunnel and reaches the upper part of Lake Zurich. 

Another favourite sight is the Rapperswil Castle. 

Always a scenic ride northwards along the southwestern shore of Lake Zurich. 

And the view to the south as our train heads back to Zug from our connection in Thalwil. 

Location of our hike within Switzerland, a beautiful region quickly and easily accessible from our home. 

It's always interesting for us to hike a new trail from where we can see other landscapes where we have walked before. Likewise, once we have done a new trail, it's interesting to look at older photos where you can see the landscape of the current hike. Here are photos from the summits of Mt.Schnebelhorn (Oct.2020 hike) and Mt. Twerenspitz (Oct.2019) from where we can see where this day's hike took place. 

View from Schnebelhorn to the Chellenspitz summit on the right, and where we ascended this day from Unterälpli farm through the landscape of crocuses. 

View from Tweralpspitz down the valley to Wattwil. On this day we descended from Geiss-Chopf (on the left) via Steintal on that cleared hillside. The little red X shows where we saw the chamois.