A Short Section on the Thur River Trail between Lütisburg and Dietfurt

Wednesday November 8, 2023 -- The only really nice day we have had this month so far (and more bad weather till mid-November) and Urs had to work! Well, till noon anyway, so we met up in Zurich and traveled to the Toggenburg region for a short afternoon walk on another section of the Thur River Trail. 

We had hoped to complete a three-hour section starting in Lütisburg (where we had ended a 12-km stretch this February -- Photos HERE -- , and wanted to continue on in autumn) to Lichtensteig, but only managed to complete an 8-km stretch as the sun was already starting to go down at 3:30 p.m.!

The air was so clear that we hoped we could see some of the mountains of eastern Switzerland, but our view was "blocked" by the small surrounding hills on this stretch.... which was also just barely along the river, even though it is part of the themed riverside trail! The best view we had was from the train on our way back to the city of Wil. In retrospect, we should have gone higher (but didn't want an uphill climb), or stayed closer to the city of Zurich, to save on travel time.

Let's hope we get another mild and clear day like this one, although at this time it doesn't look like it's going to be a pleasant November....

We started at 1:15 pm at the train station in Lütisburg where we ended the 3-hour hike we did here in February (Photos HERE). This is trail no.24: "Thurweg" ("Thur River Trail"). Bütschwil is the next town we are headed to, one hour from here. 

With this nice weather and expectation of rain the next day, the farmers are busy distributing manure over their pastures. It smelled like pig manure for most of our two-hour walk!

Ahead of us we can see the church steeple in Bütschwil, which is the next town we are headed to. Also to the south are the mountains near Lake Walensee, I think. Maybe the west side of the Churfirsten range? 

So nice to see the cows in the pastures still. There were many along the way. 

To our east we could just see the top part of Mount Säntis (A hike along the top of those hills would have provided much better views!). This is a zoomed photo. 

Farm houses along the way. 

Our plan was for a 3-hour and 12-km hike from Lütisburg to Lichtenstieg, but we ended the hike in Dietfurt, as the sun was already setting at 3:30 p.m. (We started at 1:15 p.m). Even though this was part of the "Thur River Trail", we didn't see much of the river.  

Still, a nice balmy November day for an afternoon walk. And the pastures are still a vibrant green!

Here for a change is someone cleaning the leaves off the path with a good, old-fashioned broom, instead of the annoying leaf-blowers whose noise you cannot escape from here.

After an hour of walking, we came into the town of Bütschwil. We passed by the church before crossing the river to the east side of the valley. 

Always a quick look into any church we pass by. This is the parish church in Bütschwil. 

Sometimes we even see some fun cars. This is a Porsche.

Even though we are in Canton St.Gallen, some of the houses have a distinct Appenzell style. 

This was a pretty house as well. 

The suspension bridge across the Thur River at Bütschwil

Crossing the Thur River

Now we've crossed over to the East side of the Thur River, where we had much more sunshine for this late afternoon walk. 

A look at the Bütschwil church now on the other side of the Thur River

This was quite funny.... to our right, a farmer was loading fresh and steaming manure into his truck for spreading on the fields. And that cow on the left was staring intently at him... and not at us for a change. She didn't pay any attention to us at all. 

There's that cow, still staring at the farmer and totally ignoring us. 

Heading down toward the river now

Another peak in the distance to the south, maybe Mount Speer?

Our second glimpse of the river this day.

Lots of nice farm houses along the way. 

We came to an interesting little side valley where feeder streams come down to the Thur River, and where there are some fortress ruins (Burg Rüdberg) in the forest. 

We did the short detour to the ruins of the Rüdberg Fortress. There isn't much left except some stone walls. 

Information about the Rüdberg Fortress which controlled the only passage between Lake Constance and Lake Zurich from the 13th to late 15th Centuries. At the time, the only traversable road in the Thur Valley passed by the fortress. 

The view down to the Thur River from the Rüdberg Fortress. Most likely the trees didn't block the view back in the day!

Heading back down to the river again. The leaves here made the trail a bit slippery.

Apparently, Urs found a tricky section of this stream to cross! It was actually easier to cross right where the stream entered the river. 

At river level where the river makes the bend near the fortress (which would be at the top of the cliffs on the right). 

After another 10 minutes of walking from the bend in the river, we came to the bridge in Dietfurt and had to decide if we wanted to end the walk here or continue for another hour to the next town of Lichtensteig. But the sun was already very low and the town would have been in shadow, so we decided to continue the walk on a different day, and headed to the station in Dietfurt. 

While waiting for the 15:41 train in Dietfurt, another look at that lovely snow-covered mountain to the south. This is most likely the very western side of the Churfirsten Range. 

What our 8-km walk on the Thur River Trail looks like on Google Satellite Maps. 

On the train heading north back to Wil, we pass by the side valley where we detoured to the fortress ruins on that cliff above the Thur River. 

And from the train window is where we got the best and most fantastic view of the Alpstein Massif and Mount Säntis. This would have been the better place for a hike... had we known. Here we are just passing through the community of Lütisburg, where the church is located on a small hill at the junction of the Necker and Thur Rivers.

Location of the Thur River Valley section between Wil and Wattwil, the region where we walked both in February and this time. The trip home took two hours. 

Schwarzenbach to Lütisburg along the Thur River Trail

Sunday February 12, 2023 -- The lovely weather continues, so we are out walking as often as possible!

After two winter/snow hikes (last Wednesday and yesterday), we wanted to see green again, and decided on an easy walk along a river, this time the Thur River in the northeastern part of Switzerland. Usually I get very tired doing riverside walks, but this stretch along the Thur River was a nice combination of forest, riverside, farms and meadow trails.. Stretches along paved roads were no problem, as there was plenty of variety. The only drawback was that it was a very hazy day, and it would have been nice to see the mountains more clearly.

The Thur River is a 131-km long river in the northeast of Switzerland, with its source on the flanks of Mt.Säntis in the Alpstein Massif. It flows through the Cantons of St.Gallen, Thurgau (named after the river) and Zurich, where it enters the Rhine River south of Schaffhausen. There is a 160-km themed trail which you can follow in stages, and on this day we did half of Stage 3, from Schwarzenbach near Wil, and walking south to Lütisburg. Of particular interest was the wooden covered bridge across the Thur River at the latter location, and the fabulous Guggenloch railway viaduct. Also, this stretch is under special natural protection, and is considered one of the most valuable landscapes in Switzerland. 

In all it was a good day for this hike. Sometimes warm enough without a jacket, and sometimes a cold wind blowing. But lots of sunshine at about 6 ⁰C.

We started our hike at 10:15 at the Thur Bridge (Railway Bridge) in Schwarzenbach, just south of the city of Wil

The Thur River flows through three Cantons. This stretch is in Canton St.Gallen. We walked just over 12 km from Schwarzenbach to Lütisburg station. 

We had mostly pleasant meadow and forest trails, and most of them were dry. There are very many farms with fruit trees here, and it will be magnificent when they are blossoming. 

Once in a while we had a view of the Thur River

Several such forest stretches

A couple of detours to the river shore. This whole stretch is a nationally protected landscape

We passed several very unique buildings in the forest near the river.

The buildings were all different shapes, lots of them like "tiny houses". This one had a mailbox to match!

Another look down at the Thur River

Right next to the river: A Hexagon house and a swimming pool. Most likely a "summer cabin". 

We had to make a detour through the town of Jonschwil, where we found a small hill with some benches, where we had our picnic lunch. We didn't stay long, because there was a cold wind blowing

Our picnic lunch spot. This hill is called "Burg" because the Jonschwil fortress used to be here.  

This bird was sitting on the branch, but as soon as you stop to focus your camera, they fly away! As long as you keep walking, they remain sitting for a while. 

Heading back down toward the river again, we passed through this lovely farm area. Across the river is the town of Bazenheid

The trail goes right past the farm houses. 

There was no enclosure for the sheep on this large clearing, and the babies were playing all over the road! 

Being watched very carefully by a Mom, to make sure we didn't get too close to the babies!

In several places we passed eroded cliffs, many with large icicles due to dripping water

At the hydro power dam in Mühlau, we saw an interesting fish ladder, which are common constructions around power dams, so that the fish can find their way around the dam to the lower part of the river.

Walking along Trail no.24: "Thurweg" (Thur River Trail). Our goal from here is Lütisburg Station, having started in Schwarzenbach. In all just over three hours. 

Enjoying the sunshine

A small farming hamlet called Haslen. We usually like these pasture trails, but at this time of year they are muddy, slippery and difficult to walk. Sometimes the paved roads are preferable. 

In Lütisburg, the Necker River joins the Thur River here below the St.Michael's Catholic Church

A quick look inside the St.Michael's Church

I always admire the organs. This is quite a unique one, the full width of the church

St.Michael's Catholic church in Lütisburg

We stopped here for a coffee break before continuing to the train station, which was actually another 30 minutes to walk!

The wooden covered bridge over the Thur River in Lütisberg, and the fabulous train viaduct in the background. 

The wooden covered bridge was built in 1789. 

A look back at the beautiful wooden covered bridge over the River Thur at Lütisburg

And now we pass under the magnificent Guggenloch railway viaduct, 152m long. 

This was the original iron railway bridge, built 1870-1875, and replaced by the stone bridge in 1945. The photo shows the stone bridge under construction, while the iron bridge is still in use. 

Once we got to the level of the railway line, we got this view of the town of Ganterschwil on the east side of the Thur River

Here at the train station in Lütisburg is where we ended our hike at 3 p.m., although we had enough daylight to walk the next village of Bütschwil. The air was very hazy this day, and we could not see the mountains very well. 

Our train heading south to Wattwil, which is the other end of Stage 3 of the Thur River Trail. 

What our 12-km stretch along the Thur River Trail looks like on Google Satellite Maps. 

On the way to Wattwil by train, we spot the medieval-looking village of Liechtensteig, which we hope to visit soon when we walk the second part of Stage 3 of the trail. 

A glimpse of the Churfirsten mountains just before we reach Wattwil (change of trains there). 

The location of this section of the Thur River, just south of the city of Wil. This area is also part of the Toggenburg. 

Other hikes we have done in the Toggenburg region of northeastern Switzerland