Chäserrugg to Gamsalp Hike

This beautiful mountain trail starts at the spectacular panorama viewpoint at Chäserugg 2262m and descends the mountain over a beautiful rocky landscape. 

We combined this hike with the Panorama Path at the top of Chäserrugg (3 km) because we wanted to hike longer. So in total, we hiked about 7 km, about 2hr30 hiking time.

The hike ends at the top of the Gamsalp lift, where you’ll find a playground with slides, swings, and trampoline, which absolutely made my kids day.

Trail Overview

This trail is located in eastern Switzerland, southeast of Zürich.

Here is the summer hiking map for the Chäserrugg and Wildhaus areas. 

This trail starts at the top of Chäserrugg at 2262m, reached by funicular from Unterwasser and cable car from the middle station Iltios. The trail descends northeast 3.8 km to the top of the Gamsalp chair lift, where you’ll find a restaurant and playground. Ride two chair lifts down to Wildhaus, where you can catch a bus back to your starting point at Alt St Johann.

Tickets & Operating Times

This is a one way trail, accessed at both ends by mountain transport. You have to buy your tickets separately since the Chäserrugg and Gamsalp-Wildhaus transport are not managed by the same company.

Up to Chäserrugg

At the start of your hike at Unterwasser, buy a one-way ticket from Unterwasser to Chäserrugg, which includes the funicular train from Unterwasser to Iltios and the cable car from Iltios to Chäserrugg. In 2021, this costs CHF 46/adult and CHF 23/child, under 6 free. Discount for SBB GA & Half-fare and Junior cards accepted. Check website for current prices.

The mountain transport to Chäserrugg is open from the end of May through mid-October, daily 8:30 to 17:00 running every 30 mins. Check the website for current timetable and schedule.

Down from Gamsalp

At the end of your hike at Gamsalp, buy one-way lift tickets down the mountain to Wildhaus (includes two chair lifts). In 2021, this costs CHF 24/adult, CHF 12/child, under 6 free. SBB Half-fare and Junior cards accepted. Check website for current prices.

The Gamsalp-Oberdorf lift runs on weekends in the second half on June, then daily July through mid-October, 8.30–12.00 and 13.15–17.15. The Oberdorf lift run daily from the end of May through mid-October, 8.30–12.00 and 13.15 – 17.15. On bad weather days, these lifts run less frequently or not at all. Check website for current timetable.

Budget option

If you don’t have SBB Half-fare cards, this is an expensive hike. So you might consider hiking from the middle station at Iltios up to Chäserrugg. This reduces your cost from CHF 49 to CHF 18 for the first leg of your journey. From Gamsalp, you could hike halfway down the mountain, reducing your cost from CHF 24 to CHF 14, or all the way and pay nothing for this last leg.

Going up to Chäserrugg

Getting on the funicular train at Unterwasser.

Going up the cable car from Iltios

View from the top of Chäserrugg down to Walenstadt.

Starting the hike to Gamsalp

At the cable car station, you’ll see this trail sign. Follow signs to Gamsalp.

The trail starts underneath the lift line. When you see these red marks, head to your right down the rocky slopes.

This first part of the trail has switchbacks with lots of loose rocks, so watch your step carefully.

We went on 30.June, so there were still three big snow patches covering the trail. Fortunately they were passable, but very slippery. Hiking sticks would be very helpful for this portion.

When we bought our funicular tickets, we asked about the conditions of the trail and they called the top station for advice. They informed us that there was still snow covering parts of the trail and that two weeks earlier hikers were turning back because it was not passable. We decided to try it and turn back if necessary. Luckily we saw several hikers coming up the trail and they told us the snow was ok for hiking. I relate this only to encourage you to ask questions and be flexible on your hiking plans. Safety first!

The trail went back to normal after the snow, so pretty!

Great place for a picnic.

Well marked trail the whole way.

Looking back up to where we started, at the top of those cliffs in the middle of the pic.

Easy finish the trail on this flat path.

Short dip under the lift.

Follow signs to Gamsalp.

The trail ends at the top of the Gamsalp lift shown below. There is a restaurant here and a playground with slides, swings, trampoline and other amusements.

Buy your one-way tickets down to Wildhaus here and ride the two chair lifts down to the valley. If necessary, walk up to the Wildhaus, Ligishaus bus stop (as shown below) and catch the bus back to your starting point at Unterwasser, Post or your end destination. The bus to Unterwasser leaves every 30 mins on the :03 and :33. It costs CHF 4.80 one way.

Getting There

Chäserrugg is a mountain peak in the Toggenburg area of Eastern Switzerland, as shown below.

Since this is a one-way hike, you will start and end at different towns, about a 5 mins drive apart. A bus runs about every 30 mins between the towns, so you can get back to your starting point.

By car: We recommend starting in Unterwasser/Alt St. Johann, then at the end of the hike, returning by bus from Wildhaus, Ligishaus to Unterwasser to pick up your car. The bus runs every 30 mins on the :03 and :33.

So start by driving to Unterwasser and following signs to the Iltios funicular (Früeweidstrasse 1950, 9657 Alt St. Johann). There is free parking next to the base station. The road to Alt St Johann is a regular two lane country road, easy to access.

By public transport: Take a train to Wattwil, then bus 770 to Nesslau, then bus 790 to Unterwasser, Post. Alternatively, take a train to Buchs, then bus 790 to Unterwasser, Post. The funicular station is a short walk from the bus station. The hike ends at Wildhaus, where you can catch a bus at the Wildhaus, Lisighaus stop to your end destination, leaving every 30 mins on the :03 and :33.

Pin this for later…