Ebenalp Schäfler Ridge Hike

The Schäfler ridge trail is famous for the beautiful spiky Alpstein peaks and for the dangerous cabled sections with steep drop-offs. This trail is definitely not for everyone, only suited for experience hikers that feel comfortable navigating dangerous terrain. This hike was right on the edge of my comfort level and I doubt I’ll do it again.

Although this hike is not suitable for most of my audience, I’m posting it because lots of people want to do it and it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting into so you can make an informed decision. During my research, all the blog reports I found were quite useless, full of pretty pictures but not much info about risky sections. To be fair, I also didn’t take pictures of the really dangerous sections because I was fully focused on staying safe and not panicking. But hopefully you will find the information here helpful.

For non-risk takers, you can safely hike to the ridge viewpoint at the Schäfler hut and enjoy the views from there without risking your life. Details for that below.

Location

This hike is located in the Appenzell region of eastern Switzerland. You access the trail from the Wasserauen-Ebenalp cable car. See on Google Maps.

Trail overview

Here is the summer map of the Ebenalp area.

Here’s the trail on Google Earth, which gives a better perspective.

Video of the trail

Short video of our hike on the Schäfler ridge from early October 2021.

Hiking map

Here is the trail map.    

See trail on SchweizMobil • Komoot • AllTrails • OutdoorActive

The trail starts at the top of the Ebenalp cable car and hikes up to the Schäfler mountain hut. This part of the trail is an average red/white mountain trail, a rocky footpath, not dangerous.

After the hut, the trail is a narrow footpath with cable as handrails, skirting around mountain peaks with steep drop-offs. This dangerous section is about 1 km until it turns back into a normal mountain trail that loops back toward Ebenalp.

The trail ends with some steep switchbacks back up the cliffs to reach the cable car station. 

Evaluating the danger

I suggest you look at my photo story below to get a better idea of what the trail looks like. I found the beginning of the ridge section very scary and I had to really concentrate on each step to remain calm.

My teens (14 & 17) were initially nervous but after a couple minutes, they were calm and hiked at a normal careful speed. They both liked the trail.

Lots of other people on the trail didn’t seem phased at all by the danger. We saw trail runners running, people with dogs, families with children as young as eight. To each his own I guess.

I haven’t found any reports of death on this ridge section. But several hikers have died in the Alpstein area, the latest in June 2021, when two hikers died just days apart near the Aescher cliff restaurant, falling off the trail, one chasing after her dog.  

Shorter safer option

Any casual hiker can do the trail from Ebenalp to the Schäfler hut, which is well-built and safe, no steep drop-offs. It’s about 2.3 km one way to reach the hut, gaining about 300m of elevation.

The posted time is 1hr20 to reach the hut, but it only took us 45 mins. The trail is a red/white mountain train, a rocky footpath with stairs. After enjoying lunch with a view, return the way you came.

Longer option

Many hikers do a longer version of this hike, continuing to the Mesmer hut and hiking down to the Seealpsee, about 12.3 km. My understanding is that there is another cabled section to reach Mesmer, but I didn’t see this myself. See the Mesmer version trail map.

Getting there

By car: Drive to Schwendetalstrasse 82, 9057 Wasserauen and park near the base station of the Ebenalp cable car. There are a couple large parking lots, but on sunny weekends, it can fill up quickly. Last time we were there it cost CHF 5/day.

By transit: Take a train to Wasserauen. The train station is basically across the street from the cable car station.

Ticket prices

At the cable car station, buy a round trip ticket. In 2021, it cost CHF 34/adult and CHF 14/child 6-15, under 6 free. They accept SBB Half-fare and Junior cards. You can pay with cash or card.

Operating hours

The cable car runs for hiking season starting end of April through the beginning of November. It runs every 15 mins from about 7:30 to 18:00, but check operating times before you go. This is a popular destinations, so expect to wait 10-30 mins to go up the cable car. 

What to bring & wear

This is a mountain trail, so I suggest bringing a fleece and rain jacket in case of a quick change in weather. You should wear quality hiking shoes, with good tread and support. I brought hiking sticks but I did not use them much. I put them away on the ridge section because I wanted my hands free to hold the cables.

It’s not a long trail and there are mountain huts along the way where you can buy drinks and snacks. But I would still bring at least 1 liter of water per person and a few snacks to keep up your energy.

Services along the trail

There is a toilet at the bottom and top of the Ebenalp cable car. There is a restaurant and toilet at the Schäfler mountain hut, at the 2.5 km mark. After 4.5 km, there is the Altenalp dairy farm (see on map) with a cafe selling drinks and small meals. Near the end of the trail, you can hike to the Aescher Gasthaus cliff restaurant but it’s usually a long wait for a table here. Near the Ebenalp cable car, there is Berggasthaus Ebenalp, a hotel and restaurant with a large patio. There were no picnic areas with fire pits on this trail.

Photo story of trail

Here’s the cable car station in Wasserauen.

Starting the trail up to Schäfler

At the top of the cable car, follow signs to Schäfler.

Starting the trail. You can see the Schäfler hut up on the mountain.

The trail is rocky with stairs.

The trail is pretty easy on this first part to Chlus.

Now steeper switchbacks on the climb up to Schäfler. A well built trail and very safe.

Looking back down the trail toward Chlus. The trail leads along that ridge to Ebenalp on the far left.

Lots of people on this part of the trail, little kids even.

Last stretch up to the Schäfler hut.

It would be nice to have lunch here. But it only took us 45 mins to get here and we still had a lot of hiking to do.

Even on a busy day, there were still tables available around 11:30.

From the restaurant, you can see the ridge trail from a safe viewpoint. So even if you don’t want to do the dangerous part of the trail, coming up to Schäfler for the view is still worth it. You can see the faint trail under the spiky peaks.

Starting the ridge trail

This path leads to a viewpoint near the hut. At the red sign, the ridge trail branches to the right. 

This sign warns you that the trail from this point is only for experience mountain hikers with good shoes. It also says you can get a safety harness at the restaurant. I didn’t take many pics of the first dangerous part because I had both hands on the cable and was walking very slowly. Safety first.

This is the first part of the cabled section. I was very nervous, especially since it starts by going down a bit and around the peak. You need to go very slowly on this part and hold onto the safety cable.

After a few meters, the trail comes back to the sunny side and goes down a bunch of steps.

Now you traverse the mountain. There are cables along the side for almost a km.

I was happy to have cables on both sides on some of these descents. The trail is quite narrow in some places. If you see someone coming the other direction, look for a wide place to wait for them to pass.

This was one of the only “safe” places to take a pic of my family.

More of the same. By this point, we were used to the trail and didn’t feel nervous.

Looking back up the trail to show how narrow and faint the trail was at times.

Looking back up the trail again. You can see the Schäfler hut in the distance.

At this sign, go direction Mesmer, even though we aren’t going that far.

This section of the trail has a lot of loose rock and we slipped many times. Go slow.

Traversing back to Ebenalp

At this sign, go direction Altenalp and Ebenalp. If you want the longer version, you can go direction Mesmer, then down to Seealpsee.

I was glad to see a semi-normal trail looping back across the mountain. Relatively safe the rest of the way.

Lots of green meadows that are usually full of cows. But we were there at the beginning of October after the cows were already down in the valley.

The Altenalp dairy hut with a small café. They sell alp cheese and other dairy products made here.

Sign near the hut. Go direction Evenalp LSB.

Traversing the mountain. It looks like a steep slope but it felt safe on the trail.

Still rocky with lots of steps.

Happy to have safely navigated the dangerous section.

The cable car is on top of those cliffs.

Hiking up the cliffs to the cable car

At this fork, take the middle path, direction Ebenalp. If you want to visit the Aescher cliff restaurant, take the path to your right instead. It will eventually loop back to the cable car.

We took the path up the cliffs. There are a few steep switchbacks.

Walking right under the cliff walls. We saw rock climbers on these earlier in the day.

At the top of the cliffs, you pass by the Ebenalp Berggasthaus hotel and restaurant.

Follow the path down the cable car. All done!

FAQ

Can you bring dogs on this trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on this trail but you are required to put dogs on the leash on the ridge section. We saw three dogs on this trail the day we went. You need to be very careful passing other hikers as the trail is narrow. In June 2021, a women died on this trail near the cliff restaurant, reportedly chasing after her dog. Dogs need a ticket for the cable car, CHF 14 return trip in 2021.

Do you need safety equipment on this trail?

You are not required to use safety harnesses on this trail, nor did we see anyone using them. However, there is a secure cable along all the dangerous sections. So you could definitely use a safety harness if you had one. Also, there was a sign that said you could get safety harnesses from the Schäfler hut. I suppose you would need to return the equipment to the hut. So that only makes sense if you hike along the ridge and then back.

Can children hike this trail?

There are no restrictions for this trail, so it’s up to your own discretion. I saw a child as young as eight on this trail. But personally, I wouldn’t take a child under 12 and only if your child has a lot of experience on similar trails with steep drop-offs. 

Do you need a permit to hike this trail?

No. As far as I know, you don’t need a permit to hike any trail in Switzerland.