Schönhalden Guscha Gratweg • Hike along dramatic ridge

This gorgeous ridge trail is reached by a tiny cable car that services a mountain hotel. The hike starts with a steep climb to a panorama viewpoint across the Heidiland region.

Then it meanders along a ridge with mountain views, looping back through rolling pastures. Back at the hotel, there’s a big playground and restaurant with a view for your recovery time.

This hike is long enough that adults will consider it a proper hike, but also short enough that older kids will be able to make the distance without taking all day. Definitely bring your hiking sticks for the steep narrow bits and stay on the path when you are near the cliffs. 

Overview

Here is a summer map of this area. This trail starts at the top of the Schönhalden gondola, where you’ll find a hotel/restaurant with a big playground. The trail is a lollipop loop that starts and ends at the gondola. 

Trail Map

The trail heads up the mountain and loops up along a ridge, ending back at the gondola station, about 7.5 km total with 630m of elevation gain/descent. 

See also the trail on SchweizMobil • Komoot • AllTrails • OutdoorActive

Trail conditions

The trail is mostly a narrow dirt mountain trail, some steep parts with rocks and tricky footing. There are some sections near cliffs, but the trail is set back from the edge and relatively safe for the average hiker. But if you get vertigo, probably not the best hike for you.

Best for adults and kids 7+ with hiking experience that can manage a steady climb for at least an hour. The whole hike takes about 3 hours. As two adults taking lots of pics, it took us 2hr50.

Getting there

This hike is located on the Schönhalden mountain, southeast of Zürich, in the Heidiland region. You must ride a gondola to reach Schönhalden and the start of hike. This area is not easily accessed by public transport.

By car:

From the A3 highway, take exit 49-Flums. Drive through the village of Flums, turning left on Kleinbergstrasse and driving up the mountain until you see the tiny Schönhalden gondola station on your left (47°04’43.0″N 9°20’57.8″E). There is parking on the side of the road across the street from the gondola and more parking down the road a bit at the curve.

By public transport:

There is a bus stop Flumserberg Saxlirank near the cable car station. But the bus only runs on weekdays. the bus runs only twice in the morning at 10:43 and 11:43.

If you want to go there on a weekend, you would need to take a train to Flums train station, then take a taxi. Last time we checked, the taxi costs CHF 35, call 079 735 3000. 

Planning your day

Ticket prices

In 2025, a return ticket for the gondola costs CHF 26/adult, CHF 16/kids 6-16, under 6 free. No discount with travel passes.

You can now purchase tickets on their website. But boarding is still first come, first served.

Last time we went, you had to pay in cash at the top station.

Opening times

The cable car runs year round, but hiking season is usually June to October. 

The cable car runs 8.00 to 18:00, every 30 minutes. But it will run more frequently on demand if you have at least four people. You can call using the phone at the station to let them know you want to ride up.

Check current prices and opening times.

What to wear & bring

Best to bring hiking sticks and wear sturdy hiking shoes with good tread and optionally ankle support. Since the ridge is quite exposed, make sure to check the weather forecast and don’t hike in heavy rain or wind. Make sure to bring layers in case of sudden changes in weather.

There is one hut at Hintersass with a self-service drink cooler (bring exact change), but otherwise no services or water along the trail until you finish back at the gondola station restaurant.

Photo story of the trail

Boarding Schönhalden gondola

The Schönhalden gondola has two cars, each fitting 4 people. 

You must call the operator using the provided phone and tell them you are ready to go. Get in the gondola, close the door and wait. When you get to the top, you pay in cash. 

Arriving at Berghotel Schönhalden

At the top of the gondola, you arrive at the Schönhalden hotel & restaurant. There are toilets through the door directly opposite of the gondola.

There is a big playground adjacent to the hotel with swings, slides, a zip line and views of the mountains and valley.

We were a little confused how to start the trail. Walk up the stairs from the gondola and out of the hotel building. You will see the trail sign shown below. You are going direction “Mädem-Hintersäss”. So turn left on the dirt path by the trail sign. But almost immediately, the trail turns right, crosses a cow gate with a yellow sign that says “Bergweg” (sorry no pic of that, whoops!). Then you walk up the grassy hill shown below. You’ll figure it out.

The trail starts through fields and forest.

Then passing through some cow gates and by some cows.

At this trail sign, the trail forks.

You can follow either fork, both labeled Mädem-Hintersäss. The fork to the right says “über Guscha” and will take you up to the ridge quickly. The first time I went, my friend and I took the left fork toward Kohlschlag, which climbs more slowly through the valley before reaching the ridge. The second time, my family took the right fork, doing the steep climb first, which I much preferred.

The trail turns into a grassy/dirt road for awhile. You might see some cows.

The path winds its way to Hintersass, where you’ll find some farm buildings. There was a self-service drink cooler here with sodas and beer (sorry, no pic of that either).

The trail signs were a little confusing because they pointed through a fenced off farm pen. Instead walk between the buildings and around the backside.

Right after the Hintersass buildings, you should be back on the trail as shown below.

We saw another trail breaking to the right, don’t go there. Just keep heading straight up the mountain on the well-defined path shown in this pic cutting up and to the left toward the saddle of the ridge.

The trail is rocky and quite steep here, take some breaks.

The trail leads you to the Chamm hut, where we found lots of cows and a chicken tent. I don’t know if this hut is public or provides services on weekends. It looked closed and private to us. It took us about 50 mins of uphill walking from the fork in the trail to this hut.

Take a break at the bench under the cross and enjoy the view for a bit.

After this hut, we couldn’t see the trail or trail signs. Happily, we saw another hiker who pointed us in the right direction. The trail follows the stone wall up along the ridge, which becomes obvious after a few meters.

This part of the trail is rather tricky. I was glad to have my sticks.

Finally on the ridge

It took us about 15 mins from the Chamm hut to reach the top of the ridge, where  it levels off and you get great views of the cliffs. These were my favorite views of the hike.

If you are with children, make sure to keep them close, as there are cliffs in this area, which could be dangerous if you are careless.

You can see the trail faintly next to the fence along the cliff.

Take some selfies.

Looking back from the ridge toward the Chamm hut. Are we in Scotland?

Take a detour over to the cliffs on the other side of the mound to your left. There isn’t a trail, just ramble over the lumpy grass to take a look. Then you can get this pic. On a clear day, you can see over to the Proalp part of Flumserberg.

Go back to the ridge trail and just follow it and take lots of pictures.

Some heather in this part, rather unusual in Switzerland I think.

This part on top of the ridge is easy walking, very enjoyable.

We even ran some of it to keep warm in the rain.

The view on a sunnier day.

Eventually the trail will head back down and lead to this big cross. Make sure to sign the guestbook mounted to the cross.

Turn right at the cross and head down the mountain. The trail is quite narrow and steep here. Go slow and use your sticks.

The trail levels out and gets a little faint crossing this field.

Eventually the trail leads back to the fork you took earlier (shown left below). Turn left and retrace your steps back to Schönhalden.

Have a drink at the restaurant and lounge outside with a view. You earned it!

We were there on a quiet weekday. So after paying for our drinks, our server went with us to the cable car to send us down. When you reach the bottom, you have to reach out the window of the gondola car and pull a lever to open the door. It’s a little awkward but I’m sure you’ll figure it out.

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