Toggenburg Sellamatt snowshoe trail

The Toggenburg region in eastern Switzerland has lots of winter hiking options, including the Sellamatt snowshoe tour, which we did as a family and really liked.

Even though we went on a foggy day and couldn’t see the big mountains above us, we still enjoyed our time wandering the snowy landscape through the forest.

Although it requires some stamina to climb the uphill sections, it’s a good trail for beginners and older children as it’s not too long or too difficult.

The snowshoe path occasionally joins the groomed winter walking path, giving you opportunity to shorten the path if necessary.

Region	Toggenburg region, Eastern Switzerland
Address:	Alt St Johann-Sellamatt gondola – Ochsenwis 418, 9656 Alt St. Johann
By car:	Parking at gondola station From Zurich 1hr30
By public transport:	Bus stop: Wildhaus, Dorf From Zürich 2h10

Trail:	2h • ⬇️trail map
Distance:	5 km loop
Difficulty:	moderate • 260m up & down
Condition:	marked snowshoe trail
Elevation:	1094m to 1437m

Open:	Dec to March, assuming snow • check status
Cost:	gondola return ticket CHF 39/adult
Discounts:	50% off with Half Fare Card, GA, or Swiss Travel Pass
Services:	restaurant & WC at middle point and parking
More info:	chaeserrugg.ch • webcam • weather

Trail Overview

Here a section of the Chäserrugg winter map. The pink dotted line is the snowshoe route. The pink solid lines are the winter walking path, which is groomed.

See the full winter map on the Chäserrugg website (click the Bahnen/Karte link on the bottom bar). 

Trail Map

This snowshoe trail is a loop that starts and ends at the top of the Sellamatt gondola, Route 721 on SchweizMobil. We did the trail counterclockwise, which I think is preferable.

With our teens, it took us about 1hr30 actual walking time and 2hr total time on the trail. For food, there is the Alp Sellamatt restaurant (also WC) at the start and cafe at Zinggen (no WC) near the ski lifts.

My friend Inga recommended this trail way back in 2007, when she did this trail with her two year old, who carried on her back for some of the trail and walked on his own when they were on the groomed sections of the winter walking path. Thanks Inga, we loved it!

More winter hikes in the Toggenburg area:

The Toggenburg region has three small ski areas, each with their own website and winter walking options. We were in the Chäserrugg area, which has the snowshoe trail we did and a few winter walking trails.

The Wildhaus area has three winter walks and two snowshoe trails. The Gamplüt area has one snowshoe trail.

How to get there

This snowshoe route is located in the Toggenburg region in eastern Switzerland.

The trail starts at the top of the Alt St Johann-Sellamatt gondola – Ochsenwis 418, 9656 Alt St. Johann.

By car:

Drive to Alt Sankt Johann and follow signs to the Sellamattbahn. It does not have an address but the parking is on the road Ochsenwis 9656 Alt St. Johann (GPS: 47°11’37.3″N 9°17’12.0″E).

There is parking along the road leading to the gondola and a large parking lot a bit past the lift. 

By public transport:

You can take a train to Wattwil or Nesslau Neu St Johann, then a bus to the Alt Sankt Johann, Dorf stop.

The bus stop is a short 3 min walk from the gondola station. Check bus schedule.

Planning your day

Tickets

The snowshoe trail starts at the top of the Alt St Johann – Sellamatt gondola. You need just a return ticket on this gondola (not a Wanderkarte, which is more expensive).

In 2025, this ticket costs CHF 39/adult. See current prices.

You get a 50% discount with SBB GA or Half-fare card. Kids under 6 and those with a SBB Junior Card ride free.

Opening Times

This gondola is usually open for winter season from mid December to early April.

During this season, the gondola runs daily from 8:15 – 16:30. See current operating times.

Photo story of the snowshoe trail

We were there on a foggy day, so my pics don’t snow all the beautiful mountain views around you. The pic at the top of this post from my friend Inga better represents what you’ll send on a nice day. But my pics will show what the trail looks like.

Here is the valley gondola station. You can buy your tickets here. There is also a WC here.

At the top of the lift, you’ll see this big pink sign for the winter trails. We followed the top one labels “Schneeschuhtrail”.

The trail starts just to the right of the drag lift. It’s often marked with these poles with the blue “Global Trail” sign.

Most of the other poles marking the trail were bright pink.

Most of the trail is in the forest. 

The terrain is very hilly, so you are often going up and down, but not too long in either direction.

A couple times the snowshoe trail joins the winter walking/cross country ski path. Stay to the right as a courtesy to the cross country skiers.

Passing a few barns here and there.

At Zinggen, you’ll find a couple ski lifts, a cafe, and the crossroads of several trails. If you want to keep walking, you could follow the winter walking path to Iltios.

Here’s the cafe at Zinggen. In Feb 2021, it was open for takeaway. No WC here – instead continue to the restaurant at Sellamatt, about another 10-15 mins.

 

When my friend Inga was at Zinggen in February, there was a “guggentreff” band, which travel the mountains and play music to scare away winter. They are particularly active around the Fasnacht season.

See more Swiss snowshoe trails we recommend.

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See also Winter Walks in Switzerland