Hauenstein - Staffelegg

Signposting: signposts with sticker no. 5 on a green background (Jura Höhenweg).

(S) From the farm, your bivouac site, join the Hauptstrasse and turn left (north). You will find the markings in front of the Feuerwehr (fire station). Walk past the Alti Schmitte restaurant, then turn right after the wash house. On Froburgstrasse, which is slightly uphill, turn right at the signpost onto Liechtbergstrasse, following the signs for Frobourg/Staffelegg. At the fork, take the left-hand path to walk along the edge of Lec wood and continue to the signpost.

(1) Turn left, then, after a bend, head north. Cross the pasture, following the edge of the woods on your right, before entering the forest again. Continue climbing until you reach the intersection with a forest path. Turn right, heading north-east, and continue climbing to the summit of Liechtberg (807 m).

(2) Descend to a meadow, then turn left towards Route d'Obererlimoos.

(3) Turn right towards Frobourg/Staffelegg. Follow Route d'Obererlimoos until you reach the signpost located in a car park.

(4) Follow the road, turn east at the bend and continue along Froburgstrasse, which slopes slightly downwards. Continue to the signpost near a gate. Go through the gate (don't forget to close it behind you!) and continue along the grassy path towards the east. Cross beautiful pastures dotted with electricity poles until you reach the junction with the road leading to the hamlet of Frobourg. (Refreshments are available at the Restaurant Hôtel Frobourg in the hamlet).

(5) Continue eastwards, cross a beautiful mountain pasture and pass a transmission mast. Continue climbing to enter the forest and reach the top of the hill, where you will find a signpost at the crossroads (elevation 875).

(6) Descend until you leave the woods and cross a pasture, following a curve that leads you north. At the signpost at the crossroads, continue northeast to reach the hamlet of Chrüzboden. Pass through the hamlet to reach the signpost on the Burg path (elevation 802).

(7) Turn right (north-east), then, at the end of the right-hand bend, turn left into the pasture and continue north-east until you reach the access road to the Burghütte hostel.

(8) Ignoring all the side paths, continue straight ahead towards the north-east on the forest path until you reach the signpost at the crossroads.

(9) Turn right onto the wide, level, stony path heading north-east and continue to the signpost at the crossroads.

(10) Turn left towards the north-west, towards Schafmatt, starting an ascent, then turn north-east. Avoid the crossroads and continue straight on to the top of the hill.

(11) Turn right towards the north-east to begin a descent, then continue to the intersection of the paths, located upstream of a high-voltage power line.

(12) Turn right, then, at a left-hand bend, continue north-west on Schafmattstrasse. Reach the Schafmatt Pass (793 m). Continue on the road, slightly downhill, to the signpost at the intersection.

(13) Turn right (east) at a hairpin bend, following the signs for Geissflue/Staffelegg. Continue along the road, which climbs slightly, until you reach the junction in front of the Berghaus Schafmatt leisure centre.

(14) Continue straight ahead, heading northeast towards Geissflue/Staffelegg, then quickly turn right, heading southeast, to begin a beautiful climb through the woods. After several zigzags, you will reach an intersection. Turn left to reach the summit of Geissflue (963 m), the highest point of the stage.

(15) Continue descending towards the north-east, following the direction of Salhöhe/Staffelegg, then descend to the crossroads at an altitude of 900 metres.

(16) Continue straight ahead towards the east, in the direction of Salhöhe/Staffelegg. Ignore the path leading to the summit of Höchster Punkt (908 m) and continue north-east until you reach the signpost at the crossroads.

(17) Descend following the direction of Salhöhe/Staffelegg. Continue along the path, following the directional markings, until you reach the signpost at the intersection.

(18) Turn left towards the north-east, ignoring all side paths and carefully following the yellow arrows marked on the trees. Continue to the crossroads at the start of a small climb.

(19) Climb this small hill to the intersection at the top.

(20) Continue north-east, descending slightly more steeply, and proceed, ignoring any side paths, to the signpost at the intersection of the paths.

(21) Follow the signs for Salhöhe/Staffelegg, heading south, then, after a left turn, head northeast until you reach Saalstrasse, near the Waldgasthaus Chalet Saalhöhe restaurant.

(22) Turn right towards Salhöhe/Staffelegg, cross carefully in front of the restaurant, then follow the path indicated by the information signs to the Grenzstein von 1768 Oberhof viewpoint at the start of the trail. Continue along this path to the signpost at the intersection with Saalstrasse.

(23) Cross it and head opposite towards Benkerjoch/Staffelegg on a wide stony path that starts to the left of a high-voltage pylon. After several zigzags, cross the summit of Uf der Egg (822 metres) and continue to the signpost at the fork.

(24) Turn left onto a beautiful descent. After a few hairpin bends, you will reach the Pilger path (elevation 720).

(25) Turn right (north-east) and follow this undulating path to the Benkerjoch car park, located along Benkenstrasse.

(26) Turn left, continue to the crossroads, then turn right twice to head south-east on the forest path that climbs into the Bernhalde woods. Continue to the Herzberghof farm.

(27) Turn right at a hairpin bend, then quickly turn left to follow the direction of Staffelegg to the south-east. On Wanneweg, continue straight ahead to Herzbergstrasse, opposite a silo on a farm.

(28) Turn right, pass a cheese dairy, then turn left towards the east. At the fork, stay on the right-hand lane (southbound) and continue to the Passbeizli Staffelegg restaurant. Look for a discreet place to camp near the restaurant. (E)

Remember to bring cash with you, as credit cards are not always accepted in the mountains!
Refreshments available at: Restaurant Hotel Froburg (5), Auberge Burghütte (8), Restaurant Waldgasthaus Chalet Saalhöhe (22), Restaurant Passbeizli Staffelegg (E).
No refreshments available along the route.
No camping, look for a place to camp around the Passbeizli Staffelegg restaurant.
No accommodation in the vicinity.

This route was created by the author on 31/08/2025

Numerous viewpoints along the route:
(2) Liechtberg summit (807 m)
(12) Schafmatt Pass (793 m)
(15) The Geissflue (963m)