Stein (Canton de Saint-Gall) walks

This stage will take you from Stein to Amden. You will walk alongside the Dürrenbach, a torrent with numerous waterfalls, for a long time. At Vordere Höhi, you will enjoy a superb view of the Glarus Alps. You will pass at the foot of the Mattstock as you descend to Amden. As you approach this village, you can also admire the Walensee.

A lovely circular route starting from the Unterwasser car park, passing by Grappelensee and descending towards Alt St Johann. The route follows small tarmac roads before reaching the higher ground. The same applies on the descent. These roads are quiet.

This long, almost flat stage will take you from Amden to Siebnen, crossing three cantons: St. Gallen, Glarus and Schwyz. You will walk along the Walensee and then the Linth Canal. Several small villages follow one after the other before you arrive in Siebnen.

This short stage will take you from Schwägalp to Stein. You will cross numerous mountain pastures until you reach Lutertannen. From Risipass, you will continue through meadows and mountain pastures until you reach Stein (Canton of St. Gallen).

Almost all of the elevation gain is in the first two kilometres. Your efforts will be rewarded once you reach the lake. A peaceful and relaxing spot, with views of Santis and Ebenalp among others, which will make you forget the tingling in your thighs.

This fourth stage will take you from Chrüzegg to Rapperswil on the shores of Lake Zurich. The trail quickly leads to a ridge line, passing through Tweralspitz. In the distance, you will recognise Chrüzegg. You will then descend gradually towards Rotstein, Schwammegg and Köbelberg, with panoramic views on both sides. From Rüeterswil, the Züri Oberland-Höhenweg and the Via Jacobi merge. The arrival in Rapperswil is achieved by avoiding roads as much as possible.

This stage will take you from Appenzell to Schwägalp at the foot of the Säntis. This day is devoted to climbing the Kronberg, a ridge parallel to the Alpstein massif. The Kronberg offers superb views of the Säntis to the south and the plain stretching to Lake Constance in the north. In the evening, you will appreciate the tranquillity of Schwägalp.

This stage will take you from Siebnen to Einsiedeln. After the long climb up the Stöcklichrüz, you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of Lake Zurich and the Sihlsee. At the Etzelpass, you will pass the St. Meinradskapelle chapel and the birthplace of Paracelsus. In Einsiedeln, a major pilgrimage site in Switzerland, don't miss a visit to the monastery.

This third stage will take you from the Hulftegg Pass to the isolated inn at Chrüzegg. The start of the route alternates between forest and pastures before taking a ridge trail at Roten. You will follow this ridge between the cantons of St. Gallen and Zurich to the Schnebelhorn, the highest point in the canton of Zurich and also the highest point of the hike. This summit offers a splendid panorama stretching from Lake Constance to Lake Zurich. The scenic route then passes through the Schindelberg, Rossegg, Habrütispitz and Chrüzegg peaks, offering more superb views.

This stage will take you from Speicher to Appenzell via Trogen. At Hohe Buche, you will enjoy a superb view of Lake Constance and the city of St Gallen. Another hill will take you to the summit of the Säntis. A descent through the mountain pastures will lead you to Appenzell, famous for its cheese. A visit to the town is a must.

This route starts in Pfäffikon (SZ) and leads to Rapperswil (SG) along a wide causeway that divides Lake Zurich into two parts. The first section follows wide gravel paths through a peaceful landscape. Up to Hurden, the path winds through meadows. From Hurden to Rapperswil, you’ll enjoy magnificent views of the lake as you walk along a series of wooden jetties. In Rapperswil, the path passes through a beautiful park leading to the historic town centre. The return journey can be made via the same route or by train (a train runs every half hour between Rapperswil and Pfäffikon).

This hike follows the Via Jacobi (signposted with a No. 4 symbol). Einsiedeln, home to a vast monastery, is a major pilgrimage centre. The route offers views of Lake Sihl. After crossing the Etzel Pass, you’ll catch sight of Lake Zurich as you descend towards Pfäffikon.

This 10-stage Alpine panorama trail takes you from Rorschach on the shores of Lake Constance to Lucerne. The trail crosses numerous mountain pastures and offers a few small peaks with beautiful views of the Alps and lakes. You will visit Appenzell, world-famous for its cheese. You will enjoy the Säntis, the highest point of the Alpstein massif. You will meet many pilgrims in Einsiedeln. You will enjoy walks along the lakes of Zug and Lucerne.

This stage will take you from Rorschach to Speicher. After a beautiful walk along the shores of Lake Constance, you will climb up to the village of Heiden. At Kaienspitz, the highest point of the stage, you will be rewarded with a beautiful view of Lake Constance and the Alps.

This stage will take you from Einsideln to Unterägeri. You will enjoy a superb view at the Chatzenstrick pass. You will descend to Unterägeri on the shores of Lake Ägeri via a ridge path.

This second stage will take you from Gyrenbad to the Hulftegg Pass. The Schauenberg offers a magnificent view of the Alps. The route to Sitzberg offers more interesting views, particularly of the Bichelsee. From Sitzberg (on the border between the cantons of Zurich and St. Gallen) to Allenwinden, the route follows a small road, which fortunately is not very busy. When you arrive at the Hulftegg Pass, you will enjoy a superb view of the Toggenburg and the Appenzell region.

Nineteenth stage: From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura mountain range. For this final stage, you will take the ViaJacobi, the ancient pilgrimage route that leads German pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela via Geneva. Following in their footsteps, you will reach the city of Constance (Konstanz), nestled in southern Germany. Constance charms visitors with its medieval charm, particularly in the picturesque Niederburg district, where narrow streets and half-timbered houses tell centuries of history. Its majestic Romanesque cathedral, the Münster Unserer Lieben Frau, has watched over the city since the Middle Ages. Finally, Lake Constance (Bodensee), a true natural gem, stretches out at the foot of the Alps and unites three nations — Germany, Switzerland and Austria — in a landscape of serene beauty.

Stage 18 From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. This stage, starting from Uesslingen, first takes you through peaceful agricultural pastures before skirting the vineyards of an old monastery. You then reach Warth, home to the Ittingen Charterhouse, which bears witness to more than 850 years of history and spirituality. Passing through Frauenfeld, the capital of the canton of Thurgau, you leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and return to the tranquillity of the banks of the Thur. The route takes you to Pfyn, then offers a beautiful immersion along the river, punctuated by the passage of the superb Eschikofen customs bridge. A stage combining heritage, nature and the gentle flow of the river.