Appenzeller Alpenweg, Stage 2/2

While there is noise and hustle and bustle around the valley station at the beginning of this trail, you are then almost completely alone on various Alps, in the middle of an untouched and unspoilt natural landscape. This stage leads over the Chammhalde.

The hike begins at the Schwägalp, Säntis-Schwebebahn bus stop, at the foot of the Säntis. After just a few steps, the buildings of Schwägalp are left behind, and the waymarked hiking trail crosses open meadows and pastures to Siebenhütten. Rather than descending steadily into the valley, the route accumulates around 600 metres of ascent over several climbs. Roughly halfway along, it reaches its highest point at 1,574 m, not far from Spitzli.

From here, the route is predominantly downhill. Open Alpine pastures increasingly give way to forest as the trail descends in broad sweeps towards Urnäsch. In total, the stage covers 13 km and takes just over four hours; the descent of around 1,100 m is a defining feature of the second half in particular. Towards the end, the first houses of the village come into view. The route passes close to the Reformed church and Gasthaus Dorfplatz, ending a few steps later at Urnäsch railway station.