Kronberg-Winterwanderweg

The winter hiking trail from the Kronberg summit leads gently downhill to Jakobsbad. Fantastic views of the Säntis and welcoming mountain inns beckon along the way.

From the Kronberg stop, the winter hike begins close to the highest point of the route. At around 1,660 m, the long descent ahead is already apparent. Kronberg is renowned for its far-reaching views across the Appenzell Alps to the Alpstein, as well as towards Central Switzerland and the Allgäu.

The route initially crosses open terrain. After a good half-hour, the Jakobskapelle stands right beside the trail. Beyond it, pastures and stretches of woodland alternate as the winter hike steadily loses altitude. There are barely any uphill sections over the eight kilometres; the route’s defining descent totals around 800 metres. A little over two and a half hours should be allowed for the entire route.

On the final section, the route approaches the valley floor and briefly follows the Wissbach. The houses of Jakobsbad soon come into view. Passing the valley restaurant and the railway station, the trail leads to the Jakobsbad (Kronbergbahn) stop, where the winter hike ends.