Hike Schwarzer Bären - St. Gallen/Haggen

Easy hike over the mountain range, which separates the two cantons of Appenzell from Central Switzerland. On the way you can enjoy beautiful views of the Alpstein massif and the city of St. Gallen.

From the largest city in eastern Switzerland, it is only a short walk into the green. Start at the railway station in Schwarzer Bären, cross the main road and after a few hundred steps on gravel road, you are already in another world. It is particularly beautiful here in spring. There are countless blossoming fruit trees in flower-filled meadows, while in the distance there is still a lot of snow on the Alpstein slopes.
Follow the hiking trail signposted toward Freudenberg. Soon the monastery of Notkeregg comes into view. Turn northward to reach the recreational area of the Drei Weieren. The five ponds were artificially built in the 17th and 18th centuries to ensure the water supply of the nearby town. In summer they are a popular bathing place for the people of St. Gallen.
After descending to St. Georgen, you will pass by a pond in Mühlegg district, after which you will immediately walk back up to the long-drawn Bernegg hill, following the hiking trail on the northern edge of the forest. A restored steel swing invites you to its cozy gondolas. A little later, you will reach a viewpoint equipped with several benches.
Once again, the path descends quite steeply, this time into the district of Riethüsli, and then climbs up again towards Solitüde. Magnificent views of the green Appenzell hills and the rocky peaks of the Alpstein will cause you to forget how close you are to the city. Walk through the forest to the farms of Wilen, then through residential quarters to the train station in St. Gallen / Haggen.