Saxer Lücke
Switzerland is home to a large number of mountain trails. The Saxer Lücke is one of those unique trails, taking you to a breathtaking landscape where the beauty of the mountains, with their jagged peaks and steep cliffs, creates a sense of awe and admiration for the power of nature. What makes the Saxer Lücke extra special is that, on a clear day, you can see Liechtenstein in the distance.
If you want to be sure whether visiting the Saxer Lücke will be worth it, how you can get there and how the hike will look like, this guide has you covered!
Saxer Lücke: Raw Swiss alpine beauty
Saxer Lücke is a high mountain pass located in the Alpstein range of northeastern Switzerland, located at an altitude of approximately 2,450 meters (8,038 feet) above sea level. The mountain pass is mostly known for the breathtaking view at the Saxer Lücke viewpoint, from where you can marvel at the majestic peaks, deep valleys, and pristine wilderness that characterize the Alpstein range in northeastern Switzerland.
In Short
- Hiking time: 60 minutes
- Altitude change: + 300 meters
- Distance: 3 KM one way (6 KM return)
- Best time to hike: May – October
- Hiking difficulty: Moderate
Getting to the Saxer Lücke
To get to Saxer Lücke, you’ll have to take a cable car to the start of the hike. This cable car departs from Frümsen (Luftseilbahn Staubern) and takes approximately 10 minutes before reaching Staubern. In total, you’ll ascend for 1,250 meters before reaching the cable car station in Staubern.
Car parking: there’s enough parking space in front of the cable car station in Frümsen. When I went there, it was (still) free.
More information & tickets for the cable car!
Since there’s a restaurant (and ‘hotel’) in Staubern at the top, the cable car runs almost all year round. If you want to go for an early sunrise at a special viewpoint, know that you have the option to stay overnight. Note that the trail is open for hiking from June to October, depending on when the snow melts or when it starts snowing again.
You can easily buy tickets at the ticket vending machine at the cable car.
Pretty scenic location for a cable car!
Opening hours cable car
Every 20 minutes (xx:00/ xx:20/ xx:40) for 3 or more people. If busy, every 8 minutes.
April: 9.00 am – 10.00 pm (operation is stopped in bad weather)
May: 8.00 am – 10.00 pm
June - September 7.00 am – 10.00 pm
October: 8.00 am – 10.00 pm
November - December: 9.00 am – 10.00 pm (operation is stopped in bad weather)
Extracted from Appenzellerland (appenzell.ch)
Best time to visit Saxer Lücke
As long as the hike is open, you should be fine with visiting the Saxer Lücke viewpoint. Catching the sunrise is only possible if you decide to stay overnight. When I arrived at the viewpoint at 08:30 in June, it was already too sunny to make some extra dramatic photos. However, the view was still absolutely stunning.
During the hike, you'll get to see the Fälensee from up high
Let’s start the hike to Saxer Lücke
From the top of the Staubern restaurant, you can follow the signs to Saxer Lücke. There’s also another hiking trail starting east from the restaurant, but I didn’t do that one. The hike is approximately 3 kilometers before getting to the viewpoint where you can wander at the stunning Kreuzberge peaks.
Note that early in the morning, the mountains don’t catch all the sun, meaning that there is still a lot of shadow. Therefore it’s useful to bring some layers of clothing, so that you can easily adapt. The path leading towards the viewpoint is in fine condition, although there are quite some stones laying on the path at certain points. Hiking shoes are therefore recommended.
During the hike, you can immerse yourself in the diverse alpine ecosystem of Saxer Lücke. Discover some colorful wildflowers, including edelweiss, gentians, and alpine rose, while enjoying the sound of bells of the cows in the valley.
Arriving at the viewpoint
Once you get closer to the viewpoint, a dozen of different viewpoints open up from where you can see the stunning Swiss landscape. The path towards the top of the grass hill is pretty well visible, be extra cautious when going down as it is quite a ‘steep’ descend.
Admire the views, take a little break and enjoy for example a picnic in all quietness.
Hiking back
To get back to the Staubern cable car, follow the path that took you to the viewpoint. You can stop at the restaurant for some food or a drink, before making your way down to the Frümsen cable car station. A day more than well spent!
Enjoy the hike!
More things to do in the area
