When first looking at my pictures, some of my friends thought this impressive geological formation belonged to the more famous mountain chain Dolomites in Italy. This social media-famous mountain, however, belongs to the southern Swiss mountain range of Alpstein in the canton of Appenzell.
This hike is not far away from the even more famous Schäfler Ridge, and it's perfect for a day hike during your Swiss Holiday.
Hiking to the Saxer Lücke
When I first started researching the hike to Saxer Lücke, I came across several versions, but they were always somewhat confusing to me. So, first of all, I will try to explain the different ways you can do this hike clearly
Option 1: Saxer Lücke + Fählensee hike from Frümsen via Staubern
Type: out-and-back
Elevation: ↑ 145m / ↓ 378 m
Distance: 8.6 km
Difficulty: Medium (T2)
See the detailed description here
Option 2: Frümsen to Staubern - Saxer Lücke - Fählensee - Sämtisersee - Brüsilau
Type: point-to-point on a semi-loop Elevation: ↑ 316m / ↓ 1141 m
Distance: 13 km
Difficulty: Medium (T2)
Overview here
Option 3: Saxer Lücke and Fählensee hike from Brüsilau via Hoher Kasten
Type: out-and-back
Elevation: ↑ 509m / ↓ 756 m
Distance: 9.2 km
Difficulty: Medium (T2)
How to get there
By car:
For options 1 and 2, drive to the Frümsen, Luftseilbahn Staubern in the village of Frümsen
For option 2, drive to Parkplatz Kastenbahn
By public transportation: The nearest bus stop for options 1 and 2 is Frümsen, Luftseilbahn Staubern. For option 3, the nearest bus stop is Brülisau, Kastenbahn.
Fees
In 2025, a cable car round-trip for options 1 and 3 will cost 40 CHF. You can buy your ticket directly at the cable car station.
What to bring
- Sturdy hiking shoes
- At least 1.5 liters of water per person
- Sunscreen, sunglasses & hat on sunny days.
- Rain jacket as the weather can quickly change
- Camera
When to go
The best time to hike to the Saxer Lücke is from June to October, as the cable cars run continuously between those months.
Overview Saxer Lücke Hike (option 1)
From Frümsen to Staubern
To take the cable car to Staubern, you must buy a ticket from the ticket machine at the station. This is an unmanned station, so if you need any assistance, you will need to call them using a button next to the tourniquets that regulate the access to the cable car.
At the top, you will find the Staubern hut, where you can use the toilets and eat and drink if you like.
From Staubern to Saxer Lücke
In my opinion, the first part of the trail is the hardest one, as you have to go down some rocky stairs secured by a metallic cord to hold onto, but the views are already stunning. Then, the path gets briefly steep, and you will climb some rocks (nothing too crazy, but there are no steps).
After this part, the trail gets flatter, allowing you to appreciate the beautiful landscape more easily. From here, you can see the Fählensee from above.
You will start seeing the shape of the Saxer Lücke while on the trail. Keep on going for about 30 minutes to see the Saxer Lücke fully.
At this point, you can choose to end your hike there and turn around or go a little bit further to the Fählensee.
From Saxer Lücke to Fählensee
The next part of the trail is all downhill switchbacks. The terrain is made up of loose rock, so it can get slippery, especially if you’re not wearing hiking boots.
This section was my favorite because you appreciate the magnificence of the Saxer Lücke geological formation as you approach it.
Once you get all the way down to the valley, you can go for a swim in the lake or simply relax by it. You can also have something to eat or drink while enjoying the view at the Bollenwees hut.
Remember that you will have to go back up the same way you came down. Although the way up is steep, it is feasible with the right equipment (aka hiking boots and poles, although I didn’t need the latter). By this point, you will have already been hiking for a couple of hours, so walking uphill on what seems to be never-ending switchbacks can be tedious and tiring.
