Alpstein Geological Trail (Route 988)
Hoher Kasten – Brülisau · Appenzell Innerrhoden / Ausserrhoden · Switzerland
Difficulty scale
Muntside hiking scale: Easy, Moderate or Hard. It rates physical effort, not technical difficulty. It does not map onto via ferrata, climbing or ski scales.
Rating estimated from distance and accumulated ascent.
Technical difficulty (exposure, scrambling, terrain) is not assessed.
Map and track
Track with 2,394 imported points
Altitude and elevation
Elevation profile
About the trail
Geologischer Wanderweg Alpstein, official SchweizMobil summer hiking Route 988, from Hoher Kasten to Brülisau via Staubern, Saxerlücke, Fählensee, Bollenwees and Sämtisersee. This is the complete walking route; the Hoher Kasten cable car only replaces the ascent to the start. Official figures: 16 km, 5 h 25 min, +640 m / −1,500 m; the licensed dense federal geometry measures 16.37 km and accumulated +626 m / −1,489 m. Medium mountain hiking trail with difficult physical requirement. Switzerland's first geological hiking trail: twenty information panels explain the geology of the Alpstein massif, including the Sax-Schwende Fault, with the best views at Saxerlücke. Summer mountain hike; snow can persist on high sections into early summer, and the exposed ridge sections require sure-footedness and a head for heights. Cable car and mountain restaurants operate seasonally. Check local trail conditions before departure. No claim of current opening; no closure notice was displayed on the official route page when checked on 2026-10-24. Source: SchweizMobil, https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-988. Geometry: federal ASTRA Open Government Data, OGD BY. Attribution: Bundesamt für Strassen, Kanton, Stiftung SchweizMobil.
Getting there and access
- Location:
- Hoher Kasten – Brülisau · Appenzell Innerrhoden / Ausserrhoden · Switzerland
- Track start:
- 47.28379, 9.48560
- Parking:
- No data
Start coordinates: 47.28379, 9.48560
Check public transport and mountain roads before leaving; some routes close in winter.
Open directionsRecommended equipment
Unavailable
Safety
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Weather and official alerts
Weather forecast
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The weather forecast does not confirm that the activity is safe. Check local conditions and official alerts before setting out.
Official alerts
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Community photos
Real photos shared by people who hiked the route.
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