Hiking Switzerland – Schäfler Ridge (Appenzell Alps)
This summer, I had the opportunity to explore, hike, and photograph the breathtaking landscapes of the Swiss Alps. Although I’ve visited the Alps several times before, including the Dolomites, the Julian Alps, the French Alps, and even once driving through Switzerland, I had never truly taken the time to explore the country fully. So this summer, I dedicated eight days to hiking and sleeping in the mountains to get the full experience.
In this blogpost I will share my experience photographing the Schäfler Ridge, located in the Alpstein Area (Appenzell Alps).
Zürich - Wasserauen - Schäfler Ridge
After arriving early in the morning at Zurich Airport, I picked up my rental car and started driving towards Appenzell, a 1.5-hour drive. After making a few stops along the way to pick up groceries and other essentials, I arrived at the Wasserauen parking area and got ready to start my hike towards my evening shooting spot. The hike begins with a cable car ride from Wasserauen to Ebenalp. From there, I followed the signs to my final destination, Schäfler Mountain Hut. The hike from Ebenalp to Schäfler Mountain Hut (Berggasthaus Schäfler) is fairly easy and takes only about an hour. Along the way, you are rewarded with stunning views and you pass horses and cows grazing, a common sight when hiking in the Swiss Alps.
Once I arrived at the mountain hut, I had a few hours to relax before checking in to my dormitory. I enjoyed some cake and lunch, took in the view, and did a bit of scouting for the evening’s photo shoot.
After a few hours of relaxing, it was time to do what I came for: capturing the incredible Schäfler Ridge. To reach the viewpoint from the mountain hut, it’s just a few hundred meters of walking, making it the perfect spot if you want to visit during sunrise or sunset.
I arrived at my photo spot quite early to capture the full spectrum of light. I sometimes prefer the more intense golden glow that appears about one to two hours before the actual sunset. On this evening, everything aligned and I got the kind of conditions one can only hope for. The light was stunning, illuminating the side of the mountain range. Still, I felt something was missing to truly convey the scale of the landscape. So, I set my camera to interval shooting and walked out into the frame to provide that sense of scale. This is the photo I captured.
The next morning, I gave it another try to photograph the Schäfler Ridge, though I didn’t expect the light to match the conditions I had the evening before, and I was right. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any good photos this time. After the morning shoot, I went back to my dormitory to pack up my things, enjoy the included breakfast, and begin the hike down. This time I chose the longer route in the opposite direction. Along the way, the weather and light improved a little, so I stopped to capture the view from another angle of the Alpstein mountain range.
The longer hike down involves slightly more exposed and steeper terrain, but only during the first part of the descent. Taking this trail allows you to see more of the area, passing through a forest and eventually reaching the famous Seealpsee Lake, which I would return to at the end of my trip (a separate blog post about Seealpsee will come later). Even though this trail is longer and more demanding, I definitely recommend it if you have the time.
Information
The trail I took: Wasseruen - Ebenalp - Berggasthaus Schäfler - Seealpsee - Wasseruen
Parking: Wasseruen, costs CHF 5,00 per day
Cable Car: Cable Car costs CHF 24,00 one way, CHF 36,00 two way
Accomodation: Berggasthaus Schäfler, CHF 50,00. A sleeping bag or sleeping bag liner is required. Water and food can be purchased in the cafeteria.