About the Route

• Route:  Ebenalp plateau to Schafler (via Berggasthaus Ascher) to Lake Seealpsee (via Atlenalp) to Wasserauen
• All Trails: link
• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: 12 km/7.5 miles
• Elevation Change: approx. 550m
• Estimated Time: 5 hours (+ 2 hours for breaks)
• Rating: 10/10
• Type of Trail: open loop (point to point)
• Getting to the start: train to Wasserauen and then take the Wasserauen-Ebenalp cable car to the top

The Map

This trail is a mountain hiking trail, with the majority of the trail being a rock path. I definitely recommend hiking boots for this reason, as it will help with footing and provide more support on the uneven path. For those who have hiking poles, these are highly recommended to provide support on the descents and well worth carrying if you have them as a lot of the trail is spent descending.

Start the walk by heading out from the cable car exit and look for the signs pointing towards Aescher. Some will start the hike directly to Schafler passing by Berggasthaus Ebenalp from here (and you can do this if you have other plans to visit Aescher), but if you’ve not seen the famous hut, I highly recommend doing a slight detour at the beginning to walk by this hut. It takes about 20 minutes from the top of the cable car station to reach Aescher. Be careful as there are electric fences along the initial path to keep the cows away from the path. Do NOT touch them!

On the way to Aescher, you’ll pass through the Wildkirchli Cave. The journey within the cave is quite short, but you will pass through it so be careful as it can be slippery in here. The cave is actually three caves linked together. You’ll then continue shortly along the path built into the side of the cliff and pass by a small chapel. From here you’ll then be able to see one of the oldest mountain huts in Switzerland, the famous Berggasthaus Aescher and it is a beautiful and impressive hut. Stop here for a coffee, or a beer depending on what you fancy! Then continue onward towards Schafler. Note there are bathrooms here to use.

The path continues onward, with signs along the way to help determine which direction you should be going. There are red and white trail markers along rocks on the way so you’ll know you’re on a trail. Follow the signs towards Schafler, which is another mountain hut. This part of the trail will be an ascent. You’ll walk along the cliffside and have sweeping views of the valley to your left. As you trek towards Schafler, your path with eventually meet with the path that others took directly from the Ebenalp gondola.

From this point, you’ll be able to see Berggasthaus Schafler. Continue your trek up and then enjoying the stunning view from above. Grab a table outside (hoping the weather is nice for this!) and take a break before continuing on your journey. This hut has bathrooms, and a re-fill tap inside to fill your water bottles up.

Continue onward towards Atlenalp. After you’ve left Schafler, climb up a bit further, noting this is your last real ascent on this path. Here you’ll have a very cool view! Note the next bit of the hike is not for those with a big fear of heights. You’ll start to climb down some stairs, with cables on the wall to use.

Shortly after the stairs, you’ll have an option to either take a VERY steep but direct path down to Atlenalp, or take a longe path along the ridge that descends slower. We opted for the longer path along the ridge as the hike down the steep path looked terrible without hiking poles and we were not in a rush. Additionally, the longer ridge path looked to have nice views (and it did!).

If you opt to take the longer path, then you’ll be walking along the edge, often with cables to hold for support. This part is definitely a bit nervewracking as it is a thinner path and has a steep cliff on one side. With this in mind, just proceed with caution and be aware. Do not be in a rush and pass cautiously with others on the trail. Additionally, note this would not be a good trail to try when it has recently rained as the rocks will be slippery.

You’ll eventually make a hairpin turn to reverse back in the opposite direction and continue to descend towards Atlenalp. Here you’ll be mainly walking through a grassier area, still on a rock and gravel path and may have some cows around you. This hut did not seem to be a full service hut, and instead a good spot to picnic if you’ve brought your own food. We opted not to stop here and continued on our descent down to Lake Seealpsee. You’ll continue through the grassier area for a bit longer, until you reach the forest. In this section you will be descending quickly. The descent is longer than ideal in this section and is made up of a lot of rock “steps” with cables on the wall to support you. The cables help make this section a lot more manageable, but your knees will definitely be feeling it after already descending for a while so take it slow and focus on getting down safely! As the section is in the forest, it is nice and shaded which is a good break from much of the path which is in the sunshine. After you exit the forest, you’ll be very close to reaching the lake. Just a bit longer on the descent and you’re walking next to the lake.

Plan to take a break at Berggasthaus Seealpsee or Berggasthaus Forelle. The lake is beautiful and we enjoyed gorgeous views from Berggasthaus Seealpsee. You’ll find people swimming here on nice days and taking row boats out onto the lake. Once you’re ready to go, you’ll follow the wider gravel path down to the base, where you’ll be back near the Wasserauen train station. This descent is easier than other parts of the trail, but if you’re anything like us, you’ll be quite tired of descending at this point and find this is still a bit challenging.

Upon arrival, you can head to the train if this was your mode of transit, or consider stopping for a post hike beer at Gasthaus Alpenrose like we did!

Note – for those who do not like to descend, this can be done in reverse, but you will be ascending a long way as well!

Huts passed along the way or in the close area

• Berggasthaus Aescher
• Berggasthaus Ebenalp
• Berggasthaus Schafler
• Berggasthaus Seealpsee
• Berggasthaus Forelle
• Gasthaus Alpenrose (at the base near Wasserauen train station)