Since the opening of the Säntis aerial cableway in 1935, Postbuses have travelled from Urnäsch to the Schwägalp. The village of Urnäsch is impressive with its picturesque rows of houses. At the start, the trail along the Urnäsch river leads past traditional Appenzell farms through the hilly landscape. From Steinfluh, the trail becomes steep, and the Postbus takes you through hairpin bends before reaching the Schwägalp.

From Nesslau, the Postbuses are constantly in the shadow of the Säntis massif. The landscape exudes charm in both winter and summer. Passing the charming village of Ennetbühl, a natural landscape opens up with expansive pastures and forests as far as the pass and Schwägalp.

Highlights

• Urnäsch village with the Museum of Appenzell TraditionsTarget not accessible: alpine drive (Öberefahre), the Bloch, the Sennenball, the Alpstobete, the cattle show and of course the Silvesterklausen celebrations.Target not accessible
• Lillyweg – a perfect hiking experience for familiesTarget not accessible: with 14 stops from the SteinfluhTarget not accessible PostBus stop, Lilly and Martin offer plenty to experience. There’s plenty for youngsters to enjoy. 
• Schwägalp with numerous opportunities to experience nature and go hiking in both summer and winter.
• Säntis – the mountain!Target not accessible A mountain that offers views, weather and experiences, and is a starting point for numerous mountain hikes. 
• The Alpine show dairy on the SchwägalpTarget not accessible transforms over a million litres of Schwägalp milk into cheese in the summer. You’ll find delights to see, smell and taste in the shop and showroom.
• Säntis Nature Discovery ParkTarget not accessible with a beautiful natural setting and five themed trails: “Geology stone park”, “Moor”, “People and the environment”, “Alpine economy” and “Forest”.

Säntis – the mountain!

The cable car to the Säntis takes less than ten minutes. Situated in magnificent natural surroundings, this area at 2,502 m above sea level offers a 360° panorama across six states, as far as Lake Constance and into the Alps. The following experiencesTarget not accessible really are worth a visit:

• Säntis – the weather mountain
• Säntis – the story
• Säntis – the geology
• Säntis – the world of ice

Having experienced the stunning views, why not take a break. In summer, the Säntis is the starting point and destination for numerous challenging mountain hikes.

From the Schwägalp to Lehmen

From the Schwägalp, the trail will take you across Alpine pastures and through forests to Lehmen. With views of the impressive Säntis massif, the well-maintained trail takes you safely via the Chammhalde, through the Potersalp to Schwizerälpli and on to Alp Grossberndli. It continues via Leustockli–Vorderleu to Lehmen. From the Waldgasthof Lehmen, you can order the flexible PubliCar Appenzell on-demand bus, which will take you conveniently to Weissbad or Appenzell.