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Ebenalp in the Appenzell Alps

Kevin Leitch

As we approach 18 months of blogging, I have yet to appropriately share all that I love about our current home country of Switzerland! Sure, I've told you how much we love living here, but I have been so wrapped up in sharing our journeys that I've never paused to share our experiences within this stunning country! It's far more than that incredibly safe, neutral country between Germany and Italy!

It's absolutely gorgeous and has some of the most beautiful cities and experiences in Europe! It's widely stated that Switzerland is ranked as one of the most expensive places to live, but if you find balance and trim the budget, it's possible to adjust. Once acclimated to all of the ins and outs of life here, you find yourself in a bit of a paradise. Perhaps paradise isn't the word for everyone because we're landlocked without a shore or palm tree in sight, but for those travelers or ex-pats who love outdoor sports, cycling, hiking, and more… Switzerland just may be for you!

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The Ebenalp Summit!

Exploring in the Appenzell Alps of Switzerland

If you follow a #Switzerland hashtag, you’ve undoubtedly seen the Aescher guesthouse! For me, it is one of those places that I absolutely had to see as a Swiss resident. Expat life can change quickly, and you can easily find yourself moving to another location, so we try to tick these big goals off as soon as possible!

On this occasion, some friends and I piled into an SUV and headed east to the Appenzell Alps. I’m a big fan of this area because it’s beautiful, and it also produces phenomenal meats, cheeses, and beer. I had never hiked in this region though, so I was very excited to do so!

We arrived at the parking area and took the easy way up. This is a trend we’ve noticed when hiking… we ex-pats tend to take the scenic cable car lift up and then hike our way down. The Swiss hike up! It’s a strenuous hike that’s definitely worth doing both ways if you have the time. We were on a bit of a schedule, so we took the easy way - the cable car! In under six minutes, and an elevation change of 723 meters, you’ll arrive at the top! The views are incredible, and it’s a wide-open path down… for a bit!

After a few minutes, you’ll venture down through a cave, through some tight underpasses, and then around the cliff face, revealing that familiar and beautiful site of Aescher Wildkirchli! We arrived just early enough to snag a table before there was suddenly a waiting list. The food is excellent and authentic to the region. When hiking, my favorite Swiss meal is almost always the Wurst and Rosti, paired with a local beer! This is comfort food at it’s best!

It’s a great, and sometimes a little steep, hike back down. It’s unquestionably worth it though, as you’ll pass by Seealpsee. It wasn’t the most beautiful day, so we didn’t have the bright sun on the mountain face to reflect in the lake. It was, however, very serene and beautiful. I could easily make this a two-day scenario and stay at a lodge overnight. Either way, this is a very beautiful, memorable, and authentic Swiss experience.

How to Get Here

Whether you are a resident or a visitor, this is a fantastic way to spend a day in Switzerland! The trip was only two hours for us by car, but if you aren’t renting one or don’t own one, You can easily reach the start point by train with very few connections!

  • From Basel or Luzern by car is roughly 2 hours; by train, it will take 3h 15min.

  • From Zürich by car, it is roughly 1h 20min; by train, it will take 2 hours.

  • From Bern by car is roughly 2h 30 min; by train, it will take 3h 15min

Nearby Lodging Options

Parking Location

  • 9057 Schwende District

Cable Car Location

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