Alp Bommen – Wildkirchli Caves loop from Wasserauen

Running trails & routes

Switzerland

Eastern Switzerland

Appenzell Innerrhoden

Schwende

Alp Bommen – Wildkirchli Caves loop from Wasserauen

Hard

runners

Alp Bommen – Wildkirchli Caves loop from Wasserauen

01:58

9.74km

760m

Running

Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 29, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

9 m

Wasserauen railway station and Appenzeller Railways Museum

Highlight • Monument

Museum of the Appenzeller Bahnen in Wasserauen
Are you interested in the history of the Appenzeller Bahnen?
The aim of the Museum Appenzeller Bahnen is to make the history of the Appenzeller Bahnen accessible to an interested public. The Museumsverein Appenzeller Bahnen collects and preserves documentation and objects. The museum shows them in an exhibition together with historical vehicles in the former depot of the Säntis Railways in Wasserauen. The exhibition changes every year and always follows a specific theme. More information about the Museum of the Appenzell Railways
Text / source: Appenzellerbahn
appenzellerbahnen.ch/de/erlebnisangebote/nostalgietouren/museum-wasserauen.html

Translated by Google •

Tip by

987 m

Forscherstein

Highlight • Natural Monument

Start of ascent to Aescher.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2.10 km

Alp Bommen

Highlight • Mountain Hut

To step out of the forest after the pretty nasty climb and to see this wide meadow and to see, how high you already are. That was a total highlight.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.24 km

Ebenalp Cable Car — Mountain Station

Highlight • Rest Area

Ebenalp Bahn, valley station, Wasserauen
The Wasserauen–Ebenalp cable car is a mountain railway operated by the Wasserauen–Ebenalp AG cable car. It runs from Wasserauen at 867 m to Ebenalp at 1,590 m above sea level. M
The length of the roadway is 1,514 meters. The journey takes about 6 minutes. The train can carry 40 people in one cabin. The driving speed is 6 meters per second. The valley station is a few minutes' walk from the Wasserauen train station, the terminus of the narrow-gauge Appenzeller Bahnen. In 2017, the cable car carried 250,000 passengers. On peak days, 2,500 passengers used the cable car. The cable car was built in 1955. With the exception of service interruptions due to maintenance in April and November, the cable car is in operation all year round. In strong winds, operation must be stopped.
In 1940, the Federal Post and Railway Department, which was responsible at the time, refused to grant a concession.
After the war, in 1951, two applications for cable car licenses were made in Appenzell Innerrhoden. One for the construction of a funicular to the Ebenalp and one for a cable car from Brülisau to the Hoher Kasten, today's Brülisau–Hoher Kasten aerial cableway. Since the Post and Railway Department feared ruinous competition between the two cable car companies, it was only willing to grant a concession. Since the Wasserauen–Ebenalp cable car had obtained the concession earlier than the competition in Brülisau, it was awarded the contract in 1953. In 1954 the "Luftseilbahn Wasserauen-Ebenalp AG" was founded with capital of CHF 675,000. Construction work began in the same year and the cable car was inaugurated on July 16, 1955.
Text/Source: Wikipedia
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luftseilbahn_Wasserauen%E2%80%93Ebenalp#:~:text=The%20idea%2C%20the%20Ebenalp%20with%20a%20%20cable car%20to, Wildkirchli%20with%20the%20dar %C3%BC%20above%20%20Ebenalp%20to%20connect.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.66 km

Wildkirchli Caves

Highlight • Cave

A mystical place that must be passed through on the way through the rock face to Ebenalp.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.76 km

Wildkirchli Chapel (St. Michael’s Cave Chapel)

Highlight • Religious Site

Wildkirchli, Chapel of St. Michael - history
In 1621, Father Philippus Tanner from Appenzell went to the Wildkirchli to bless the cattle. He was so taken with this cave that he wanted to stay there. He asked the authorities to erect an altar, a small turret and a cross for him. In the same year, a service was held in the cave, which was dedicated to the chapel, with a large number of people from Appenzell. In 1649 the license was renewed. Over the years, however, the image of the Wildkirchli has changed somewhat, especially the altar cave. In 1860 the chapel-like sacristy was removed and replaced by today's wooden bell tower. The bright marble altar was erected in 1896. The altar, created by Franz Magnus Sutter in 1770, was restored in 1935 and covered with a blue canopy by painter Joh. Hugentobler. In 1958 the wooden canopy had to be almost completely replaced. In 1986 August Lnauen redesigned the place of worship.
Text / Source: Appenzellerland Tourismus
appenzell.ch/de/service/freizeitangebote/wildkirchli.html

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5.88 km

Aescher – Meli: Bench with a View

Highlight • Viewpoint

Absolutely fantastic view and an experience.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

7.64 km

Steep Forest Trail to Bommenalp

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

With the "steep" (steady climb) ascent through the forest, I am always happy for the shadow and when you step out of the forest at Bommen, the first climb is done and above you have a wonderful view of the Alpstein and over it Appenzellerland.
This path is a beautiful (technically simple) mountain hiking path on earthy, stony ground and, as I said, leads beautifully through the forest, which lets the sun's rays shimmer through the leaves.
In the downward direction, I don't like the way as much ... Of course, the anticipation for the Alpstein falls away and the path then goes down a bit.

Translated by Google •

Tip by