«Witzweg» - joke trail

Logo «Witzweg» - joke trail
Logo «Witzweg» - joke trail
Tour data
7.94km
674 - 791m
Distance
137hm
229hm
Ascent
02:10h
 
Duration
Brief description

Laugther, hiking and unique views over Lake Constance

Difficulty
easy
Rating
Technique
Fitness
Landscape
Experience
Starting point

railway station Heiden

Route
Heiden (794 m)
0.0 km
Heiden
0.4 km
Wolfhalden
2.4 km
Reformierte Kirche
2.5 km
Harmonie
5.0 km
Café Restaurant Bahnhof
7.8 km
Walzenhausen
7.9 km


Best season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Description

For over 20 years, this trail has been putting visitors in good spirits. And there’s a good reason for that. The «Witzweg» or «joke trail» starts in Heiden and passes through Wolfhalden, ending in Walzenhausen. The trail charms hikers with stunning panoramic views over Lake Constance and the Appenzeller Vorderland. «Joke stations» along the way invite them to have a break and a chuckle. So what’s Appenzell humour all about? You’ll find out on the trail. It’s a Swiss classic.

Directions
The joke trail is cleary marked with the well-known yellow rhombus of the Swiss hiking trails and an additional green marking on the signpost.

The hike begins in Heiden on the village square. It is advisable to take your time and walk through the village. Every afternoon between May and October, when the weather is fine, the church tower can be ascended. The ascent is worthwhile because you can enjoy a magnificent view over the entire Lake Constance region. On the first section of the trail you walk on wide paths all the way to Wolhalden. This part is mainly on hard surface and gravel and is suitable for (sporty) prams. Shortly after Heiden, you can enjoy a clear view of Lake Constance for the first time. In Wolfhalden you cross the village and pass the small local museum and the Gasthof Krone. Now follows a section in the shady forest of the Klustobel. Leaving the forest again, the path crosses the main road and climbs up to the Sonder, the so-called "Chistenpass". Here, the Restaurant Harmonie with its home-style cooking and a beautiful hall attracts visitors. Always with a view of Lake Constance, you first take the road for a short stretch and then the gravel and meadow paths via Sommersberg and Hostet in the direction of Walzenhausen railway station. In Walzenhausen, the team of the Restaurant Bahnhof with its own pastry shop is looking forward to your visit.

The way back to Heiden follows either directly by post bus or as an adventure round trip with the rack railway to Rheineck, from there by boat to Rorschach and finally with the second rack railway back to Heiden.

On the way, it is possible to change to the post bus in Wolfhalden or at the Hueb.

Highest point
791 m
Endpoint

railway station Walzenhausen

Height profile
© outdooractive.com

Equipment

Comfortable hiking boots or trainers, weather-resistent clothes

Tips

The hike on the joke trail quickly becomes a leisurely and inexpensive adventure tour: you can explore the unique Appenzellerland above Lake Constance with two mountain railways, a post bus and a boat. The round trip by boat is possible from May to mid-October.

Additional information

Detailed timetables and travel suggestions on www.erlebnisrundfahrt.ch


Directions

From St. Margareten on the B7 to Rheineck, further left via Lutzenberg and Wolfhalden to Heiden

Public transportation
Take the train from Rorschach to Heiden railway station.

From Walzenhausen, the mountain railway runs to Rheineck, from there by train to St. Gallen or Chur, or by boat to Rorschach. Or you can also take the Postbus back to Heiden.

Parking

Parking at Heiden railway station


Author
The tour «Witzweg» - joke trail is used by outdooractive.com provided.

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General info

Refreshment stop
Cultural/Historical
A lot of view
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