7 Highlights at Kronberg

  • The Kronberg reaches 1663 m above sea level and is located north of the Alpstein mountain range.
  • From the 360° viewing platform you have a panoramic view from the Alpstein massif to Lake Constance or even to the Allgäu.
  • The Jakobsbad - Kronberg cable car climbs 773 meters in altitude in 10 minutes between the valley and mountain stations.
  • The popular mountain inn at the summit has 120 terrace and 130 indoor seats.
  • A walk around the connoisseur's circular trail south of the mountain station takes only 9 min.
  • At the foot of the Kronberg you will find the Erlebniswelt with a fairy tale world for children, a zipline park with 25 tracks and an integrated rope park as well as a bobsled run.
  • A toboggan run leads from the Kronberg over 7 km down to Jakobsbad.

The Kronberg is a popular excursion mountain for the whole year. At the top of the mountain it is rather quiet. Action for families can be found in the valley next to the valley station.

Kronberg SeilbahnSeilbahn Jakobsbad Kronberg (Foto: Pixabay)
Kronberg AussichtAussicht (Foto: Unsplash)

Children's world of experience at the Kronberg

At the foot of the Kronberg a beautiful adventure world for children has been created. A fairy tale world, a bob run, 25 ziplines, a rope park and an organized treasure hunt attract families.

Fairytale world on the Kronberg

At the foot of the Kronberg, a fairytale world with 9 adventure stations awaits the little ones. Jacobi and Arnika accompany the children through a world of adventure.

The 9 stations are:

  • Jacobi's air jumps (trampoline)
  • Arnika's tightrope walk
  • Jacobi's bath
  • Arnika's healing water
  • Arnika's fairy pond
  • Jacobi's treasure hunt
  • Arnika's flower garden
  • Jacobi's climbing crown

For the water world with raft, water games and fairy pond, it's best to pack your kids swimwear. Children will be treated to chicken nuggets, fries, a mini salad and an Arnika organic iced tea at Märliwelt. In addition to a coloring set including colored pencils, there will also be a small surprise.

Zipline Park with Rope Park

The zipline park provides thrills. At lofty heights, young and old can whiz along 25 ziplines with a total length of 1210 meters. Five different routes are available. A small rope park is also integrated. Minimum age: 6 years

Tip: Bring gloves in cold weather

Bob run at Kronberg

The entrance to the bobsled run is in the valley. Your sled is safely connected to the rails. Children riding on the bobsled must be accompanied by a person at least 12 years old. There is room for one or two people in the bobsled. The fast ride takes 5 to 7 min. In addition, there are playgrounds on the mountain and in the valley, as well as a new puzzle trail on the mountainside.

Kronberg Aussicht SäntisAussicht Kronberg Säntis (Foto: Seraina Zellweger)
Kronberg BerggasthausBerggasthaus (Foto: Pixabay)

Kronberg aerial cableway

The aerial cableway was put into operation in the summer of 1964. It is a 44-cabin cable car. It covers about 773 m in just under 10 minutes.

  • Bottom station: Jakobsbad (884 m above sea level)
  • Top station: Kronberg (1657 m above sea level)

It runs on the hour and half hour, and also in between if there is a large crowd.

Offer at Swiss Activities:

Activities at Kronberg

Kronberg is great for a family trip.

Active visitors hike in the Kronberg area on trails suitable for children, which are also well signposted. In winter, sledders, snowshoe hikers and ski tourers in particular are out and about on the Kronberg.

The 500-meter-long summit loop trail, which is suitable for strollers, and the ridge hike past the St. Jakob Chapel to the Scheidegg mountain inn are leisurely. The flowery descent to Schwägalp is only slightly more strenuous.

Kronberg SchlittelnSchlitteln am Kronberg (Foto: Seraina Zellweger)
Kronberg GipfelKronberg Gipfel (Foto: Unsplash)

Four hiking routes on the Kronberg:

The circular trail south of the mountain station is a connoisseur's path and takes only 9 min on foot. Benches for resting are available. In winter you often look over the sea of fog here. In summer and on clear winter days, however, you can enjoy a panoramic view of four countries: Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy.

  • The path from the mountain station to Jakob's spring is called the "Kraftweg". You first reach the Jakob chapel and from there you continue to the Jakobsalp. Along the historic Jakobweg you continue to the Jakobsquelle. Back on the Kronberg you hike steadily upwards through a forest. For the rather leisurely hike you need about 80 min.

  • This hike leads you to the alp Dorwees and further in the direction of Petersalp-Lauftegg. Now you hike on the ridge westwards around the Bälmli-Talkassel. Then the trail climbs steeply before Petersalp, before it gradually leads down to Jakobsbad until Lauftegg. The hike is classified as partly difficult and takes about three hours.

  • The Appenzeller Alpenweg is an easy hike that takes you from Schwägalp at the foot of the Säntis via the Chammhaldenhütte. You hike over the Langälpli up to the Kronberg. For this hike you need about two hours.

  • A particularly pleasant, easy family hike is the barefoot trail. In about 80 minutes you walk through the moorland from Gontenbad via Gonten to Jakobsbad.

  • A very pleasant hiking trail for families starts in Weissbad and continues via Rechböhl in the shady forest up to the Klosterspitz. Passing the huts of Neuenalp you come through the high moor and further to the alps of Vorder- and Hinter-Wasserschaffen. Via the alp Blatten you now come to the mountain inn Scheidegg. From here you continue to the Jakob chapel and up to the Kronberg. You will need about four hours for this walk.

Journey to the Kronberg

By car you need only about one hour from Zurich via the A1 to Jakobsbad. From the highway exit 80 (St. Gallen-Winkeln) or Gossau it is about half an hour.

By public transport you can take the Appenzeller Bahn from Gossau/Herisau or from Appenzell to Jakobsbad. The stop Jakobsbad of the Appenzeller Bahnen is located directly next to the valley station of the Kronbergbahn

Kronberg AussichtAussicht (Foto: Seraina Zellweger)
Kronberg UrnaeschKronberg von Urnaesch (Foto Schweiz Tourismus, Roland Gerth)