Schwabenweg: Fischingen bis Rapperswil

Fischingen: Benedictine Monastery of St. John

In bad weather, or if there is still snow and ice on the paths in the upper part of the ascent, the alternative via Hulftegg is recommended. You should bear in mind that the ascent to the Hörnli just before the summit is a 1550 m long stretch on partly steep natural roads with an altitude difference of 158 m to overcome.

Mountain inn Hörnli

After the monastery, continue straight ahead over Hörnlistrasse. Just before the Aa cheese dairy, pilgrims on foot turn left, while cyclists remain on the road leading to Hinter Schwendi. After the Alewinde farmstead, after 250 m, the path branches off to the left for foot and bike pilgrims behind the Chaltebrune farmstead.

From here, the route becomes difficult for cyclists over a distance of 1550 m. This route ends at the paved supply road from Steg after the Hörnli mountain inn. To enjoy the view, turn right and you still have to overcome the last altitude meters to the summit on a good but steep road. You return the same way if you continue towards Rapperswil.

View from Hörnli to the Säntis massif

Once you reach Steg below, turn left and cross the Töss on the marked Way of St. James.

Now it is about 4.5 km gently uphill, then practically only downhill to Rapperswil.

To Rapperswil, stay on the main road because the signposted Way of St. James often leads over badly passable hiking trails.

In Rapperswil, for once, not a cathedral is the goal of this route, but the modern pilgrim hostel in the middle of the old town.