Saxer Lucke is one of the most beautiful hikes in Switzerland, and a great one to add to your list while in the Appenzell Region of the country.
As with most other adventures in Switzerland, it's never just a simple, "park your car and walk to the spot" kind of thing. Saxer Lucke is definitely worth the journey though, and we were so happy that we decided to go there!
In this guide we're going to share all of the details for how to get to Saxer Lucke, the prices for visiting, and how long it takes to hike to Saxer Lucke. Let's dive right in!
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Where is Saxer Lucke?
Saxer Lucke is located in the east of Switzerland, right by the border with Liechtenstein. It is part of the Appenzell region, and is accessible most easily from the town of Frumsen.
Saxer Lucke is located in the east of Switzerland, just over the border from Liechtenstein.
How to Get to Saxer Lucke
In order to reach Saxer Lucke, you will have to hike. However, there is the option of either hiking all the way, or shortening the journey by taking the cable car.
How Long Does it Take to Hike the Saxer Lucke?
The hike from the top of the cable car is estimated for most people to take an hour and 20 minutes. However, if you are a fast hiker, you can definitely get it done in an hour.
If you do not take the cable car, you'll have to hike from Brulisau, which will take about 3-4 hours each way.
Taking the Cable Car to the Saxer Lucke Trail
If you decide to take the cable car, you'll have to go to Frumsen. Here is where you'll find a lot where you can park, or if you are taking the train then it is just a short walk from the Frumsen train station.
The cable car is the quickest way to reach the trail to Saxer Lucke.
How to get to Frumsen
We honestly think the easiest way to get to Frumsen is by renting a car, especially if you are coming from a big city such as Zurich, Bern, or Milan.
If you don't have a car, then you can make it to Frumsen by connecting some trains and buses. Public transportation in Switzerland is very efficient, and even though you may have to combine a few times to make it to Frumsen, it's definitely doable.
The Saxer Lucke Hike
Since we decided to opt for the cable car, we're going to share what our journey looked like starting from there.
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While other hikes in the area have a ton of different trails, the one that goes from Stauber (the top of the cable car) to Saxer Lucke is pretty straight forward. The trail isn't too difficult, and is very scenic along the way, starting with a beautiful lake on the right hand side at the beginning of the trail.
The start of the trail to Saxer Lucke has a beautiful lake on the right hand side.
Most of the way goes downhill, but there really isn't too big of a decline, so it's totally fine for all different levels of hikers. You'll hear cowbells ringing, with views of the vast green mountains and a beautiful turquoise lake below.
The views are simply stunning, and as soon as you are greeted with the awaited viewpoint, there will be a winding trail where you can appreciate several different unique views of Saxer Lucke.
The hike to Saxer Lucke is super scenic. and isn't too difficult.
When we arrived there was an enormous blanket of clouds covering the view, so we hung out for about an hour before it started to clear up, and we'd have windows of just seconds where we'd get a really clear view. Make sure to have some patience, because the wait will surely be worth it!
The clouds may be covering the viewpoint, but just have patience.
There are several different areas that you can enjoy Saxer Lucke from various angles. We suggest taking photos right when you arrive, and continuing along the trail to see different views of the stunning Saxer Lucke.
Saxer Lucke has so many different angles to enjoy the views from.
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Amenities at Saxer Lucke
At the bottom of the cable car station there is a set of bathrooms, and there is also a cafe (although it was closed when we were there).
Gastthaus Stauber
At the top of the cable car is the guesthouse, where you can eat, use the bathroom, or stay the night if you'd like. If you'd like to make a reservation, you'll need to email them or call them in advance.
There is a guest house at the top of the cable car station in Staubern.
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Saxer Lucke Price & Timetable
The trail for visiting Saxer Lucke is open 24/7! If you just plan on hiking, then you will only have to worry about your train ticket to Frumsen.
Cable Car Timetable:
The cable car from Frumsen to Staubern starts running at 7 am, and stops running at 10 pm. Tickets can be purchased right at the station from the machine.
It's important to note that there is no personnel running the cable car, so if your credit card doesn't work, then you'll need to have enough cash on you. The machine wouldn't accept our card, so our friends had to spot us the cash.
Another important thing to note is that the cable car doesn't leave until there are at least 3 people. So if you are just one or two people, then you may have to wait if you decide to go first thing in the morning.
Cable Car Prices:
One-way adult ticket: 18 CHF
Round-trip adult ticket: 36 CHF
Children (6-14) one way ticket: 9 CHF
Children (6-14) round-trip ticket: 18 CHF
Dog one way ticket: 5 CHF
Dog round trip ticket: 10 CHF
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Safety at Saxer Lucke
While some pictures make Saxen Lucke look very risky, there really is nothing to worry about. It may be a bit scary in parts if you have vertigo (our friend suffered during the cable car and one part of the path). However, as long as you follow the path then you will be okay.
Everything is very straight forward, and the path is well maintained.
The trai is easy to follow, and completely safe.
As far as safety in general, Switzerland is a very safe country.
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Other Things to Keep in Mind for Hiking Saxer Lucke
Now that you know what to expect for the hike to Saxer Lucke, we're going to share a few other things to put into consideration.
Weather Conditions at Saxer Lucke
Switzerland is pretty wild with its weather. One minute it could be bright and sunny, while the next it could be pouring rain. No matter what the weather app on your phone says, it can change at any given moment.
Because of this, Swiss people actually use their own app called Meteo Swiss. It's so intricate that you can move the map to any given point and it will show you exactly how storms move at exactly which times. We definitely suggest downloading it, as it can help you planning when exactly to visit Saxer Lucke.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the clouds move a ton, and even if it's clear when you start your hike, the view might be completely covered by the time you make it to the peak. We suggest looking for the clearest day, and giving yourself extra time to hang out and wait for the clouds to pass.
The weather can change quickly, so have patience if there are a lot of clouds.
That being said, it's always important to be prepared for any kind of weather! We visited in the summertime, and there were parts of the hike when we were sweating, and other parts when the wind had picked up heavily and it was cold and rainy.
The Best Time to Hike Saxer Lucke
Our motto is- the earlier the better! This is because during the middle of the day the shadows can be harsh, and there will certainly be more people.
Even at 8 am there were already harsh shadows from the sunlight.
If you want to take the cable car up, then we would suggest taking the first one at 7:00 am. This will ensure that there won't be a ton of people at the top. If you would like to experience sunrise at Saxer Lucke, then you'll need to start hiking in the middle of the night, or take the cable car up the night before and stay at the guesthouse.
Another great option is to aim to get up to Schafler Ridge for golden hour, which will give you beautiful lighting, without you having to have to wake up super early. Finally, another unique thing to see at Sexer Lucke is a cloud inversion. These typically happen early in the morning after a night of rain, so if you happen to see rain in the forecast one night, and a clear morning the next, this might be an indication of a good chance to experience a cloud inversion!
As far as the time of year goes, the absolute best time to do an hikes in Switzerland is the summer, when all the snow is melted, and temperatures are mild and enjoyable.
The best time to hike in Switzerland is in the summer.
How to Prepare for Visiting Saxer Lucke
Here are some of the things that you should bring while hiking to Saxer Lucke and around the area:
- A good pair of sneakers or hiking shoes
- Light jacket for the wind
- Poncho in case it rains
- Tripod to take the pictures if you are alone
- Sunscreen (if you are hiking during the day)
- Reusable Water Bottle (we use this water bottle from Cafago because it is insulated)
- Drone (We use the Mavic Mini Pro 3 because it's super light with incredible image quality)
- Insta 360 X3 with the extra long selfie stick for drone-looking shots
- Sandwich or snacks
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Tips for Hiking Saxer Lucke
- Visit early in the morning for the best lighting and lowest amount of people.
- Stay the night at Berggasthaus Staubern if you want to visit for sunrise.
- Fill up your water bottle or use the restroom at the hotel before hiking.
- Download the Meteo Swiss App for more exact weather predictions.
- Be prepared for all types of weather.
- Give yourself time and have patience in case the clouds cover the view.
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So are you ready for one of the best hikes in Switzerland? We definitely suggest staying in the area of Appenzell for a few days, and also checking out the hike to Schafler Ridge.
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