Rottenmeier's Ultra Trail

Those seeking the ultimate challenge will find it with this ultra trail of 64 kilometers and 4,000 meters of elevation gain. The ultra trail starts in the valley at the Pizol cable cars Bad Ragaz and then leads through the entire Pizol area.

The trail first leads to Wangs and from there sharply uphill to Furt. Then it goes to the Garmil viewpoint. Via Gaffia we then reach the route of the 5-Lake Hiking Trail, a true Swiss hiking classic. The trail then leads over 2,000 m.a.s.l. past the Pizol hut, and we add the 2-Lake Hiking Trail as an extra loop. Via Bettlerweg, Pardiel and Wildboden, we return to the valley in Bad Ragaz.

Here the trail takes us into the famous Tamina Gorge to the Old Bad Pfäfers and on the return route up to Pfäfers. Past the Wartenstein viewpoint, it goes back down to the valley and via the Freudenberg castle ruins to the starting point.

We start on the hiking trail behind the valley station Bad Ragaz of the Pizol cable cars and walk towards Vilters/Wangs. Below the church in Vilters we cross the stream and follow the hiking trail via "Rappagugg" to Wangs. We pass the valley station Wangs of the Pizol cable cars, cross the concrete bridge and turn left immediately afterwards towards the cave (wooden signpost). We pass the cave and follow the subsequent paved road to Bazal. Here we take the steep "Geissgass" towards Maienberg/Furt. This path leads us along the Grossbach stream over meadows, through forest and a gorge to the junction Gaspurweg and later Gampidels. At the end of this mountain path we see the Alp Mugg. Below this alp we follow the forest road to the left, cross a stream shortly afterwards and then immediately turn right again along the marked mountain trail to Furt. Those who find the ascent from Wangs to Furt too steep can go up via the forest nature trail and the hiking signposts to Furt. This path is mostly on asphalt but is less steep and easier to find.

Behind the valley station of the chairlift we turn right towards Wasserwald to Fürggli, continue to Unter- and Obervermii and then to the summit cross of Garmil. Despite the prospect of a long route, a short break is worthwhile. Via a great and varied trail we reach, after our well-deserved break, via old Alp Gaffia and the famous 5-Lake Hiking Trail to Wildseeluggen. On the way we pass a cairn field and the Baschalva, Schwarz, Schotten and Wild lakes. The surroundings are stunning and will certainly distract from the efforts. From Wildseeluggen we go past the Pizol hut and the Wangsersee to the 360° panoramic view at Tagweidlichopf. A look back and a photo at the photo spot keep the memories for home. Via Laufböden we walk down a long descent to Pardiel. At the junction above the gondola we pass goats on the way to the Schwarzbüel viewpoint. The next intermediate goal is Alp Schwarzbüel. Once there, we walk left towards Vilterser Obersäss. This point is reached via a great trail through forest, over meadows and past a moorland. From Vilterser Obersäss, it goes uphill towards Viltersersee. Above Viltersersee we walk left towards Laufböden and at the next opportunity right again towards Wangsersee.

At the end of Wangsersee the hiking trail runs left towards Lasa. Now a completely different view opens up with a view towards Graubünden and the Tamina valley. Arriving at Alp Lasa, we again walk left and follow the signpost "Bettlerweg". This takes us over a varied trail to Pardiel. At the mountain station of the Pardiel gondola we follow the junction to Wildboden/Bad Ragaz and walk through the forest and over meadows down to the Guschachopf junction. Here we turn right, enjoy a magnificent view of Heidi's extended homeland after a few hundred meters and then walk left towards Bad Ragaz (use junction with 30 min!).

Arriving in the valley floor, we walk towards the Tamina Gorge and the old Bad Pfäfers. Above us towers the 265 meter long and thus longest arch bridge in Europe. At the end of this path we reach the historic bathing place of the old Bad Pfäfers. We walk back the same way and turn right at the junction "Badtobel Steg", cross the bridge and then uphill through the forest to Pfäfers. Arriving at the top, we walk along the main road towards Pfäfers/Wartenstein, past the baroque monastery church and the Cristo Salvador sculpture to the Wartenstein ruin. After enjoying the great view of Bad Ragaz and the Gonzen, we follow the mountain trail below the ruin towards Bad Ragaz. We pass the present bathing place Tamina Therme, although we surely long for recovery in the regenerative water. What is not yet, can still become...

We cross the Tamina river at the gorge entrance, then walk right and at the village entrance immediately left towards Freudenberg. To avoid asphalt, we walk again for a short time on the forest road towards Pardiel. At the junction valley station Pizol cable cars, we walk right over a meadow and forest path to the ruin Freudenberg. Directly after the ruin, it goes over another meadow and forest path back into the valley. Arriving at the bottom, we walk left towards the valley station Pizol cable cars. After a short time we reach our goal and may proudly look back on our achieved ultra run.