Ultra-Trails in the canton of St. Gallen

The canton of St. Gallen stretches from Lake Constance to the summits of the Sarganserland, encircling the two Appenzells. This horseshoe-shaped geography lines up the Alpstein massif, the Toggenburg valley, the Churfirsten range and the Rhine plain facing Liechtenstein 🗺️. Linking these landscapes on foot takes stamina, patience and a good headlamp.

For an ultra-trail in the canton of St. Gallen, there is no shortage of big loops. The ridges between Wildhaus and the Säntis link up with the Toggenburg alpine pastures, then balcony trails overlook Lake Walenstadt for kilometers on end. Nights stay cool even in midsummer, and the weather in the Alpstein changes quickly, so keep a warm layer in your pack 🌙. The ideal window runs from June to September, once the high-altitude passages are clear of snow.

On Finishers, the ultra-trail calendar for the area is mostly found next door in Graubünden. The Davos X-Trails launches its 86 km GR86 format on July 24, 2027. The Swiss Irontrail welcomes endurance runners around Savognin on June 26, 2027. The most ambitious will aim for the Transalpine Run, a stage race across the Alps whose 2027 edition starts on August 27 ⏱️. To compare, the ultra-trails in Graubünden and the trails in the canton of St. Gallen give an overview.

Long distances are part of local history: for centuries, pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago have crossed the canton from Rorschach to Rapperswil, where a wooden footbridge crosses Lake Zurich 🚶. In St. Gallen, the abbey and its UNESCO-listed library remind us that the monks also knew how to cultivate patience. Before committing to 80 km or more, a first experience on the mountain races in the canton of St. Gallen helps you get used to the terrain. Choose your distance, take care of your fueling and let the ridges carry you 💪.