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Hiking Alpine Liechtenstein

© James Foster Robinson

In addition to the many good hiking paths in the lowlands of Liechtenstein, Alpine Liechtenstein has many valleys, sunny plateaus, rugged mountain ridges and some easy to climb mountain summits. The most avid Alpine hikers will enjoy the Schönberg and the Galinakopf.

The villages of Gaflei and Planken are great starting points for the Drei Schwestern area well known for it mixture of marked hiking trails, 100 miles worth in the mountains and 150 miles in the lowlands. Planken, itself has an excellent lookout over the lowlands of the Rhine River and Switzerland beyond.

The "Matteltiwald", a forest nature trail near Triesenberg, runs from Rossboda to the junction with a forest road from Wangerberg to Lavadina. You can return by the same route or take a regular road. Wooden information boards along the trail tell you all about thirty different types of shrubs and trees.

The resorts of Malbun and Steg, in addition to being great starting points for alpine hikes, also have great winter facilities. Three and six feet of powdery snow usually cover the mountain slopes from December to March. You can enjoy toboggan runs, winter walking paths and skating rinks as well as skiing. During the summer, these same paths and trail are great for rambling around the heights. There are also some interesting climbs and passes.

Check out the Stüba waterfall on the Augstenberg Trail, a well-marked route. The Austenberg is a strenuous hike through a wild landscape dotted with rare orchids. In some places, you may even be hiking above the clouds.

The well maintained Fürstensteig Trail takes you through steep passes and narrow gorges over a high ridge between the Rhine and Samina valleys. This difficult ascent is well worth the breathtaking views over the peaks of Garsellikopf and Drei Schwestern.

Triesen, near the capital city of Vaduz, is a good starting point for lowland trails that take you right to the banks of the Rhine River as well as steep trails to remote mountain valleys. From here you can hike to the Lawena ravine, the Falknis cliffs, and the summits of the Koraspitz and the Mittagspitz.

The many hiking trails in Liechtenstein provide different levels of difficulty but all provide excellent views and enjoyable walks. But when is the best time to hike in Liechtenstein? The summers are mild and warm but can be a bit wet. Autumn is perhaps better as the weather is softened by the warm föhn, a wind from the south. Alpine Liechtenstein is especially beautiful in autumn when the leaves change colour.