The 20 Most Amazing Peaks around Bad Ragaz
Mountain peaks around Bad Ragaz, located in the Rhine Valley of Eastern Switzerland, offer diverse experiences for visitors. The region provides access to a range of summits and viewpoints, characterized by their varied elevations and panoramic vistas. These mountains form a significant part of the natural landscape, offering both challenging ascents and accessible scenic spots. The area is known for its distinct geological formations and its position within the Glarus Alps.
Best mountain peaks around Bad Ragaz
- The most popular mountain peaks is Pizalun Summit and Viewpoint, a summit that offers views of the St. Gallen and Chur Rhine Valleys, Prättigau, Bündner Herrschaft, Sarganserland, and Liechtenstein. A steep steel staircase leads to its viewing platform at 1478 meters.
- Another must-see spot is Falknis Summit, a challenging summit and viewpoint. Visitors can expect a 360° view that extends northward beyond Lake Constance from its 2560 meter elevation.
- Visitors also love Älplibahn Mountain Station, a facilities highlight with a viewpoint and summit access. This station provides access to higher elevations and offers a terrace with views.
- Bad Ragaz is known for its prominent summits, accessible viewpoints, and challenging alpine ascents. The region offers a variety of mountain peaks to see and explore, from those with easy access to those requiring advanced mountaineering skills.
- The mountain peaks around Bad Ragaz are appreciated by the komoot community. The guide features 3 highlights with 295 photos and 181 upvotes from visitors.
Last updated: May 11, 2026
Pizalun Summit and Viewpoint
Highlight • Summit
The Pizalun is a viewing point with a view of the St. Gallen, Chur Rhine Valley, Prättigau, Bündner Herrschaft, Sarganserland and the Principality of Liechtenstein FL. Cantonal border between SG and GR. The viewing platform, which can be reached via a steep steel staircase.
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Falknis Summit
Highlight • Summit
The view from Falknis extends northward beyond Lake Constance.
Source: Falknis - Wikipedia share.google/8XutRhc1mPOcqfBan
A breathtaking 360° view awaits you on Falknis.
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Jenins: Village and Church
Highlight • Settlement
Jenins, a charming wine village in the Bündner Herrschaft region, captivates with its breathtaking location and rich wine culture. As one of the highlights of wine tourism, Jenins's high-quality wines and picturesque landscape attract visitors from all over Switzerland and beyond.
Text / Source: Pur Animo.ch
puranimo.ch/jenins-buendner-weindorf-mit-weitblick/#:~:text=Jenins%2C%20ein%20charmantes%20Weindorf%20in%20der%20B%C3%BCndner%20Herrschaft%2C,aus%20der%20gesamten%20Schweiz%20und%20dar%C3%BCber%20hinaus%20an
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Älplibahn Mountain Station
Highlight • Rest Area
The history of the Älplibahn Malans
1. The military needs a railway
The Älplibahn was built during the Second World War to supply the troops stationed on the border with supplies. While a road was being built from the Austrian side to near the border in 1938, the Swiss border guards had to carry ammunition and supplies in an arduous climb from Jenins to the mountain front.
For this reason, the then section commander, Captain Christian Janggen, applied for the construction of a cable car in 1939.
2. The municipality of Malans is involved
After the military pledged a financial contribution of around 90% of the construction costs and the municipality of Malans also agreed to a cable car for transporting wood and people in August 1939, the preparatory work could begin.
In view of the military urgency, the Malans forestry group, which had plenty of experience with wooden cable cars, was immediately released from its other active service obligations and assigned to build the first material cable car.
3. A temporary solution
A forest clearing was immediately cleared. In 1940, the first goods could be transported to Älpli using a temporary transport system with two intermediate stations.
4. First licensed cable car in Graubünden
The project for the new Älplibahn was calculated by Prof. Stüssi from the ETH in Zurich. It finally went into operation in the autumn of 1941. For safety reasons, however, only military transport could be carried out at first.
After additional reconstruction work, it was opened for civilian traffic in September 1945. It was the first licensed cable car in the canton of Graubünden, and with a track length of 3.5 km, it was one of the longest in Switzerland. To this day, it is the railway that climbs the most meters in altitude without stopping.
5. What next
As a tourist railway, the system became a popular excursion destination until operations had to be stopped in 1973 due to urgently needed renovations. Due to the low transport capacity of 16 people per hour, operating income was too low to amortize the high investment costs. After no solution for financing was found, demolition was considered in 1980.
6. Establishment of a cooperative and association
At the end of 1980, the Älplibahn Association was founded, and shortly afterwards the Älplibahn cooperative. The aim of this was to raise the necessary capital to renovate the old system. Thanks to spontaneous help from large sections of the population, shares worth 550,000 francs were subscribed within six months.
7. Reconstruction
The military helped with the reconstruction, and even major railway companies supported the little sister. After the municipality had handed over the cable car to the cooperative, the ropes were replaced, a new drive installed and a modern safety system installed. During the renovation, the system components were dimensioned in such a way that the capacity could later be doubled to 32 people per hour.
8. Over 6000 hours of voluntary work
In addition to the electromechanical renovations, a lot of construction work also had to be done. In 1980 and 1981, up to 40 volunteers were on duty on Saturdays.
Until the cable car was reopened in July 1982, well over 6000 hours of voluntary work were carried out. There was no shortage of work in the following years either, as masts had to be renovated and the mountain station had to be secured with a protective roof and avalanche barriers.
9. Operated by volunteers
Demand on weekends grew ever greater, so that the existing capacity was soon no longer sufficient. In 1989, the cable car was expanded to a double-cable car. To ensure that operations continue, numerous volunteer machine operators and a group for construction and maintenance work are still on duty today. Over 200 volunteers take care of the physical well-being in the mountain station's pub.
10. A large Älplibahn community
This has led to the creation of a large Älplibahn community in which like-minded people of all ages have found and continue to find meaningful leisure activities. Thanks to the broad support of 550 cooperative members and 800 club members, funding is also secured. Passion, commitment and enthusiasm will ensure that the Älplibahn Malans lives on for a long time to come!
Source: Älplibahn Malans
aelplibahn.ch
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Heidi Alp
Highlight • Mountain Hut
The alpine hut on the Ochsenberg, built over 200 years ago.
Garden mountain inn (Heidialp), the original Heidi hut on the Ochsenberg above Maienfeld.
Easily accessible from Maienfeld in about 1.5 hours on foot or about 45 minutes by bike.
heidialp-ochsenberg.ch
Directions:
heidialp-ochsenberg.ch/wegbeschreibung
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Tips from the Community
Jenin Reformed Church from 1745 Jenin's church, a restrained building located between the town hall and the Speaker's House, impresses with its Baroque tower and remarkable gravestones from the 17th to 19th centuries. The nave was built after a village fire in 1745. Description Restless yet prominently positioned building, located between the town hall and the Speaker's House. The slender, onion-shaped Baroque tower dominates the nave, built after a village fire in 1745. Painted corner blocks and color scheme are reminiscent of the rectory, the Salishaus, located further east. Remarkable gravestones from the 17th to 19th centuries adorn the exterior wall and the cemetery. Text / Source: Graubünden Tourism, Alexanderstrasse 24, Chur https://www.graubuenden.ch/de/ausflugsziele/kirche-jenins-0#:~:text=The%20Jenins%20church: a%20conservative%20building%20between%20the%20council,.The%20nave%20was%20built%20after%20a%20village%20fire%20in%201745.
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Jenins – The Pearl of the Bündner Herrschaft Jenins, a charming wine village in the Bündner Herrschaft region, captivates with its breathtaking location and rich wine culture. As one of the highlights of wine tourism, Jenins's high-quality wines and picturesque landscape attract visitors from all over Switzerland and beyond. Text / Source: Pur Animo.ch https://puranimo.ch/jenins-buendner-weindorf-mit-weitblick/#:~:text=Jenins%2C%20ein%20charmantes%20Weindorf%20in%20der%20B%C3%BCndner%20Herrschaft%2C,aus%20der%20gesamten%20Schweiz%20und%20dar%C3%BCber%20hinaus%20an
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The summit lies on the border between Liechtenstein and Switzerland, between the Graubünden municipality of Fläsch and the Liechtenstein municipality of Triesen. It is accessible via a hiking trail and lies at 2,560 m above sea level. The view from Falknis extends northward beyond Lake Constance. Source: Falknis - Wikipedia https://share.google/8XutRhc1mPOcqfBan A breathtaking 360° view awaits you on Falknis.
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Heidialp / Ochsenberg, Maienfeld The alpine hut on the Ochsenberg, built over 200 years ago. Garden mountain inn (Heidialp), the original Heidi hut on the Ochsenberg above Maienfeld. Easily accessible from Maienfeld in about 1.5 hours on foot or about 45 minutes by bike. https://www.heidialp-ochsenberg.ch/ Directions: https://www.heidialp-ochsenberg.ch/wegbeschreibung/
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Pizalun 1478 m above sea level (SG / GR) The Pizalun is a viewing point with a view of the St. Gallen, Chur Rhine Valley, Prättigau, Bündner Herrschaft, Sarganserland and the Principality of Liechtenstein FL. Cantonal border between SG and GR. The viewing platform, which can be reached via a steep steel staircase.
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After ordering a cabin by phone (if requested by the operator), you can climb a height of 1,197 meters in 15 minutes. Price one way: 14 CHF Dogs: 6 CHF (my little Jack Russell rode for free) Parking: right in front (free of charge) / if you want to park for several days, you can indicate this there. The license plate number will then be noted 😉
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Heidi, the love of my childhood, lived here. I spent countless hours with this beautiful story, crying and laughing. A beautiful piece of earth, you can imagine what it was like back then.
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Be sure to reserve in advance! If you're lucky you can go without a reservation, but on the weekend that's pretty hopeless. The one-way ticket costs 12 CHF.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the most popular mountain peaks and viewpoints around Bad Ragaz?
The region around Bad Ragaz offers a variety of impressive peaks and viewpoints. Among the most popular are Pizalun Summit and Viewpoint, known for its panoramic views of the St. Gallen and Chur Rhine Valleys, and Falknis Summit, which provides a breathtaking 360° view extending northwards beyond Lake Constance. Pizol, Bad Ragaz's 'home mountain,' is also a highly versatile destination, offering both winter sports and summer hiking.
Are there family-friendly mountain experiences near Bad Ragaz?
Yes, there are several family-friendly options. Pizol offers activities like the Heidi Trail, adventure activities such as mountain carts and alpine scooters, and various playgrounds. The Heidi Alp is another great spot for families, featuring an interesting themed trail and a garden mountain inn. The Älplibahn Mountain Station also provides easy access to higher elevations with a terrace and views, suitable for families.
What kind of natural features and scenic views can I expect from the mountain peaks?
The mountain peaks around Bad Ragaz boast diverse natural beauty. From Pizol, you can experience the famous Five Lakes Hike, which takes you past crystal-clear mountain lakes like Wangsersee and Wildsee, offering diverse shades of blue and green waters. The Churfirsten mountains provide a dramatic and picturesque backdrop, especially when viewed from the Walensee. Many peaks, including Pizalun and Falknis, offer expansive panoramic views over the Rhine Valley, Lake Constance, and the Alps of Graubünden.
What are the options for challenging alpine ascents in the region?
For experienced mountaineers seeking a significant challenge, Ringelspitz (Piz Barghis) is an excellent choice. As the highest peak in the canton of St. Gallen, its climb is considered demanding, requiring experience in alpine tours, rope handling, and route finding. Routes feature firn ice, glaciers, and grade 4 climbing passages. The Ringelspitz massif is also located within the UNESCO World Heritage Tectonic Arena Sardona.
What hiking opportunities are available near Bad Ragaz's mountain peaks?
The region offers extensive hiking opportunities. Pizol is a hiking paradise with over 120 km of trails, including the renowned Five Lakes Hike. For more challenging routes, you can explore options like the Wildsee – Schotten Lake loop from Pizolhütte or the Gonzenleiterweg – Gonzen Middle Band loop from Sargans. You can find more details on these and other routes in the Mountain Hikes around Bad Ragaz guide.
Are there cycling routes with mountain views in the Bad Ragaz area?
Yes, the region around the Churfirsten mountains features cycling paths along the Rhine and routes that offer magnificent views of Lake Walen and the massif itself. A notable route is the 'Around the Churfirsten' cycling path, which spans 129 km and offers diverse landscapes from the Rhine Valley to the Thur river valley. For gravel biking, routes like the Kunkels Pass loop from Bad Ragaz provide scenic rides. Explore more options in the Gravel biking around Bad Ragaz guide.
How accessible are the mountain peaks around Bad Ragaz?
Many peaks are easily accessible. Pizol, for instance, can be reached via two gondola lifts from Bad Ragaz (to Pardiel) and Wangs, which transport visitors to the upper reaches of the mountain. Other viewpoints like Pizalun are accessible via hiking trails, with a steep steel staircase leading to its viewing platform. The Älplibahn Mountain Station also provides convenient access to higher elevations.
What do visitors enjoy most about the mountain peaks around Bad Ragaz?
Visitors frequently praise the stunning panoramic views and the diverse hiking opportunities. The breathtaking 360° views from summits like Falknis are highly appreciated. Many also enjoy the accessibility of some peaks, allowing for leisurely breaks at mountain inns with delicious local cuisine, as well as the unique natural features like the crystal-clear mountain lakes on Pizol.
Can I find running trails near the mountain peaks?
Yes, the area offers several running trails with scenic backdrops. A popular option is 'Heidi's Long Trail - Running on the Pizol.' Other routes include the 'By the Tamina – Rheindammweg loop from Bad Ragaz' and various trails in the Rhine Valley. You can discover more running routes in the Running Trails around Bad Ragaz guide.
What is the best time to visit the mountain peaks around Bad Ragaz?
The best time to visit largely depends on your desired activities. For hiking and exploring the mountain lakes, summer (June to September) is ideal when trails are clear and the weather is pleasant. Pizol is also a popular ski resort in winter, offering winter sports opportunities. Always check local weather conditions before planning your trip, especially for higher alpine ascents.
Are there any historical or cultural sites associated with the mountain peaks?
While the focus is on natural beauty, the region does have cultural connections. The Heidi Alp, for example, is an alpine hut built over 200 years ago and is associated with the famous Heidi story. The Ringelspitz massif is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Tectonic Arena Sardona, which showcases the geological history of Alpine formation. Additionally, the charming wine village of Jenins, with its historic church, is nestled in the Bündner Herrschaft region near some of the peaks.
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