Skip to content

Hiking Trails Under 5 km in St. Gallen

The directory currently contains 273 quality-checked routes matching this guide in St. Gallen. Their average mapped distance is 1.9 km and average recorded ascent is 125 m (410 ft); the longest route in the set is 4.9 km.

This subset represents 78% of the 349 quality-checked routes in St. Gallen. Its average distance is 1.9 km, compared with 4.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 125 m (410 ft), versus 225 m (738 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set has a mapped distance of 5 km or less. Time and suitability still depend on ascent, surface and conditions. Within this set, 61 routes (22%) are rated easy, 2 (1%) are rated hard or expert, and 22 (8%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

0.8 km

Unter Berg Sion - Schwarzholz

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

10 m

Fischingen Kloster - Hüttenstetten

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Hard

Tschingla Chäserugg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
956 m
Typical duration
2 hr 16 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Wegweiser in Bollenwees im Alpstein mit Blick zur Saxerlücke .
Moderate

Saxerlücke Süd

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Rundweg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
224 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Haghütten-Schafbergsattel

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
854 m
Typical duration
1 hr 43 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Wegabzweig etwas unterhalb des Chalbersäntis-Gipfels im Lisengrat zwischen Säntis und Rotsteinpass (Alpstein).
Moderate

Langenbüel - Rotsteinpass

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
115 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Ploms Parmort

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
588 m
Typical duration
1 hr 49 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Tierwies - Langebüel

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
673 m
Typical duration
1 hr 47 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Gulmehütte

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
3.0 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
504 m
Typical duration
1 hr 23 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Lüsis Nideri

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
38 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Pluder - Bergheim Vadella

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
563 m
Typical duration
1 hr 45 min
  • Waymarked route
Walensee
Moderate

Quinten - Bidem

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Jöchli Atmann

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
755 m
Typical duration
1 hr 43 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Wegabzweig etwas unterhalb des Chalbersäntis-Gipfels im Lisengrat zwischen Säntis und Rotsteinpass (Alpstein).
Moderate

Chalbersäntis

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
527 m
Typical duration
1 hr 7 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Engiboden rot

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
4.7 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
904 m
Typical duration
2 hr 19 min
  • Waymarked route
View of the north face of Mattstock , a mountain in St. Gallen, Switzerland .
Moderate

Walau - Mattstock

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
564 m
Typical duration
1 hr 23 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

rote Raute

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
8 m
Typical duration
30 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bergweg Zugstoll

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
340 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bidem - Laubegg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.4 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
31 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Eggli - Rüeterswil Kapelle

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
34 min
  • Waymarked route
Lourdes-Grotte in Berschis
Moderate

Forggels - Berschis

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
391 m
Typical duration
1 hr 5 min
  • Waymarked route
Underpass at a reloading station from a transverse tunnel. The stairs are better now. Switzerland, May 31, 2016. (15/35)
Moderate

Sargans Gonzen blau

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
434 m
Typical duration
1 hr 12 min
  • Waymarked route
Rinquelle bei Amden SG - Infotafel
Moderate

Amden Ost gelb

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
466 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
  • Waymarked route
Unterlavtina-Tal SG - Gufelbach
Moderate

Baföni-Unterlavtina

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
40 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Eggli - Freudental

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Typical duration
26 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Hinter Chreuel-Libingen

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
292 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Hochrugg - Bergwald

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.3 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
285 m
Typical duration
54 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Hochrugg - Tschingla

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
268 m
Typical duration
1 hr 2 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Ledi - Grüt

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
281 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Oberchamm - ?

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Typical duration
13 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Rotengübel - Burstel

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.9 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
46 m
Typical duration
28 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sattel - fixme

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Typical duration
17 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Seerenwad - Bidem

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
88 m
Typical duration
23 min
  • Waymarked route
Walensee
Moderate

Seerenwald - Quinten

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
337 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Waymarked route
Private Pedestrian Bridge over the Seez River, Weisstannen, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland
Moderate

Unterlavtina-Weisstannen

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Vorderbetlis - Seerenwald

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
211 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Bergwald - Walenstadtberg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Elevation gain
11 m
Typical duration
13 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Böschenwald - Matug / Vild

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
312 m
Typical duration
1 hr 3 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Chamm - Oberchamm

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
188 m
Typical duration
32 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Chlefibünt - Böschen

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
170 m
Typical duration
29 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Chlefibünt - Matug

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
7 m
Typical duration
21 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Chrüzegg Nord - ?

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
1.0 km
/ 0.6 mi
Typical duration
12 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Flihof - Talegg

St. Gallen · Switzerland

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
249 m
Typical duration
50 min
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Tschingla ChäseruggSt. Gallen4.0 km956 m2 hr 16 minHardJune to October
Saxerlücke SüdSt. Gallen3.6 km90 m53 minModerateJune to October
RundwegSt. Gallen2.5 km224 m51 minModerateApril to October
Unter Berg Sion - SchwarzholzSt. Gallen0.8 km58 m16 minEasyApril to October
Fischingen Kloster - HüttenstettenSt. Gallen2.3 km10 m29 minModerateApril to October
Haghütten-SchafbergsattelSt. Gallen2.1 km854 m1 hr 43 minModerateJune to October
Langenbüel - RotsteinpassSt. Gallen3.3 km115 m51 minModerateJune to October
Palfries - Gipfelhütte AlvierSt. Gallen3.3 km666 m1 hr 41 minModerateJune to October
Ploms ParmortSt. Gallen4.5 km588 m1 hr 49 minModerateApril to October
Tierwies - LangebüelSt. Gallen3.7 km673 m1 hr 47 minModerateJune to October

Tschingla Chäserugg, Saxerlücke Süd, Rundweg currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

Related guides

Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

People also search for