Saxer Lücke Hiking Guide: GPX files
Kraig Adams, kraigadams.com

These are my own GPS recordings of two days in the Alpstein, Appenzell,
Switzerland, on September 18 and 19, 2024: from Wasserauen up to the
Seealpsee, the Aescher and Ebenalp to the Berggasthaus Schäfler, then from
the Schäfler past Mesmer, the Seealpsee again, Meglisalp, the
Widderalpsattel and the Fälensee to the Saxer Lücke, and along the
Stauberen ridge to the Staubern cable car. They show the way I actually
walked. All timestamps have been removed, and so have the points where I
stood still.

saxer-lucke-day-1.gpx   Day 1: Wasserauen station, the Seealpsee, the
                       Aescher, the Wildkirchli caves, Ebenalp, Chlus
                       and the Berggasthaus Schäfler (7.1 mi / 11.4 km)
saxer-lucke-day-2.gpx   Day 2: the Schäfler, the Altenalpsattel, Mesmer,
                       down to the Seealpsee, Meglisalp, the
                       Widderalpsattel, Bollenwees on the Fälensee, the
                       Saxer Lücke, the Stauberen ridge and the top
                       station of the Staubern cable car
                       (12.6 mi / 20.3 km)
saxer-lucke-full-route.gpx   Both days in one file, plus waypoints for
                       the inns, the passes and where I slept.

Day 2 is not the most direct way. Above Mesmer the higher paths were
under snow in mid-September 2024, so I went back down to the Seealpsee
and up again to Meglisalp. The guide gives the shorter ways too.

stats.json             The numbers for each day, and how they were
                       worked out.

HOW TO LOAD THEM

AllTrails: on a computer, sign in at alltrails.com, create a new map and use
Import to upload the file. The map then shows up in the app on your phone.
Downloading it for offline use needs a paid AllTrails plan.

Gaia GPS: on your phone, open the file from Files, email or AirDrop and choose
Gaia GPS, or on gaiagps.com choose Import. Then download the map area for
offline use.

Garmin: in Garmin Connect (web), go to Training, Courses, Import, and pick the
file. Save it as a course and send it to your watch.

Organic Maps: first download the free offline map for Switzerland. Then open
the GPX file on your phone and choose Organic Maps. It shows up in your
bookmarks and tracks list and works fully offline.

SwissTopo: the free swisstopo app has the official Swiss maps with the hiking
trails marked. In the app, import the GPX file to see my line on them.

Before you leave the valley, download offline maps and check that each day
shows up in your app. Paths, snow and inn seasons change: check the
current notices before you go. Use this as a guide, not a guarantee.

Copyright 2026 Kraig Adams. For your personal use. Please don't share or resell.
