Tour of Säntis via Meglisalp and Rotsteinpass to Unterwasser | Ski tour

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Tour of Säntis via Meglisalp and Rotsteinpass to Unterwasser

Tour of Säntis via Meglisalp and Rotsteinpass to Unterwasser Säntis 2502 m

Difficulty

PD+
Ascent

4 h, 600 m
Descent

2200 m
Exposure

N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW

This is THE classic tour on Säntis and is very popular. The popularity is proof of the attractiveness of the tour in the heart of the Alpstein range.

Overview: Descent from Säntis (right valley) and ascent to Rotsteinpass (left valley). © Annina Reber Bergführerin

Descent from Säntis, starting from the summit © Thomas Wälti

Descent from Säntis © Annina Reber Bergführerin

Descent to Meglisalp © Annina Reber Bergführerin

Ascending to Rotsteinpass. For extreme skiers only: view of the spectacular descent from Altmasattel © Thomas Wälti

Ascending to Rotsteinpass © Thomas Wälti

Route description

Säntis summit station – Meglisalp

From the summit station of the aerial cableway cross the Säntis summit or use the tunnel to reach the Alter Säntis guesthouse (mostly closed in winter). To the west of the building ski southward onto the so-called „guesthouse slope“ (up to 38°). Continue skiing down south-eastward on «Gross Schnee» to reach the «In den Chärren» bowl and further on Meglisalp (1516 m).

Meglisalp – Rotsteinpass

From the Meglisalp guesthouse (closed in winter) ascend southward past Spitzigstein (1616 m) to Oberchellen. Continue ascending south-westward in the long Oberchellen valley to Rotsteinpass (2119 m). The guesthouse on the col is mostly closed in winter (www.rotsteinpass.ch).

Rotsteinpass – Laui

From the col ski down southward, bypassing a small rocky ledge to the left (south) at 1950 m, via Fliser Schofbode and overcome a short escarpment to reach Wis (1519 m). Now follow the summer trail and descend via Gerstei (1346 m) and P. 1201 to the parking lot at Laui (1072 m). Usually, the road from Unterwasser is ploughed to this point.

Laui – Unterwasser

If there is enough snow down to the valley floor, follow the road from the parking lot to reach Chüeboden (1032 m). Then ski down the pastures to the west of the Säntisthur to the bus station (905 m) at the Unterwasser post office.

Additional information

Departure point

Säntis, Bergstation (2502 m)

Informationen zur Schwebebahn Schwägalp–Säntis: www.saentisbahn.ch.

Get there Google Maps

Säntis

End point

Unterwasser, Post (905 m)

Get there Google Maps

Unterwasser, Post

Remarks: Take the bus from the Nesslau or Urnäsch train station to Schwägalp, Säntis-Schwebebahn, then the aerial cableway to Säntis (www.saentisbahn.ch; + 41 71 365 66 66). Skiers, snowboarders or snowshoe hikers are not transported unless the avalanche risk is below level 3 («considerable»)!

If there is not enough snow on the sunny pastures above Unterwasser, you can call a taxi to the parking lot at Laui.

Check the webcam on saentisbahn.ch for conditions.

Warning: skiing down from Meglisalp to Seealpsee or Wasserauen is not possible!