Touring tips: snowshoeing Mädems Trail

The Mädems Trail lies well away from the bustle of the Flumserberg winter sports resort. A snowshoe trail that goes through idyllic forests, over moorland, taking in stunning panoramic views.

It’s a bright Wednesday morning when we arrive at the Flums Saxli valley station. We’re Dave, Nina, Philipp and Jessica, four Transa employees ready today to tackle the Mädems Trail by foot and snowshoes. The unmanned valley station sits virtually unnoticed around 640 metres above sea level. Two empty four-person cabins coupled together await us. Everything looks a touch old-fashioned. The cable car has been in operation since 1976, and the cars and signage in the station look suitably nostalgic. We had booked ahead and, as scheduled, the cars start trundling off automatically on the half hour.

Circular hike far from the madding crowd

We glide leisurely up to the Schönhalden mountain station at an altitude of 1,494 metres. While snow was scarce down below, up here a beautiful winter landscape awaits us – despite the snow melting off the fir trees in the strong sun. The Mädems Trail is a circular hike starting and finishing at the Schönhalden mountain station. The Gampergalt Trail, a second, shorter snowshoe trail, also starts here. While the big crowds gather on the Flumserberg opposite, here you’re almost alone, during the week at least. Away from the hustle and bustle, the Mädems Trail will appeal to nature lovers.

Stunning panorama

We don our snowshoes and set off. Trodden-down parts of some paths on the trail show that we’re not the only ones on this route. The idea of making the first tracks in the fresh powder snow here is tantalising. After only a short distance, we have to shed a few layers. The sky overhead is bright blue, while behind us is the unrivalled panoramic view of the Churfirsten mountain range. This alone makes the trip up the Flumser Kleinberg worthwhile. The Mädems Trail is around seven kilometres long and over 400 metres up and down, and we break into a sweat frequently enough. The trail leads past snow-covered meadows and through airy forests. Above the forest lies the open moor and Alpine landscape of Fulriet/Mädems. We drink in the view of the Sarganserland.