Hiking

Jura Crest Trail
Stage 3, Staffelegg–Hauenstein

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Jura Crest Trail
Stage 3, Staffelegg–Hauenstein
Get to know five passes: Staffelegg, Bänkerjoch, Salhöhe, Schafmatt and lastly the Untere Hauenstein. In between, lots of woodland, many pastures and the rugged Geissfluh vantage point on the border of Baselland.
The Staffelegg is the first of five passes on this stage: it is a major transportation axis with a well-constructed crossing. Walk past farms and grazing cows for just under an hour until you reach the Bänkerjoch. This pass between Küttigen and Wölflinswil once marked the border with Austria. This explains why a former customs house is still standing in Küttigen. Next comes the ascent to the Eggholde. Shortly before you reach the Wasserflue viewing point, the path bends off towards the valley. If you don't want to miss the view, you have to accept a detour of rather more than 30 minutes.
Without detours – but with plenty of varied scenery and views – the path takes hikers to the third pass, the Salhöhe. Then it crosses the lovely Rotholz forest to reach the highest point in the canton of Aargau, at 908 meters above sea level. However, the view from here does not yet stretch across the German border into the Black Forest. But a few meters further on, you cross the cantonal border into Solothurn. At this point, you also leave the Aargau Jura Park, which includes the hill country of the Folded and Table Jura between Brugg, Laufenburg, Rheinfelden and Aarau.
A bench invites you to rest awhile at the Geissflue viewing pulpit. The view of Germany in the distance is breathtaking. Head downhill to the Schafmatt – the fourth pass on this route. Walk along forest roads and short hiking paths for about an hour to reach the lovely Burgweide meadow; shortly afterwards, you pass the transmitter mast and then reach the ruins of Froburg Castle. Your destination, and pass number five, is the Hauenstein – the link between Läufelfingen and Trimbach. In Roman times, this was an important transit route between Augusta Raurica and the Mittelland.
Without detours – but with plenty of varied scenery and views – the path takes hikers to the third pass, the Salhöhe. Then it crosses the lovely Rotholz forest to reach the highest point in the canton of Aargau, at 908 meters above sea level. However, the view from here does not yet stretch across the German border into the Black Forest. But a few meters further on, you cross the cantonal border into Solothurn. At this point, you also leave the Aargau Jura Park, which includes the hill country of the Folded and Table Jura between Brugg, Laufenburg, Rheinfelden and Aarau.
A bench invites you to rest awhile at the Geissflue viewing pulpit. The view of Germany in the distance is breathtaking. Head downhill to the Schafmatt – the fourth pass on this route. Walk along forest roads and short hiking paths for about an hour to reach the lovely Burgweide meadow; shortly afterwards, you pass the transmitter mast and then reach the ruins of Froburg Castle. Your destination, and pass number five, is the Hauenstein – the link between Läufelfingen and Trimbach. In Roman times, this was an important transit route between Augusta Raurica and the Mittelland.
Get to know five passes: Staffelegg, Bänkerjoch, Salhöhe, Schafmatt and lastly the Untere Hauenstein. In between, lots of woodland, many pastures and the rugged Geissfluh vantage point on the border of Baselland.
The Staffelegg is the first of five passes on this stage: it is a major transportation axis with a well-constructed crossing. Walk past farms and grazing cows for just under an hour until you reach the Bänkerjoch. This pass between Küttigen and Wölflinswil once marked the border with Austria. This explains why a former customs house is still standing in Küttigen. Next comes the ascent to the Eggholde. Shortly before you reach the Wasserflue viewing point, the path bends off towards the valley. If you don't want to miss the view, you have to accept a detour of rather more than 30 minutes.
Without detours – but with plenty of varied scenery and views – the path takes hikers to the third pass, the Salhöhe. Then it crosses the lovely Rotholz forest to reach the highest point in the canton of Aargau, at 908 meters above sea level. However, the view from here does not yet stretch across the German border into the Black Forest. But a few meters further on, you cross the cantonal border into Solothurn. At this point, you also leave the Aargau Jura Park, which includes the hill country of the Folded and Table Jura between Brugg, Laufenburg, Rheinfelden and Aarau.
A bench invites you to rest awhile at the Geissflue viewing pulpit. The view of Germany in the distance is breathtaking. Head downhill to the Schafmatt – the fourth pass on this route. Walk along forest roads and short hiking paths for about an hour to reach the lovely Burgweide meadow; shortly afterwards, you pass the transmitter mast and then reach the ruins of Froburg Castle. Your destination, and pass number five, is the Hauenstein – the link between Läufelfingen and Trimbach. In Roman times, this was an important transit route between Augusta Raurica and the Mittelland.
Without detours – but with plenty of varied scenery and views – the path takes hikers to the third pass, the Salhöhe. Then it crosses the lovely Rotholz forest to reach the highest point in the canton of Aargau, at 908 meters above sea level. However, the view from here does not yet stretch across the German border into the Black Forest. But a few meters further on, you cross the cantonal border into Solothurn. At this point, you also leave the Aargau Jura Park, which includes the hill country of the Folded and Table Jura between Brugg, Laufenburg, Rheinfelden and Aarau.
A bench invites you to rest awhile at the Geissflue viewing pulpit. The view of Germany in the distance is breathtaking. Head downhill to the Schafmatt – the fourth pass on this route. Walk along forest roads and short hiking paths for about an hour to reach the lovely Burgweide meadow; shortly afterwards, you pass the transmitter mast and then reach the ruins of Froburg Castle. Your destination, and pass number five, is the Hauenstein – the link between Läufelfingen and Trimbach. In Roman times, this was an important transit route between Augusta Raurica and the Mittelland.
Length
20 km
Ascent | Descent
900 m | 860 m
Hiking time
5 h 50 min
Grade | Fitness level
easy
(hiking trail)
|
medium
Arrival | return travel
Contact
Gestione della segnaletica
Signposting is managed by the cantonal hiking trail organisation on behalf of the communities.
Schweizer Wanderwege
Monbijoustrasse 61
3000 Bern 23