Why take the direct route into the valley when a more scenic option beckons? This delightful and gentle winter hiking trail takes you away from the bustling ski area right into a tranquil winter setting. On the way, the views open up as the sun rays illuminate peaks of the Churfirsten and Alpstein massifs.

Just a stone's throw away from the Rietbach plateau, the route leads on the sunny side into the lovely hilly landscape high above the Thur Valley. The trail leads past pine forests and many characteristic scattered barns in various states of repair. There is a reason for this: The moorland – the area's distinctive feature – is buried under a thick snow cover. The sedge, which can only be cut once a year, used to be stored in these barns. Today, the cut material ends up as litter in the stables of agricultural businesses. There's a hint of moorland even in winter, as evidenced by wildlife tracks and white trunks of birch trees protruding from the snow.

Apart from the barns and a few mountain cottages, there are hardly any signs of human existence for the first few kilometres. The route leads steadily and gently downhill. Towards the village, the landscape's appearance begins to change. The farmsteads become statelier, the pastures and meadows more expansive. The River Thur, Toggenburg's lifeline, draws ever closer. The hiking trail leads right to its bank and follows it for a short while. Once you have crossed the river, it's only a short walk across the flat valley plain to the Nesslau-Neu St. Johann railway station, the endpoint of your hike.