From Balmberg via Röti to Weissenstein (direttissima)
Many paths lead from the popular Balmberg to Weissenstein. This steep variant goes over the scenic summit of Röti.
You can reach Weissenstein from Balmberg on many different paths. By detours via Nesselbodenröti, on the hiking trail between the shaded road and Röti, or on the more leisurely walk along the road behind the mountain. A steep variant in summer is the direct hiking trail straight up to the summit of Röti. It is a direttissima passing through shrubby terrain at height, where in winter there is so much snow that an avalanche can be triggered which buries the hiking trail below. The path first goes directly behind the Balmberg Kurhaus into the forest and along the ridge to the end station of the furthest ski lift. Here you must follow the hiking trail left to Röti. From Röti you descend gently in about 20 minutes over alpine meadows past several fire pits to the Weissenstein mountain station.
Author’s recommendation
Bring binoculars and a camera! Röti offers a 360-degree panoramic view from Mont Blanc to Säntis and from the Eiger to the Black Forest.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Hotel WeissensteinSafety information
This hike is recommended only in dry weather.
Tips and suggestions
Solothurn Tourism, tel. +41 (0) 32 626 46 46, www.solothurn-city.ch
Weissenstein Cable Car AG, tel. +41 (0) 32 622 18 27, www.seilbahn-weissenstein.ch
Hotel Weissenstein, tel. +41 (0) 32 530 17 17, www.hotelweissenstein.ch
Mountain Restaurant Sennhaus Weissenstein, tel. +41 (0) 32 622 16 78, www.sennhaus-weissenstein.ch
Mountain Restaurant Hinter Weissenstein. Tel. +41 (0) 32 639 13 07, www.hinterweissenstein.ch
Mountain Restaurant Althüsli, tel. +41 (0) 32 438 81 13, www.althuesli.ch
Roadbook
From Balmberg bus station, choose the hiking trail towards Weissenstein directly behind the Balmberg Kurhaus, then at the end station of the rear Balmberg ski lift follow the hiking trail to the left to Röti. From Röti, head west down over the alpine meadow to the Weissenstein Kurhaus.
Röti
Hotel Weissenstein
Talstation Seilbahn Weissenstein
Bergstation Seilbahn Weissenstein
Seilbahn Weissenstein, Mittelstation
Bahnhof Oberdorf SO
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Arrival: By bus from Solothurn main station to Balmberg.
Return: By Weissenstein cable car to the valley and from the Oberdorf station by train to Solothurn station.
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
By car to Solothurn (and from there by bus to Balmberg) or directly to Balmberg.Parking
Parking spaces in Solothurn, e.g., at the main station.Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Wandermagazin SCHWEIZ, issue 9/2014: Jura total. Rothus Medien, Solothurn, www.wandermagazin-schweiz.ch
Wandermagazin SCHWEIZ, issue 12/2013: Outdoor Solothurn. Rothus Medien, Solothurn, www.wandermagazin-schweiz.ch
“Seilbahn Weissenstein”. ISBN 978-3-906060-28-6, Rothus Medien, Solothurn 2014, www.wandershop-schweiz.ch
Author’s map recommendations
Map 1:50,000, 233T Solothurn.
An overview map of the Weissenstein cable car is available free of charge at the tourist office and at the cable car stations.
Book recommendations for this region:
Equipment
Normal hiking equipment, good footwear, possibly hiking poles.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

User Questions