Obere Wasserstubenalpe

The upper Wasserstuben alp lies at 1,730 m in the Wasserstuben valley, a side valley of the Silbertal east of the Kristberg in the Verwall range. The farming cooperative manages 120 ha of pasture with dairy cows, suckler cows, calves, cattle and pigs; from around 35,000 kg of milk it makes Montafon Sura Kees and alpine butter, which you can buy on the spot. The alp is regarded as a typical Montafon dairy alp keeping the old art of sour-cheese making alive: the skimmed milk sours without rennet, is warmed, shaped and salted, and matures in the cellar into the lean, tangy cheese documented in the Montafon since the 13th century. Hikers and mountain bikers are welcome and are served a platter of cheese, bacon and a small schnapps.

The starting point is the top station of the Kristberg cable car (1,443 m), which you reach from St. Gallenkirch in about 35 minutes by bus 650 to Schruns and bus 680 into the Silbertal; by car it is 16 km to the valley station. From the Kristberg a wide, gently rising alp track leads east into the Wasserstuben valley – about 16 km and 3 hours there and back, and good for mountain bikes. In early September the cows of the Wasserstuben alp return in the cattle drive to the Panoramagasthof Kristberg (arriving around 11:30), where the farmers collect their decorated animals.

Last updated: 13 Sep 2026