Quartet of Summits

Climb the four most prominent peaks of the Pizol region - Pizol, Hochwart, Gamidauerspitz & Garmil - and let yourself be enchanted by the varied views and landscapes on this challenging hike.

The Pizol area is known for its breathtaking views over the mountains of Grisons and Glarus and the St. Gallen Rhine Valley all the way to Lake Constance. Nowhere can you enjoy the view as undisturbed as on the highest peaks of the skiing and hiking area.

The Quartet of Summits includes the Garmil, the Gamidauerspitz, the Hochwart and the Pizol. As the highest peak at 2,844 m above sea level and eponym of the area, the Pizol peak is the highlight of the tour. On the way, however, you will also be enchanted by crystal-blue mountain lakes, scree landscapes that seem out of this world, romantic alps and, with a bit of luck, even chamois, ibex or eagles.

Complete tour: The Quartet of Summits

Tip for Multi-Day Variants

You don't dare to do the Quartet of Summits in one piece, or you simply want to take more time exploring the mountain peaks and the surrounding landscapes? No problem! The entire tour in one day is demanding and time-consuming. For the less ambitious, it is therefore worth splitting the hike into two days. The Berghotel Gaffia in the middle of the Pizol region is a good place to stay overnight. The hotel is located near the Gaffia station and is therefore the ideal starting point for the various stages of the Quartet of Summits.

Our recommendation: Arrive at the Berghotel Gaffia as early as Friday afternoon and ring in the weekend comfortably on the terrace. From here you can enjoy a foretaste of the views that await you over the next two days. The view over the St. Gallen Rhine Valley and the Churfirsten is breathtaking - and it only gets better. On Saturday the hiking starts. The summit tour combination Garmil + Gamidauerspitz is less strenuous and demanding than the Hochwart and the Pizol and is therefore perfect as an introduction. Back at the Berghotel Gaffia, you can enjoy another evening full of nostalgia and mountain hut feeling. Here you can recharge your batteries for the second half of the quartet. On Sunday, you go on the crowning summit tour combination Hochwart + Pizol.

Thanks to the overnight stays at the Berghotel Gaffia, the focus on this excursion is on enjoyment and all your senses will be pampered. The perfect weekend on the mountain!

Individual Stages

The route can not only be hiked as a whole in one piece, but also each peak individually, or combined as desired.

Pizol - The Adventurous One

The Pizol peak rises majestically to 2,844 m above sea level. The alpine route leads past the famous Wildsee lake, along the remnants of the Pizol glacier up to the summit. The ascent is adventurous, with exposed sections and steel ropes as handrails. This route is not for the faint-hearted, but just right for all adventurers (free of giddiness and sure-footed)! Once you reach the top, the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains of St. Gallen, Grisons and Glarus is simply breathtaking.

Pizol Summit Tour

Hochwart - The Mighty One

The well-known turquoise-blue Wildsee lake is embedded in stony scree, which now only hints at the presence of the former Pizol glacier. In the background, it is lined by the striking mountain peaks around the Pizol. In the panorama on the far right, the mighty Hochwart watches over the lake. On this tour we experience the Wildsee and the crater from different angles. There are also impressive views of the Schottensee, the Schwarzplangg, the Pizol summit and the Gaffara valley, where up to 600 sheep graze in the summer months.

Hochwart Summit Tour

Gamidauerspitz - The Wild One

On the Gamidauerspitz the Sarganserland and the St. Galler Rheintal are at our feet. With the Garmil in the foreground, the view sweeps to the left towards the Churfirsten and Lake Walensee, and to the right the view falls on the Grisons mountains. With a bit of luck, chamois and eagles can be seen on the way.

Gamidauerspitz Summit Tour

Garmil - The Romantic One

Past a gurgling mountain stream and a variety of flowers. The route up the Garmil is playful and romantic. Thanks to the lower altitude, it is greener than the other stages. On this route we experience exciting insights and views into the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tectonic Arena Sardona. Information boards line the path and the views of Sarganserland and the St. Gallen Rhine Valley enchant every dreamy hiker.

Garmil summit tour