Pizol

Mountain Alpine mountain in St. Gallen popular for hiking

Pizol in St. Gallen offers the well‑known five‑lakes hiking circuit, alpine meadows and winter ski slopes, with mountain huts and cableways supporting day trips.

Main image

Pizol is a mountain in the Glarus Alps within the Canton of St. Gallen in eastern Switzerland, with a summit elevation of 2,844 meters. It is a recognised destination for alpine hiking, panoramic viewpoints and seasonal mountain sports.

One of the best-known attractions is the Pizol five-lake hike, a high-altitude route that links a sequence of alpine lakes and offers waterfalls, rocky ridges and panoramic views; the full route is typically done as a day hike by fit walkers. The mountain also supports winter sports and seasonal lift access in the local ski area, with mountain huts and marked trails for walkers.

The summit and surrounding ridges provide wide views across the Glarus Alps and into neighbouring cantons, making Pizol a popular local peak for both day hikers and more committed mountaineers depending on conditions.

Pizol is part of the alpine range long used for pastoralism, local mountain travel and, in the 20th century, recreational hiking and skiing as mountain tourism developed in eastern Switzerland. Infrastructure such as lifts and marked trails were added to support recreational use.

The mountain lies in the canton of St. Gallen in the Glarus Alps, near villages such as Wangs and the spa town areas of eastern Switzerland, within easy reach of regional road networks and alpine access points.

  • Elevation and hiking highlight: Pizol reaches an elevation of 2,844 meters and is a focal point for alpine hiking and a well known five-lake hiking route.
  • Trail conditions: Trails include steep sections and exposed paths; proper mountain footwear and weather awareness are advised for summer hikes and winter activities.

What to See #

  • Five-lake hike: The five-lake hiking loop links a sequence of high-altitude mountain lakes with marked trails and panoramic viewpoints over the eastern Glarus Alps.
  • Summit and ski facilities: The summit ridge and ski terrain are served seasonally by lifts and mountain huts for walkers and winter sports users.
Pizol
Pizol, Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland
46.9592, 9.3867

How to Get to Pizol #

Pizol is accessible from the St. Gallen region. The nearest main transport hub is Bad Ragaz; from there local buses and cable cars (seasonal) connect to trailheads. Driving routes are well signposted; park-and-hike options exist at official trailheads.

Tips for Visiting Pizol #

  • Take the Pizol Höhenweg (high-altitude trail) in summer for a concise loop with lakes and glacier views - planned as a single day's hike with alpine terrain.
  • If visiting for hut-to-hut trekking, book alpine huts in advance and plan for rapid weather shifts typical of the Eastern Alps.
  • Check the ski-lift schedules in winter months; lifts change seasonally and some access routes close in winter for avalanche safety.

Best Time to Visit Pizol #

Summer for hiking and alpine lakes; winter for snow sports with attention to lift and avalanche conditions.

Summer hiking season
June-September · 5-20°C (41-68°F) depending on elevation
Trails clear of snow; ideal for the Pizol Höhenweg and high-alpine lakes like the five-lakes route.
Winter ski season
December-March · -10-5°C (14-41°F)
Skiing and snowshoeing with alpine lodges active; avalanche risk means sticking to marked routes.

Weather & Climate near Pizol #

Climate

Pizol's climate is classified as Tundra - Tundra climate with cold summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -11°C to 8°C. Heavy rainfall (2044 mm/year), wettest in July, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Best Time to Visit
AugustOctoberJuly
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
36°
Warmest Month
-29°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is freezing with highs of -5°C and lows of -10°C. Significant rainfall (164 mm), partly cloudy skies, and breezy conditions.

25 Poor

Comfort

-8°
Feels Like Freezing
-8°C
Temperature
-11° -5°
89%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

164 mm
Rainfall
6.0 m/s
Wind
Breezy
0.2
UV Index
Low
8.9h daylight

February

February is the coldest month with highs of -6°C and lows of -11°C. Significant rainfall (144 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

29 Poor

Comfort

-8°
Feels Like Freezing
-8°C
Temperature
-11° -6°
90%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

144 mm
Rainfall
5.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.3
UV Index
Low
10.2h daylight

March

March is freezing with highs of -4°C and lows of -10°C. Significant rainfall (161 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

27 Poor

Comfort

-7°
Feels Like Freezing
-7°C
Temperature
-10° -4°
87%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

161 mm
Rainfall
5.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.7
UV Index
Moderate
11.8h daylight

April

April is freezing with highs of -3°C and lows of -8°C. Significant rainfall (167 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

27 Poor

Comfort

-5°
Feels Like Freezing
-5°C
Temperature
-8° -3°
80%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

167 mm
Rainfall
5.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.0
UV Index
High
13.4h daylight

May

May is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -3°C. Significant rainfall (146 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

38 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Freezing
C
Temperature
-3°
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

146 mm
Rainfall
4.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.3
UV Index
High
14.8h daylight

June

June is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (189 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

36 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

189 mm
Rainfall
4.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.7
UV Index
Very High
15.6h daylight

July

July is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (213 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

40 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

213 mm
Rainfall
4.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.7
UV Index
Very High
15.2h daylight

August

August is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (197 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

42 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
81%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

197 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.4
UV Index
High
14.0h daylight

September

September is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (167 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

40 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
83%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

167 mm
Rainfall
4.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.0
UV Index
Moderate
12.4h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 3°C and lows of -2°C. Significant rainfall (149 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

42 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-2°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

149 mm
Rainfall
5.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.5
UV Index
Low
10.7h daylight

November

November is freezing with highs of -2°C and lows of -7°C. Significant rainfall (170 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

31 Poor

Comfort

-5°
Feels Like Freezing
-5°C
Temperature
-7° -2°
87%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

170 mm
Rainfall
5.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.2
UV Index
Low
9.3h daylight

December

December is freezing with highs of -4°C and lows of -9°C. Significant rainfall (177 mm), partly cloudy skies, and breezy conditions.

29 Poor

Comfort

-7°
Feels Like Freezing
-7°C
Temperature
-9° -4°
88%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

177 mm
Rainfall
6.2 m/s
Wind
Breezy
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.5h daylight

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