Geissflue

Geissflue is a hill in the eastern Swiss Jura, reached from the village of Oltingen in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. Its summit sits on the line between Basel-Landschaft and Solothurn, and the Aargau border runs just to the east along the Geissfluegrat ridge. It suits walkers who want a quiet Jura ridge outing with no technical difficulty.

Where is Geissflue and how high is it?

The hill rises in the Jura chain at the meeting point of three cantons: Basel-Landschaft, Solothurn and Aargau. Its coordinates are roughly 47.42° N, 7.96° E. Sources give 962 to 963 metres above sea level, and 963 m is the most likely figure. It is described as the easternmost Jura summit to top 900 metres.

How do you get up Geissflue?

Good starting points are Oltingen and the Benkerjoch pass. The path to the top is graded T1, an ordinary hiking trail that most walkers can manage in sturdy shoes. Geissflue is one of the 27 summits on the Jura Crest Trail.

Two sample routes:

• Loop from Benkerjoch: over the Salhöhe to Geissflue, then via Schafmatt down to Oltingen. About 15 km with roughly 540 m of ascent and 770 m of descent. Benkerjoch to the summit takes around 2 hours 10 minutes.
• Short loop from Schafmatt: about 6 km, just under 2 hours and about 200 m of climbing, starting at the Schafmatt Mountain Lodge.

What else is worth knowing about the area?

A stage of the long-distance trail between Hauenstein and Staffelegg runs through this area and crosses several passes, including the Salhöhe, so Geissflue is easy to fold into a longer ridge walk. The Geissfluegrat ridge lies northeast of the summit and already belongs to Aargau, which means walking along it takes you across a cantonal boundary.

When should you go?

The trails here are best from late spring to autumn, when paths are dry and days are long. Plan a full day for the Benkerjoch loop and carry your own water, since you can't count on a refreshment stop along the ridge.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Geissflue? Around 962 to 963 m above sea level, with 963 m the figure most often quoted.

Is the hike difficult? No. The trail is rated T1, an easy walking path without exposed sections.

How long does the walk take? The short Schafmatt loop is just under 2 hours. From Benkerjoch to the summit is about 2 hours 10 minutes, and the full loop via Schafmatt to Oltingen covers about 15 km.

Which canton is the summit in? On the border of Basel-Landschaft and Solothurn. Aargau begins just east, beyond the Geissfluegrat ridge.