Wasserauen-Ebenalp cable car, Aerial tramway in Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland.

The Wasserauen-Ebenalp cable car connects a valley station to a mountain plateau in eastern Switzerland, covering a vertical rise of roughly 800 meters. The journey passes over forested slopes and open meadows, with views of the surrounding Alpine terrain unfolding during the ascent.

The cable car was built in the mid-20th century to make the high plateau more accessible to visitors and mountain workers. The plateau area had long been a destination for hikers seeking the caves and simple mountain restaurants located higher up.

The cable car's name links Wasserauen, the valley station a few minutes' walk from the narrow-gauge Appenzell Railways terminus, with the Ebenalp plateau at 1590 m. From the top, paths lead to the Wildkirchli caves, which Emil Hildebrand-Rusch wanted to serve with a lift in his 1938 concession request; nature conservationists opposed it and the application was rejected in 1940.

The ride covers 1,514 metres and takes about 6 minutes, at 6 metres per second, with 40 people per cabin. The valley station is a few minutes' walk from Wasserauen railway station, the terminus of the narrow-gauge Appenzeller Bahnen. The cable car runs all year except for maintenance in April and November, and stops in strong wind.

At the top of the plateau sits a small inn called Aescher, perched on a rock ledge and reachable by foot in just a few minutes. The restaurant appears to grow directly from the rock face, making it a surprising spot for a meal and rest.