Post 10 - A Day Hike to the Windgallenhutte and the Golzerensee

The Takeaway:

• The Windgallenhutte, an Academic Alpine Club of Zurich (AACZ) mountain hut, is perched high on a ridge above the remote Maderanertal in Central Switzerland at 2,032 meters in Canton Uri.

• Who is this hike best for? Hikers with solid fitness seeking an all-day roundtrip hike away from the crowds, with amazing views, and several exciting diversions (hunting for crystals, alpine lake swimming).

• The trail is safe and well-marked.

• While possible as a day hike, it can also be done over two days with an overnight stay at the hut.

• This hike gets a 10/10 - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating.

On a sunny summer day, I gathered the gang for a hike to the Windgallenhutte and the nearby Golzerensee, a hidden gem of an alpine lake. Sometimes the idea of an all-day hike will elicit groans from the kiddos, but this hike promised several enticing extras: crystal hunting and a post-hike swim. With packs full of snacks and water, we made the drive to the Maderanertal, an isolated valley deep in Canton Uri. The drive into the valley is not for the faint of heart, with tiny roads, hairpin turns, and drop-offs down to the river below.

After passing through tiny mountain hamlets, we reached the valley cable car station that would take us to the start of the hike. On the walk to the ticket kiosk, we passed several self-serve boxes selling crystals from the surrounding area, giving the kids hopes that they would find a treasure or two. As with many cable cars in Uri, this one was small and inexpensive, holding only 8 passengers. I like these small cable cars in less popular areas much better than the giant gondolas at the touristy spots where a ticket can approach 100 francs or more. More info about the cable car here: https://www.lsb-golzern.ch/

The little cable car quickly brought us from the valley floor at 834 meters above cliffs on the north side of the raging Charstelenbach river to the Golzern mountain station at 1,395 meters.

The hike began soon after departing the Golzern mountain station, and with this being a circular hike, you can do it in either direction. Option 1 was to gain all of the altitude at once over a long section of switchbacks, with the second half of the hike being mostly flat and then gradually downhill. Option 2 was to do the hike in reverse, gaining altitude more slowly and gradually, and saving the steep section for the end. We decided to take advantage of our still high energy levels and took Option 1. This ended up being a great choice because doing the hike in this direction puts you right next to the lake at the end of the hike and avoids any backtracking.

Back and forth up switchbacks we went, with the complaints from the kiddos increasing with the altitude. Luckily we brought lots of snacks, a crucial tool to distract young hikers during long climbs. As we climbed, the views to the south opened up, with the Bristen dominating the skyline.

After about an hour of hiking, we reached the top of the switchbacks and found some flatter ground at Oberchaseren and its small farm. From here, we turned west and enjoyed the rolling ups and downs of the trail as we headed toward the Windgallenhutte. As we cruised along, the views were spectacular and we got a peak of the blue/green Golzerensee far below - a perfect spot to cool off at the end of our hike.

As we approached the Windgallenhutte, the trail widened and we entered what appeared to be a small floodplain or dry lake bed. The hut wardens had taken advantage of this flat ground and set up a volleyball court and fire pit for the guests to enjoy - nice! This part of the trail also began to change with regard to the rocks underfoot. Suddenly we were hiking along a shimmering path; upon closer inspection, it appeared we walking on millions of tiny crushed crystals! This was thrilling for the kids, as the prospect of finding a large gem brightened their moods and gave them some pep in their step.

We finally reached the hut and learned that the wardens generously loan out full sized hammers and chisels to the guests for crystal hunting in the surrounding rocks! The kids were jazzed and went to work like a couple of professional miners. After banging around on the local rocks, and finding quite a few fine looking specimens, we took some time to enjoy the hut’s large terrace and the amazing views.

The Windgallehutte was built in 1906, and since that time, it has been moved (due to avalanches), renovated, and modernized. The hut was most recently renovated in 2015 and offers lodging either in several large dormitories or smaller rooms with 4-6 beds. We didn’t eat at the hut, but the menu and food options looked extremely enticing. From here, one can circle back to the lake as we planned, but there are also several other options for longer hikes, including to nearby huts (e.g., the Hufihutte SAC and the Carmona da Cavardiras CAS). We saved those longer tours for another trip and headed down to the Golzerensee. More info about the Windgallenhutte here: https://aacz.ethz.ch/huts/windgallenhutte/ and here: https://www.windgaellenhuette.ch/.

After enjoying the gradual downhill hike to the lake, we approached the water and were impressed with the amenities available. Surrounding the lake were several small open air shelters with BBQ grills and seating. Near the back of the lake, we found a wide grassy area with benches and just offshore was a swim platform. The water was clear, cool, and we had the lake mostly to ourselves. Pretty perfect. As far as alpine lakes go, this one is near the top, especially for taking a swim.

After our swim, we followed a lovely undulating path that circumnavigated the lake and headed back towards the cable car station. Along the way, we were blown away by the wildflowers and stopped at a guesthouse for the obligatory post-hike ice cream.

This was a wonderful hike that enjoyed by the whole family, especially after we completed the switchbacks :) I give this hike a strong 10/10 rating, especially considering the crystal hunting and glorious post-hike swim. I recommend this trip to anyone with descent fitness who is looking to escape the crowds, enjoy a great hike to an alpine hut, and who relishes the idea of ending a hike with a refreshing dip.

Happy hiking!

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STANDARD SAFETY DISCLAIMER - As with any hike, it is important to consider your personal skill level and gear, including safety items, and remember to check the weather forecast. For safety items, consider bringing cash and a credit card, a cell phone, a small headlamp, foul/cold weather gear, an emergency blanket and whistle, plenty of food and especially water, a knife, sunscreen, and a first aid kit. You may never need most of these items, but you will be happy to have them if you do!! For weather, I recommend the MeteoSwiss app. Finally, prior to any tour to a SAC hut, you can also consider calling ahead to the hut warden to ask for info on hiking conditions. A little planning goes a long way towards making your trip a successful one.

One final note on safety - it is important to be honest with yourself and those in your group when it comes to your experience, fitness level, and the conditions. Hiking is not like going to Disney World - it has real risks. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Everyone has to assess and assume the risks for themselves. I also recommend becoming a Rega patron if you hike in Switzerland. Rega provides emergency medical rescue services if at all possible for a small annual donation. Rega can be reached by dialing 1414 or via the Rega app. More info on Rega can be found here: https://www.rega.ch/en/