Hiking to Gleckstein Hut (Glecksteinhütte) & Chrinnenhorn Peak

Hiking to Gleckstein Hut (Glecksteinhütte)

Perched at an elevation of 2,317 meters, this alpine refuge offers hikers a unique blend of rustic charm and incredible mountain views. The journey to the hut, although challenging, rewards climbers with stunning panoramas of glaciated landscapes, including the north face of Wetterhorn. In this blog post, I’ll share all of the details about hiking to the Gleckstein Hut (Glecksteinhütte).

GLECKSTEIN HUT HIKE DETAILS

• Hike Distance: The distance from Hotel Wetterhorn to Gleckstein Hut is just over 5km one way.
• Hike Duration: The suggested duration is 3 hours and 50 minutes according to the sign but I went up in 1 hour and 34 minutes and came down the next day in 58 minutes.
• Hike Difficulty: The path is a red-and-white trail rating but has a few exposed areas. There is cable wherever the trail is exposed. 1,100m of incline will challenge many but there were quite a few older hikers making it up the hut so a slow and steady approach will mean most are capable. 
• Hike Incline: Starting point at Hotel Wetterhorn: 1,275m – Gleckstein Hut: 2,288

HOW TO BOOK A NIGHT AT GLECKSTEIN HUT

In order to book a night (or more) at Gleckstein Hut you will need to send an email, make a phone call or fill out the form on their website. They are not on other booking platforms, this is how the hut is booked.

• To email Gleckstein Hut you can contact them here: [email protected]
• To visit the website to make a booking you can do so here: www.gleckstein.ch
• To make a booking via phone you can do so with this number: +41 (0) 33 853 11 40

WHAT IS INCLUDED WHEN YOU STAY AT GLECKSTEIN HUT

The way mountain huts generally work is that you reserve a bed and also your half-board is included, which means you get a great dinner and breakfast service. Depending on the hut you can also get tea and drinking water but some do charge for this pending availability. You can choose to stay overnight without half-board but understand that there is no ‘cafe’ around the corner. I think the only reason you would choose not to have half-board is if you arrived very late and left very early missing dinner and breakfast. (These prices were from 2018 and will have increased with inflation)

• The price of one night at Gleckstein Hut with half-board (two meals) is: $85
• If you are a Swiss Alpine Club member (SAC) your price will be: $70
• Overnight stay without half board is: $45

WHEN TO VISIT GLECKSTEIN HUT

Gleckstein Hut is open throughout the summer period for about 4 months. It opens in the middle of June and ends in late October. The exact opening and closing dates depend on the weather because the trail needs to be accessible and safe for the cabin to accept guests.

I visited in late September and the hut was not busy and the weather was perfect, if you have the ability to choose a period, I would suggest this time as you will avoid a more crowded time, which would be July and August. However, a full hut of hikers is always a good atmosphere also!

MY EXPERIENCE HIKING TO GLECKSTEIN HUT

I began my day in Interlaken and caught the train to Grindelwald where I then walked 100m to the bus terminal and jumped on the bus. From the Grund station, it took about 15 minutes to reach the Wetterhorn Hotel, which is also the name of that specific bus stop. Here I found the signs and from that point on the signs were easy to follow.

The sign at the Hotel Wetterhorn said 3 hours and 50 minutes but I decided to have a bit of a workout on the way up and pushed relatively hard with my hiking poles and actually went up in 1 hour and 34 minutes of moving time.

The trail begins along the road before veering off into the grassy fields where small cottages and cabins are scattered on both sides of the trail.

You quickly leave behind Grindelwald and soon all that can be heard is the occasional bell from a cow in the fields. The trail is a quick climb from the get-go with almost 400m of climbing in the first 1.5km’s. The first real point of interest on the trail is at the turning point onto the side of the cliff. Here we had to cross the small heavily-packed ice, which had been manicured nicely into a trail.

The trail now becomes a lot rockier and much more interesting. While there is always a clear dirt path, there is a little bit of rock-hopping involved, which makes for a fun little wrap around the side of the mountain. Grindelwald is now long behind us and has become the star of the landscape with the town clearly visible below.

There are several spots of exposure along the trail although if walking carefully you should never be in danger. There are cables to help you keep close to the wall. The trail follows the red and white painted markers the entire way, which lead you toward the glacier.

With the canyon on your right-hand side throughout this part of the trail, it’s interesting to note that this canyon was once a glacier. It’s not empty, showing the effects of climate change and the reduction in the glaciers of the Alps. 

The most interesting point along this part of the trail is when you are forced to scurry underneath a small waterfall. Be careful not to slip as you are exposed during this section although a cable helps you get through safely.

The final ascent takes you on several switchbacks up the hill until you will emerge at the Gleckstein Hut after just over 5 km. It was a great hike. Short, sharp, and sweaty. I dropped my bags in the dormitory (pictured above), got changed, and headed outside to enjoy the view from the outdoor seating area. 

On one side we had a huge glacier that was pouring down into a waterfall. Every now and then, part of the glacier would collapse in a mini-avalanche. Behind us was the Wetterhorn and the Chrinnenhorn among other peaks.

I would hike the small journey to the Chrinnenhorn the following morning. Other experienced mountaineers were in the cabin preparing for their morning summit of the Wetterhorn.

After the Ibex show, it was time for a lovely three-course prepared by Rosemary. All of the food and supplies come up by helicopter, which makes it so incredible when the host is able to put on such a wholesome and tasty meal.

Satisfied with the dinner, I ventured outside to watch the sunset. The rays were searing through the peaks in the distance, spreading light across Grindelwald Town. Before too long, the whole sky was red in what was one of my favorite Swiss sunsets of all time. Even the peaks behind us gathered some pastel glow amongst the clouds.

HIKING TO CHRINNERHORN PEAK FROM GLECKSTEIN HUT

I woke early and began the hike up to Chrinnenhorn. I suggest heading up here for sunrise as it’s only 300m of incline and took me about 40 minutes to reach the top. You have incredible views back down towards Gleckstein Hut and as you get higher and higher, more peaks come into sight. These are some of my favorite shots from the sunrise and a video I made while flying the drone.

I took the following three photos with my DSLR from the summit of Chrinnenhorn. The pastel lighting had finished and I had made the most of that while flying the drone but it was still great from Chrinnenhorn after the best lighting. Cloud cover was filling the valley, which made it extra special.

That was the end of the journey and I hiked back down to Gleckstein Hut, packed my bag and headed back to to Hotel Wetterhorn the same way I had come up. It took me 20 minutes to reach Gleckstein Hut from Chrinnenhorn Summit and then 58 minutes (with a bit of running) down to Hotel Wetterhorn from Gleckstein Hut.

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OPTION 2: Buy the Swiss Travel Pass: The second option is to get the Swiss Travel Pass, which gives you unlimited train, bus, and (many) cable car rides but it’s pretty expensive at around $100 USD per day so if you don’t travel each day it isn’t worth it.

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