Muttseehütte SAC – Modern Alpine Hut & High-Route Stage in the Glarus Alps

The Muttseehütte SAC is a modern, architecturally distinctive alpine hut located high above Linthal in the Glarus Alps, near the Muttsee reservoir. Positioned on a key alpine axis, it serves primarily as a stage hut for high-alpine hiking and long-distance routes, notably as a cornerstone of the Via Alpina (Green Trail). Despite its altitude, access is relatively efficient, making it a popular yet well-managed hut.

• Hut Overview

  • Location: Muttsee area / Linthal, Canton of Glarus, Switzerland

  • Altitude: 2,501 m

  • Type: Serviced SAC alpine hut (with winter room)

  • Capacity: Approx. 90–100 sleeping places

  • Season:

    • Guarded: usually late June to late September

    • Winter room: accessible outside the guarded season

  • Managed by: Swiss Alpine Club (SAC)

• Access & Approaches

  Access combines modern infrastructure with classic alpine hiking.

  • Main approach:

    • Via the Linthal–Kärpf cable car system to Tierfehd, followed by an alpine hike

  • Hiking time: ~3–4 hours (from top cable car station)

  • Elevation gain: ~900–1,100 m

  • Terrain: Alpine paths, rocky sections, high-alpine terrain

  • Difficulty: T3

  No glacier travel is required in summer.

• Facilities & Comfort

  The Muttseehütte offers a high standard of comfort by SAC norms.

  • Large dormitories with mattresses and blankets

  • Half-board meals during guarded season

  • Drinking water available

  • Indoor toilets

  • Electricity, lighting, and efficient energy systems

  The winter room is modern and well equipped for autonomous use.

• Food & Atmosphere

  Efficient, social, and route-oriented.

  • Substantial alpine meals designed for long hiking stages

  • International clientele, especially Via Alpina hikers

  • Evenings structured around route planning and early departures

  Despite its size, the hut maintains a calm and well-organized atmosphere.

• Routes & Alpine Context

  The Muttseehütte is a major hub for:

  • Via Alpina (Green Trail) stages through the Glarus Alps

  • High-alpine hiking and ridge routes

  • Multi-day traverses linking huts such as Planurahütte, Kistenpass, and Claridenhütte

  • Training routes before entering more remote alpine terrain

  It is not intended as a base for technical mountaineering or glacier climbing.

• When to Go

  • Best season: July to September

  • Conditions: Snowfields may persist early in the season

  • Main risks: Fog, strong winds, rapid weather changes

• Who Is This Hut For

  • Experienced alpine hikers

  • Long-distance trekkers (Via Alpina)

  • Alpine clubs and training groups

  • Hikers seeking high terrain with efficient access

Why This Hut Is Worth Visiting

At 2,501 m, the Muttseehütte SAC represents a modern vision of alpine shelter: high, efficient, and strategically placed. Its combination of altitude, strong connectivity, and contemporary design makes it one of the most important stage huts in the Glarus Alps for hikers who value continuity of route and high-mountain perspective without technical climbing.