Sardonahütte SAC – Alpine Hut in the UNESCO Sardona Tectonic Arena

The Sardonahütte SAC is a remarkable alpine hut located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona, on the border between the cantons of Glarus and St. Gallen. Set in a landscape of exceptional geological significance, the hut functions primarily as a stage hut for alpine hiking and educational routes, offering access to one of the most important tectonic sites in the Alps rather than to technical mountaineering objectives.

• Hut Overview

  • Location: Sardona / Calfeisental area, Glarus–St. Gallen border, Switzerland

  • Altitude: 2,158 m

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

  • Capacity: Approx. 40–45 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 is classic alpine hiking with no technical difficulties in summer.

  • Main approaches:

    • From the Calfeisental (St. Gallen)

    • From Elm (Glarus), as part of longer traverses

  • Hiking time: ~4–6 hours (route-dependent)

  • Elevation gain: ~1,000–1,400 m

  • Terrain: Alpine paths, grassy slopes, rocky sections

  • Difficulty: T3

  No glacier travel is required.

• Facilities & Comfort

  Facilities are functional and well adapted to multi-day hikers.

  • Dormitories with mattresses and blankets

  • Half-board meals during guarded season

  • Drinking water available

  • Indoor toilets

  • Limited electricity

  The winter room is basic and intended for autonomous use.

• Food & Atmosphere

  Calm, educational, and nature-focused.

  • Traditional alpine meals

  • Frequented by hikers, geology enthusiasts, and alpine clubs

  • Evenings often include discussion of routes, terrain, and geology

  The hut’s setting encourages a slower, more reflective mountain experience.

• Routes & Alpine Context

  The Sardonahütte is ideally placed for:

  • Alpine hiking within the UNESCO Sardona Tectonic Arena

  • Educational geology itineraries and themed routes

  • Multi-day traverses linking huts such as Leglerhütte, Martinsmadhütte, and other Glarus-region shelters

  • Scenic ridge walks and panoramic viewpoints

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

• When to Go

  • Best season: July to September

  • Conditions: Snowfields may persist early in the season

  • Main risks: Fog, storms, early autumn snow

• Who Is This Hut For

  • Experienced alpine hikers

  • Long-distance trekkers

  • Geology and landscape enthusiasts

  • Alpine clubs and educational groups

Why This Hut Is Worth Visiting

At 2,158 m, the Sardonahütte SAC offers something rare in the Alps: direct immersion in a globally significant geological landscape combined with classic alpine hiking. It is a hut defined less by summits and more by context, learning, and continuity of route, making it a unique entry in any alpine hut collection.