Legler Mountain Hut • Day hike from Mettmenalp

This challenging hike leads to the popular Leglerhütte, a mountain hut overlooking the beautiful mountainous Glarnerland region in eastern Switzerland. If possible, stay overnight here for the full experience. But if you can’t, a day hike is almost just as nice and highly recommended.

At almost 12 km and 800 m up, the hike is difficult but not so long that you’ll give up hope. The hut is right in the middle, at the end of your long climb, perfect for lunchtime. Along the way, you’ll see alpine lakes and walk along a rushing river, all the elements of a good Swiss hike.

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Overview

The loop trail starts and ends at the top of the Kies-Mettmenalp cable car. There is a hotel and restaurant near the cable car station. The lake is a short walk, just above the hotel. The Leglerhütte mountain hut is at the far end of the loop.

Hiking map

This hiking map shows the loop trail, starting and ending at the Mettmenalp cable car. This is a typical mountain trail on a narrow dirt path with uneven terrain. It has lots of switchbacks and steep slopes, but no excessively dangerous exposed sections with cables. It takes good fitness to manage the climb, but most experienced hikers should find this trail average difficulty. We recommend hiking sticks on this trail.

View interactive trail map, download GPX, and print map on Komoot • SchweizMobil • OutdoorActive

Shorter trail

For an easier day, you could do the shorter Karpfbrügg loop instead. It starts on the same trail but forks left, leading more directly to the river valley. That trail is 7 km, 2.5 hrs, 400 m up/down. See details.

You can also just visit the first lake and have a picnic along the lakeshore. It’s an easy 2.2 km walk around the lake, with a few picnic areas with fire pits along the way. See more info about the Mettmenalp lake.

How to get there

This hike is located in Mettmenalp in the Glarus canton of eastern Switerland. See on Google Maps.

Note: In 2023, because of landslides in this area, the road from Schwanden up to the Mettmenalp cable car is closed to public traffic. Instead, they are offering a shuttle service from Schwanden. Follow the signs to the designated parking and use the shuttle as directed. The landslide does not affect the trails.

By car

Drive to Schwanden, then follow signs to Kies-Mettmenalp (sometimes spelled “Chies”), driving up a narrow one-lane mountain road. Your destination is Luftseilbahn Kies-Mettmen (GPS: 46°58’03.9″N 9°05’26.0″E). There is lots of parking next to the cable car and an overflow lot a bit down the road.

By public transport

Take a train to Schwanden GL, Bahnhof. Then bus 544 to Kies (Talstation). This bus runs hourly and is coordinated with the the cable car, arriving at xx:22, a few minutes before the cable car leaves at xx:30. 

On the way home, the bus leaves the cable car station on the xx:35, waiting for the passengers from the xx:30 cable car.

Planning your day

Ticket prices

In 2024, a return ticket on the cable car costs CHF 20/adult, CHF 10/child 6-15, under 6 free. No discounts for GA, Half-fare or Swiss travel passes.

See current prices.

Opening hours

The cable car runs from end of June through end of October. It runs every 30 mins and the ride is about 3 mins long. In summer, it runs 7:00 – 20:00, until 19:00 in September and until 18:00 in October. Check current operating times.

Where to eat & sleep

We suggest eating lunch at the Leglerhütte, which the halfway point of the hike. Bring cash. It’s typical simple hut food, with a couple hot meals like sausage, soup and pasta. I have a pic of the menu and food below in the photo story. You can sleep overnight here but you need to book well in advance. SAC members get a discount on the overnight fees. Learn more.

You could also eat at the end of your hike at the Berghotel Mettmenalp near the cable car station. It’s been recently renovated and looks very nice. I’ve heard great things about their food. Definitely on my list for future weekend adventures.

Photo story of trail

Riding up to Mettmenalp

Here is the cable car station at Kies, next to the parking and bus stop. The ticket office is inside where you can also get a free hiking map. There is a toilet here.

We took the first bus connection of the day so we would have plenty of time for the hike and lunch at the hut. This pic was taken at 8:40 in mid July.

We did this hike counterclockwise, so we started across the dam at the northeast end of the lake.

The trail starts steep on switchbacks up the mountain. 

In summer, it was hot even so early in the day.

Looking back at the Glarnerland valley we rode the train through earlier that morning.

At any sign, make sure to follow direction Leglerhütte.

The trail flattens as you reach this pass, Matzlenfurgglen 1913m.

Now downhill a bit before the next big climb.

Another fork in the trail, turn left up the mountain.

Here’s the sign at the fork.

Some good fitness climbing up these switchbacks.

Lots of fluffy grass and flowers along the way.

Arriving at Ängisee to enjoy two little lakes with lovely reflections. Although the lakes would be a great place for a picnic, you still have about 45 mins to the hut. So keep an eye on the clock.

Trail sign at the lakes.

Now about 45 mins more climbing up to the hut. 

I thought this was the prettiest part of the hike!

The trail does have some sections with steep slopes to one side, but not excessively dangerous. Experienced hikers should have no problems here.

Couldn’t love this view more!!!

Almost there. The hut is to the left. Another trail leads up and over those peaks.

Arriving at the hut

Finally at the Leglerhütte! 

The day we were there, lunch was served outside. You order at the table here. Pay with cash.

Typical hut menu. 

We had the chalkboard special, cheesy pasta with alpine herbs, pretty tasty after all that work to get here. They had lots of cakes too, which was a nice pairing with the view.

You can stay overnight here, but reserve early in the season as rooms are often booked out for the whole summer already by spring. They have large dorms as well as rooms for 2-4 people and family rooms. But those smaller rooms are the first to get booked out.

Views from the hut

Plan your day so you have plenty of time to lounge and enjoy the views from the hut.

Looking towards Braunwald and the Klausen pass.

There’s another little lake near the hut, but it’s in the opposite direction of the trail down. So we’ll save that for when we stay overnight at the hut.

Trail down

Reluctantly we left the hut and started the long descent. It starts off quite rocky, going through these boulder fields.

Even in mid July we hit a couple snow patches, but not too big. Some of the downhills were a bit steep with loose rock. Best to have your hiking sticks out here.

It gets grassy and green as you descend into the valley.

At this fork, we went straight towards the river valley. Left also goes to the Mettmenalp cable car but it joins the trail you took on the way up. Right goes up and over the mountains ahead of you.

When you reach the river, follow it downhill all the way back to the main lake. The first picture below is looking up river at another trail. The second pic is looking down river, walking around lots of rocks.

Eventually you’ll reach this natural rock bridge, Karpfbrügg, with the river running under it. You will walk over it.

There are some refreshingly flat sections through alpine meadows. (pic from a different day than the rest of the fotos)

Arriving back at the lake

Eventually the main lake comes into view. Now about 25 mins or so to the cable car station. If you are trying to catch the bus, remember that you need to catch the xx:30 cable car to make the hourly bus connection.

Fun to see the lake from this perspective.

At this fork, both trails go around the lake to the dam. We usually turn right.

So lucky on the weather this day.

Last look at the lake at 16:20, so different from the calm morning when we started. 

Hustle down to the cable car and ride down to your bus or car. Hope you enjoyed it!!!