Urner Alpenkranz complete route

Tip

382.46 km long

Difficulty: difficult

Condition: very difficult

Great panorama

Long distance hiking trail

CC-BY | Sanna Laurén, Verein Urner Wanderwege

150:12 h
382.46 km
27,777 m
27,837 m
434 m
2,836 m
2,402 m
Start: Klewenalp
Destination: Brüsti

The Urner Alpenkranz

The Urner Alpenkranz is a long-distance hike around the canton of Uri with 40 stages. It leads from hut to hut, from mountain inn to mountain inn, and offers everything a hiking enthusiast could wish for, from easy hikes in the foothills to alpine mountain tours in the high Alps. Those who wish can combine the hikes with boat trips and cable car experiences, with culinary delights or with swimming pleasures in mountain lakes. Along the way, there are always opportunities to relax in beautiful mountain huts and mountain inns.

You can expect 150 hours of hiking over a distance of around 360 kilometers and 53,000 meters of elevation gain!

Mountains offer views and insights

What has always been clear to the locals is impressively apparent on the Urner Alpenkranz to every hiker from near and far: Uri is not only heard about in traffic reports on the car radio but offers unique living, economic, and recreational spaces. This Uri, with its distinctive mountain architecture, quiet corners in solitary valleys, countless natural beauties, and rare curiosities, invites you to discover it over and over again and to let it affect you.

Uri is one of the most mountainous cantons in Switzerland. The imposing Axenstrasse leads through steep rocks into the valley floor of Uri. In the border-defining mountains, the rivers Reuss, Ticino, Rhine, and Rhone originate. And besides the northern connection, the alpine passes Klausen, Susten, Oberalp, Furka, and Gotthard connect our canton with the rest of Switzerland.

Between Lake Uri and Gotthard, countless dreamlike hiking routes and well-marked mountain paths can be found—high above foggy valleys and gray everyday worries. The same mountains caused fear and terror just 200 years ago. Today, they are a source of inspiration, strength, and health. They achieve unprecedented relief from everyday stress through active, close-to-nature, and authentic encounters. And so, when stubborn fog layers lay over lowlands and minds, the Urner Alpenkranz also becomes a destination for small escapes. Starting points for this world of experience are the mountain huts and mountain inns throughout the canton.

Pavements

Unknown

Street

Asphalt

Gravel

Trail

Path

Best to visit

suitable

Depends on weather

Equipment

Sturdy hiking boots with a grippy sole, weather-appropriate equipment, topographic national maps (not just smartphone), compass, and altimeter belong to the basic equipment.
In addition, a first aid kit, rescue blanket, and mobile phone for emergencies are part of the basic equipment.
Poles and glacier equipment for glacier tours are necessary.
Hiking poles are very helpful on scree, especially with a heavy backpack.
For alpine hiking trails, depending on the stage, rope, climbing harnesses, ice axe, and crampons are additionally recommended.

Additional information

www.alpenkranz.ch
Local mountain guides & qualified hiking leaders can be found at: Montanara Bergerlebnisse, Mountain Guide Association Uri and Honigberg.ch

Literature

www.alpenkranz.ch

Author

Sanna Laurén

Organization

Verein Urner Wanderwege

Website

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

Urner Wanderwege wishes you, together with the mountain huts and mountain inns, enjoyable hiking hours, interesting encounters, and many great experiences.

Safety guidelines

Mountain hiking is demanding.

Knowledge of dangers in the mountains (rockfall, slipping/fall hazards, sudden weather changes) is necessary for mountain & alpine hiking trails. Sturdy hiking boots with a grippy sole, weather-appropriate equipment, topographic national maps (not just smartphone), compass, and altimeter belong to the basic equipment. For alpine hiking trails, rope, ice axe, and possibly crampons are additionally recommended. In addition, a first aid kit, rescue blanket, and mobile phone for emergencies are part of the basic equipment.

It is advisable to do serious route planning and careful preparation for every hike. The weather in the mountains can change very quickly. Fog can also make orientation difficult in summer. The greatest danger in summer besides the heat is thunderstorms. Thunderstorms with heavy rain and hail can quickly turn a small stream into large rivers, and the danger of mudslides and rockfall increases. Therefore, it is important to interpret the weather report during route planning. Thermal thunderstorms often come only in the afternoon, but frontal thunderstorms can occur at any time of the day. Generally, it is advisable to start early in summer.

Mountain guides or qualified hiking leaders (up to T4) are recommended for alpine hiking trails (marked white-blue-white routes), and hiking leaders for hikes and mountain hikes. They take over the organization & planning of the routes so that guests can simply enjoy the hike.

The Urner Wander planner and the Uri Outdoor app help with planning. Via Geo Admin, you can find many useful information, such as where pastures with herd protection dogs, cow-calf grazing areas, and also wildlife resting zones are located.

Hikers hike at their own responsibility. The Urner Wanderwege association is not liable for accidents occurring during the Urner Alpenkranz hike.

Map