Clariden Höhenweg: one of Switzerland’s Most Dramatic Ridge Trails
Imagine standing on a knife-edge ridge, the crisp mountain air filling your lungs as you look down at a sea of green meadows on one side and a massive wall of glacial ice on the other. This isn't a dream, it's the Clariden High-Altitude Trail (Clariden Höhenweg).
This spectacular route takes you from the rolling meadows of Urnerboden in Canton Uri, whisks you up into the clouds via a rustic cable car to Fisetengrat, and then guides you along a panoramic ridge trail past a striking turquoise glacial lake and over a moraine, before finishing at the historic Klausen Pass.
Whether you are an avid hiker or a landscape photographer, this trail packs some of the most dramatic geological and historical features of Central Switzerland into a manageable, breathtaking day trip.
Route at a Glance
Distance: ~10 km (6 miles)
Elevation Gain: +570 vertical meters
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate (T2/2+ mountain hiking paths)
Highlights: A vintage cable car ride, a high-alpine ridge walk, the turquoise Gletscherseeli, and front-row seats to towering glacial giants.
Skyline Giants: the Peaks on the Way
As you cross this high-altitude balcony, the skyline is dominated by jagged limestone peaks and ice-capped summits. Keep your eyes peeled for these iconic mountains:
Clariden (3,267m): The star of the route. You will hike directly beneath its colossal, sheer north face and catch brilliant glimpses of its glaciers.
Tödi (3,614m): The highest peak in the Glarus Alps. Its massive, snow-covered crown anchors the eastern horizon.
Gemsfairenstock (2,972m): A rugged, dark peak rising sharply above the Fiseten Pass, framing the southern side of your trek.
Jägerstöcke: A dramatic, tooth-like ridge of limestone towers that flanks the Urnerboden valley, offering a sharp contrast to the green pastures below.
See also my article on the Zingelstöckli Via Ferrata that can be added to the start of this route for a complete day of physical activity…
Clashing Cantons: a History of the Klausen Pass
Long before it became a hotspot for hikers, bikers and sports cars, the Klausen Pass was a rugged cattle track established by 1196. For centuries, the exact border between the rival cantons of Uri and Glarus was a source of bitter, violent conflict.
According to local legend, the dispute reached breaking point in 1315. Fed up with all the fighting, the cantons agreed to a bizarre race: at the first crow of a rooster, a runner from each side would sprint toward the other. The point where they met would mark the permanent border:
The Glarus strategy: They pampered their rooster, overfeeding it so it would be happy and strong. Unfortunately, the bird overslept!
The Uri strategy: They starved their rooster, causing it to wake early and crow desperately for food long before dawn.
Thanks to the hungry rooster, the Uri runner got a massive head start, sprinting across the entire Urnerboden pasture before the Glarus runner even woke up. Out of pity, the Uri runner agreed to let the exhausted Glarus competitor carry him back uphill on his shoulders as far as he could manage.
The Glarus runner collapsed and died of exhaustion on the slopes - and that very spot remains the border to this day, leaving the massive alpine pasture of Urnerboden safely in the hands of Canton Uri. There's a border stone to mark the spot on the route.
See my other blog articles on the Klausen pass region, and Glarus…
Step 1: Whisked into the Clouds
The adventure begins in Urnerboden, a sprawling, idyllic valley home to thousands of grazing cows in the summer. Skip the grueling uphill climb by stepping into the charming, small Urnerboden to Fisetengrat Cable Car. In just a few minutes, you are effortlessly lifted over the sheer rock walls, watching the valley floor shrink beneath you. You step out at the upper station (2,027m) straight into a postcard-perfect panorama.
Step 2: Riding the Ridge Line
From the station, a short path leads to the Fiseten Pass. From here, the real magic begins. You will hike along a stunning ridge trail that acts as a natural balcony. To your right, the earth drops away down into the Urnerboden pastures. Ahead, the path cuts through alpine meadows that gradually give way to raw, moon-like limestone terrain.
You will even pass through the Tyyfelsfriedhof (“Devil’s Cemetery”), a fascinating graveyard of weathered boulders and unique rock formations. Funny how the Devil gets his name on so many rocks, bridges, etc
Step 3: The Clariden Glacier and its Turquoise Lake
The towering sheet of ice framing your hike is the Clariden Glacier (Claridenfirn). While the peak's Latin-derived name, Clarus (meaning "bright" or "shiny"), celebrates its brilliant ice caps, the glacier is changing rapidly and holds a special place in climate history. Scientists have been directly measuring its winter snow accumulation and annual mass balance since 1914, making it one of the longest continuous direct measurements of a glacier anywhere on Earth.
As you round the flank of the mountain, you will see the modern effects of this changing ice sheet at the crown jewel of the hike: the Gletscherseeli. This vibrant, milky-blue glacial lake did not always exist. As the glacier rapidly receded up the north face of the Clariden over the last few decades, it left behind steep stone moraines and carved out a depression that trapped the melting glacial milk.
Resting right beneath the mountain's towering walls, it is the perfect spot to unpack a picnic, skip stones, and listen to the distant crackle of shifting alpine ice. Be sure to view it from various angles for the best photographs…
Step 4: Final Descent to the Klausen Pass
Cruising past the glacier basin, the trail gently snakes downward across moraine walls and over a wooden footbridge spanning the rushing Fätschbach stream.
A short, final push across rocky pastures brings you to the summit of the legendary Klausen Pass (1,948m). Celebrate your journey with a cold drink at the historic pass kiosk while waiting for the yellow PostBus to windingly transport you back down the mountain in either direction.
Fueling Your Trek: Where to Eat Along the Way
Because this is a high-altitude wilderness trek, you won’t find any restaurants directly on the ridge trail or glacial lake. So be sure to pack plenty of water and pocket snacks for the middle section of your hike. However, you can bookend your journey with some incredible, hearty Swiss food at both the start and the finish lines:
At the Start (Urnerboden): Before you catch the cable car, you can grab a traditional, pre-hike coffee or a hearty plate of schnitzel and fries at local valley favorites like Gasthof Urnerboden or Gasthaus Sonne.
At the Finish (Klausen Pass): After your final descent, reward yourself on the scenic outdoor terrace at Hotel Klausenpass or the cozy Restaurant Klausenpass right at the mountain summit. Celebrating your achievement with a plate of authentic, cheesy Swiss rösti while watching the clouds roll over the pass is the ultimate end to a perfect day in the Alps.
Note of course that you can do this route in either direction, or even extend it as you wish…
This route was hiked by the Author on the 16th of August 2020 and partially in July 2025. Contact me by email for photos or to ask questions.
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