Chelenalp mountain hut

The Chelenalp mountain hut (Chelenalphütte, historically also Kehlenalphütte) is a mountain hut of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) in the Urner Alps, above the Göscheneralp in the Swiss canton of Uri. It is owned and operated by the SAC Section Aarau and has served as a base for hikers and mountaineers for more than a century. The hut sits at roughly 1,700–2,000 metres in the Göscheneralp valley area, a high alpine basin that was once home to one of the highest permanent settlements in Uri before the construction of the Göscheneralp reservoir. The first Chelenalphütte was built in 1903 by the SAC Section Aarau, which had decided in 1902 to establish its own club hut at the Kehlenalp site. The original wooden hut opened on 6 September 1903 at a cost of about 6,500 Swiss francs and accommodated 25 people. It was replaced in 1926 by a solid stone building, financed largely through donations including a major contribution from the Dutch SAC member Dr. J. Moll von Charante. The new hut was inaugurated on 3 October 1926 and quickly became popular, hosting an average of 1,100–1,300 visitors per year between 1927 and 1945. The hut's history is closely tied to the transformation of the Göscheneralp. The construction of a road from Göschenen to the Göscheneralp began in 1952, and the Göscheneralp dam and reservoir were built between 1955 and 1960, submerging the old settlement. The hut itself was renovated and expanded in 1966–1967, 1972 and later, with helicopter transport replacing mule and human porterage. Today the Chelenalphütte is a staffed summer mountain hut offering food, accommodation and a base for climbs such as the Sustenhorn and Gwächtenhorn. It participates in regional tourism initiatives such as the Urner Hütten-Pass stamp-collecting programme and the Korporation Uri citizens' campaign that offers free PostBus travel into the Göscheneralp in summer 2026. The hut is run by hut keepers Marjolein Schärer and Martin Trutmann, based in Mathon in the Safiental. It is typically staffed in the summer season, with the official website announcing that the hut is staffed from 17 June to 4 October 2026. As a SAC hut, it is part of the club's network of mountain huts across the Swiss Alps and serves both as tourist accommodation and as a staging point for alpine climbing and hiking in the Urner Alps.

The Chelenalp mountain hut (Chelenalphütte, historically Kehlenalphütte) is a mountain hut of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) in the Urner Alps, above the Göscheneralp in the Swiss canton of Uri. It is owned and operated by the SAC Section Aarau and has served hikers and mountaineers for more than a century. The area around the Göscheneralp was settled from the 17th century. According to tradition, several houses were built in 1653 in the high valley basin, and later a church was added, forming a small village that for 300 years was the highest permanent settlement in the canton of Uri. Life in this isolation was difficult, especially in winter, with residents largely dependent on self-sufficiency. By 1870, six families (38 people) lived on the Hinteralp, the valley floor of today's Göscheneralp reservoir, and 48 people lived in Gwüest. The rise of alpinism in the 19th century brought additional income and variety. Well-known mountaineers and scientists found their way to the Göscheneralp, and numerous first ascents and traverses were made. In 1841 Gottlieb Samuel Studer of Bern stood with his guides on the Sustenhorn, in 1861 the Gwächtenhorn was first climbed, and in 1864 followed the Dammastock, Egg and Rhonestock. Climbs were initially made from the Trift and Rhone glaciers, since the steep drops toward the Göscheneralp deterred climbers. Later, ascents via the east walls of the Damma chain were developed. Accommodation was usually the Gasthaus Mattli on the Göscheneralp, until the newly opened Hotel Dammagletscher provided competition in 1893 and became a meeting point for mountaineers and hikers, developing a modest summer tourism. Because ascents from there were long and time-consuming, calls soon arose for higher accommodation. In 1891 the UTO section built the first SAC hut in the Göschenertal area, the Voralphütte at 2,126 metres. Like other SAC sections, the Section Aarau aspired to have its own club hut in the mountains. The club hut question was discussed at meetings as early as 1900, and a modest hut fund was established. The location question was much debated. In 1902 the Kehlenalp site was chosen, after the upper Maggiatal had also been seriously considered. Construction began in August 1903, and the inauguration took place on 6 September 1903. The cost was 6,500 Swiss francs, of which 2,100 francs were transport costs alone. The hut offered space for 25 people. The bunks were covered with mountain hay and warm wool blankets completed the equipment. A large stove served for heating and cooking. Visitor numbers ranged from 318 people in the first year to 600 in each of the following years. Despite the turmoil of the First World War, further SAC huts were built in the region: the Sustlihütte in 1914, the Dammahütte in 1916 and the Albert-Heim-Hütte in 1918. It was expected that frequency would increase after the war. Considerations for an expansion of the Chelenalphütte were also made at this time, leading in 1923 to the founding of a hut construction commission. It decided on a complete rebuild, this time a solid stone building. Thanks mainly to donations from a Dutch SAC member, the industrialist Dr. J. Moll von Charante from Voorschoten near Leiden, and further donations, the rebuild of the Chelenalphütte was financed, carried out in summer 1926 and inaugurated on 3 October 1926. The material was transported by mules from Göschenen into the Chelenalp valley. For the last steep section to the building site, people had to carry the loads on their backs. A large part of the transport was taken over free of charge by the Säumerrekrutenschule in Andermatt. The total construction costs for the hut and interior finishing amounted to 55,000 francs, of which almost a quarter was transport costs. After the new hut was built, visitor numbers increased strongly in the following years. From 1927 to 1945, 22,487 tourists stayed in the mountain home, an average of 1,100 to 1,300 per year, even though there was no road to the Göscheneralp and the march from Göschenen to the hut took five hours. Even in the war years from 1939 to 1945, frequency remained constant. For 90% of visitors, the Sustenhorn was the desired tour destination. Main users were the gymnastics association of the cantonal school and company excursions. In 1936 a bronze plaque was attached to the retaining wall on the hut forecourt in memory of Dr. Albert Tschopp, the honorary president of the section who died in 1942. As the first stage of the hydroelectric power plant construction in the Göschenertal, work began in 1952 on an 11-kilometre road from Göschenen to the Göscheneralp. At the request of the Alp corporation, the hut path was laid 150 metres above the later reservoir on the left mountain flank and not along the lake shore. From 1955 to 1960 the dam was built, and subsequently the Göscheneralpsee was impounded. The inhabitants of the Hinteralp were resettled to Gwüest. What remained of the former Göscheneralp sank forever beneath the waters. In 1966 and 1967 various expansion and renovation works were carried out. For the first time, material was flown to the hut by helicopter. The total costs for both construction phases amounted to 50,000 francs, almost as much as the 1926 rebuild had cost. In 1972 a further expansion took place. Furthermore, an 800-metre path was laid from the hut westward to the Chelen glacier, which greatly facilitated access to the Gwächtenhorn west and south ridges. In 1982 the electric age began in the Chelen hut. Today the Chelenalphütte is a staffed summer mountain hut offering food and accommodation, and it remains a base for climbs such as the Sustenhorn and Gwächtenhorn. It participates in regional tourism initiatives, including the Urner Hütten-Pass stamp-collecting programme and the Korporation Uri citizens' campaign that offers free PostBus travel into the Göscheneralp in summer 2026. The hut is run by hut keepers Marjolein Schärer and Martin Trutmann, based in Mathon in the Safiental. The official website announces that the hut is staffed from 17 June to 4 October 2026.

• 2026

  The hut is staffed from 17 June to 4 October 2026; free PostBus travel to Göscheneralp is offered in summer 2026.

• 1982

  The electric age begins at the Chelen hut.

• 1972

  Further expansion; an 800-metre path is laid west to the Chelen glacier.

• 1966

  Expansion and renovation works are carried out; material is flown in by helicopter for the first time.

• 1955

  Construction of the Göscheneralp dam begins; the reservoir is impounded by 1960.

• 1952

  Construction begins on an 11-kilometre road from Göschenen to the Göscheneralp.

• 1936

  A bronze plaque is attached to the retaining wall in memory of Dr. Albert Tschopp.

• 1926

  The new stone hut is built in summer and inaugurated on 3 October; total cost 55,000 francs.

• 1923

  A hut construction commission is founded, deciding on a complete rebuild in stone.

• 1903

  Construction begins in August; the first Chelenalphütte is inaugurated on 6 September at a cost of 6,500 francs, accommodating 25 people.

• 1902

  SAC Section Aarau decides on the Kehlenalp site for its own club hut.

A traditional, historic Swiss Alpine Club mountain hut in the Urner Alps, offering simple accommodation, homemade food and a classic alpine experience for hikers and climbers.

• Mountain hut accommodation

  Overnight stays in a historic SAC mountain hut.

• Half-board for hikers and climbers

  Meals and lodging for guests.

• Homemade meals

  Homemade dishes served at the hut.

• Drinks and snacks for day visitors

  Refreshments for day visitors.

• Urner Hütten-Pass
• Korporation Uri citizens' campaign

1. 1Aktuell - chelenalps Webseite!chelenalp.ch
2. 2Impressum - chelenalps Webseite!chelenalp.ch
3. 3Chelenalp mountain hut - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Chelenalphütte - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org