Diechterhorn
3,389 m
Switzerland
Also known as Диечтерхорн, Diechterhoren, +1Also known as
Диечтерхорн · Diechterhoren · დიხტერჰორნი
- Elevation
- 3,389 m
- Prominence
- 308 m
- Difficulty
- 5/10
- Easy alpine
- Best Season
- Jul–Aug
- Routes
- 2
WorksReported 1 Jun 2026
The new Trifthütte SAC (2,420 m), built in 2025 on a new site near the Trift Glacier after avalanche damage to the old hut in 2021, is open; the SAC route portal describes it as newly opened in 2026, with a rerouted, more exposed but less rockfall-prone path just after the Triftbrücke.
sac-cas.ch
Routes
2Sources differ: WS, 2a (SAC route portal) · II-III (SAC route portal (traverse from the north to the south summit)) · T4 (SAC route portal (hut path from the Triftbrücke))
The SAC normal route: from the Triftbahn and the Trift suspension bridge up an exposed T4 path to the new Trifthütte (2,420 m), then up the crevassed Trift Glacier through the Undre and Obre Triftchessel and moderate snow slopes of the north-east flank to the north summit, finishing on a few exposed rocks (II). About 1,000 m from the hut.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 13.6 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +2,286 m
- −285 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 3,389 m
- Time Up
- 9h 54m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 7h 14m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Take the Triftbahn cable car from Schwendi/Nessental on the Susten road to its top station at Underi Trift (1,357 m); tickets must be reserved online in advance in the main season. A red-and-white path leads south through the Schattige Trift to the Trift suspension bridge (Triftbrücke) over the Triftsee. From the bridge a blue-and-white T4 path, rerouted after the bridge onto a less rockfall-prone but more exposed line with cables and chains, climbs past three stream crossings to the Trifthütte (2,420 m), rebuilt on a new site near the glacier after the old hut was destroyed by an avalanche in 2021. Allow about 4.5 hours and 1,250 m from the top station. From the hut descend to the Trift Glacier at about 2,400 m and climb south-east across it to the Undre Triftchessel and on to the Obre Triftchessel, avoiding the large crevasses; the glacier is heavily crevassed and needs good route-finding. The moderately steep firn slopes of the north-east flank then lead directly to the north summit (about 3,385 m), reached at the end by a few easy but exposed rocks (II). The crossing to the barely higher south summit (3,388 m) is harder (II–III). Allow 3–4 hours from the hut. Descend the same way (2.5–3 hours to the hut), or traverse south to the Diechterlimi and down the Diechter Glacier to the Gelmerhütte.
Start
Underi Trift1,388 m
- Triftbahn (Schwendi/Nessental – Underi Trift), summer only
- Train to Meiringen or Innertkirchen, PostBus towards the Susten pass to Nessental, Triftbahn; then the Triftbahn cable car (advance reservation strongly advised).
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Underi Trift → Trifthütte SAC | 7.6 | 1,233 | 208 | 5h 28m |
| 2 | Trifthütte SAC → Diechterhorn | 6.1 | 1,053 | 77 | 4h 25m |
Waypoints
- Lift: Underi Trift1,388 m
Top station of the Triftbahn from Nessental/Schwendi
- Feature: Triftbrücke1,677 m
Suspension bridge over the Triftsee
- Hut: Trifthütte SAC2,412 m
New hut (rebuilt 2025, opened 2026)
- Feature: Undre Triftchessel2,617 m
- Feature: Obre Triftchessel2,870 m
- Summit: Diechterhorn3,389 m
Key Passages
- Trift suspension bridge
- Exposed, cabled path just after the bridge
- Three stream crossings below the hut (water level dependent)
- Crevasse zones of the Trift Glacier between Undre and Obre Triftchessel
- Exposed final rocks (II) to the north summit; II–III to the south summit
Equipment
0/9 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
A glaciated viewpoint (about 3,389 m) between the Trift Glacier and the Gelmer valley, glaciated almost to the top. The SAC normal route from the new Trifthütte is an easy glacier tour with a short, exposed rocky finish.
The Diechterhorn rises between the wild Triftkessel, the basin of the Trift Glacier, to the north-east and the Diechtertal above the Gelmersee to the south-west, in the Uri Alps between the Susten and Grimsel passes. It has two summits a short distance apart: the north summit (about 3,385 m), reached by the normal route, and the south summit, which swisstopo has confirmed to be the highest point by a hair (3,388 m on the SAC portal).
For years the Triftkessel was one of the loneliest corners of the Swiss Alps. The opening of the former power-company cable car to Underi Trift to the public and the Trift suspension bridge have brought more visitors, and the Diechterhorn's normal route is the most popular tour from the Trifthütte. The glacier is heavily crevassed and needs alpine experience and good route-finding even though the angle is moderate.
From the Grimsel side, the Gelmerhütte gives a second approach over the Diechterlimi, and the south-west ridge offers a lonely grade III rock climb. The traverse from the Gwächtenhorn with descent to the Diechterlimi is also popular.
Climbing Notes
Needs glacier skills (roped travel, crevasse rescue) and fitness for a long two-day trip; the hut approach alone takes 4.5 hours and includes exposed, cabled sections and stream crossings that can be awkward at high water. Most parties go up to the Trifthütte or Gelmerhütte on day one and climb the peak next morning. A popular two-day plan traverses from the Trift side to the Gelmerhütte and down by the Gelmerbahn.
Reserve Triftbahn tickets online in advance in summer, or allow 1.5 extra hours to walk up from Nessental. Glacier conditions are changing quickly: approaches onto both the Trift and Diechter glaciers have moved in recent years, so check recent reports with the huts.
History
The SAC portal credits the first ascent to H. Schwarzenbach and J. von Weissenfluh in 1864. The old Trifthütte was destroyed by an avalanche in 2021; a new hut was built in 2025 on a new site closer to the Trift Glacier and opened in 2026.
Season
Best Jul–Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Huts closed; Trift hut winter room only
- Mar
- Ski tours for experienced parties (long approaches)
- Apr
- Ski touring
- May
- Late ski tours; cable cars not yet running
- Jun
- Huts open (Trifthütte partly); good snow cover
- Jul
- Main season; Triftbahn busy, reserve tickets
- Aug
- Main season; crevasses opening
- Sep
- Trifthütte partly staffed; icy and crevassed
- Oct
- Gelmerhütte partly open; Trifthütte winter room
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Trifthütte SAC (60 places, SAC Bern; +41 33 975 12 28, trifthuette.ch) and Gelmerhütte SAC (about 50 places, SAC Brugg; +41 33 973 11 80, gelmerhuette.ch): book via the huts or the SAC reservation system.
- Fees
- Triftbahn and Gelmerbahn are paid rides with timed online reservations
- Rules
- Triftbahn tickets must be bought online in advance with a timed seat reservation in the main season; otherwise long waits or no seats for the whole day are possible
- Getting There
Innertkirchen (Haslital)
Zurich Airport (ZRH); Bern (BRN)
- Trift side: train to Meiringen/Innertkirchen, PostBus towards the Susten pass to Nessental, Triftbahn; cable car to Underi Trift
- Gelmer side: PostBus towards the Grimsel pass to Handegg; Gelmerbahn funicular to the Gelmersee or walk from Chüenzentennlen
- By car to the Triftbahn valley station on the Susten road or to Handegg on the Grimsel road
Hazards
- Glacier
- Crevasses
- Rockfall
- Exposure
- Weather
- Avalanche
Huts & Shelters
2- 2,412 m
Gelmerhütte SACHutStaffed
50 beds · Staffed June–September, partly open in October
- 2,420 m
Trifthütte SACHutStaffed
60 beds · Staffed July–August, partly June and September; winter room (6 places) from late September