Güferhorn
3,379 m
Switzerland
Also known as გიუფერჰორნიAlso known as
გიუფერჰორნი
- Elevation
- 3,379 m
- Prominence
- 400 m
- Difficulty
- 5/10
- Easy alpine
- Best Season
- Apr
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: WS (SAC high-alpine scale) (Läntahütte summer programme; bieri-mountain (WS I)) · EB/WS (de.wikipedia)
The current standard summer route up the second-highest summit of the Adula Alps: from the Läntahütte (2,090 m) above the Zervreila lake up steep slopes to the Under Güferlücke (2,864 m), briefly down onto the Güfergletscher and south up the glacier to the short north ridge. About 1,300 m from the hut; 4–4½ hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 17.7 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +2,030 m
- −492 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 3,379 m
- Time Up
- 9h 58m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 7h 55m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Zervreila (bus and car park, about 1,860 m) walk the long, nearly level Läntaweg along the Zervreila lake and up the Läntatal to the Läntahütte (2,090 m), about 2¼–3 hours. Most parties spend the night at the hut. Just beyond the hut, follow the marked path towards the Furggeltihorn to about 2,370 m, then leave it and head south-east over steep slopes beside a rock band to point 2,683 and up to the Under Güferlücke (2,864 m). Descend about 50 m onto the Güfergletscher and climb it southwards, keeping to the orographic right, to the start of the final ridge; the summit (3,379 m) is reached easily along it. Allow about 4–4½ hours from the hut. Return the same way, re-ascending to the Güferlücke, and walk back out to Zervreila. The former normal route via the Läntalücke (2,979 m) and the west ridge (F) is no longer recommended: rockfall below the Läntalücke made the ascent impracticable in 2015, and a 2022 report described the slope as steadily breaking up, probably because of thawing permafrost. Ask the hut warden about current conditions. From the Zapporthütte (2,276 m) a route goes via the Clubhüttentälli and the south-east flank to the east ridge (WS, about 3½ hours).
Start
Zervreila1,841 m
- PostBus line 431 Ilanz–Vals–Zervreila to the Vals, Zervreila stop.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zervreila → Läntahütte SAC | 10.3 | 385 | 136 | 3h 22m |
| 2 | Läntahütte SAC → Güferhorn | 7.4 | 1,645 | 356 | 7h 07m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Zervreila1,841 m
- Hut: Läntahütte SAC2,094 m
- Col: Under Güferlücke2,864 m
- Summit: Güferhorn3,379 m
Key Passages
- Steep slopes beside the rock band below the Güferlücke
- Descent of about 50 m onto the Güfergletscher
- Short final ridge
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
The Güferhorn (3,379 m) is the second-highest summit of the Adula Alps, a glaciated peak above the Zervreila lake in the Valser valley. A moderate high-alpine tour from the Läntahütte over the Güferlücke and the Güfergletscher, and a classic spring ski tour.
The Güferhorn rises 2.7 km north-east of the Rheinwaldhorn in Graubünden, on the boundary between Vals and Rheinwald, and is the second-highest peak of the Adula group. Its north flank carries the Güfergletscher, about 2 km long, and its prominence of about 400 m is measured to the Läntalücke, the col towards the Rheinwaldhorn. Seen from Vals it forms, with the Zervreilahorn and Furggeltihorn, the skyline on the Valser mineral-water label. The name comes from the Walser German Gufer, a slope of coarse boulders.
The usual base is the Läntahütte SAC at the head of the Läntatal, reached on a long, almost level walk from Zervreila. The current summer route crosses the Under Güferlücke and the Güfergletscher to the north ridge (WS); the formerly standard line over the Läntalücke and the west ridge has become dangerous because of rockfall and thawing permafrost. Glacier retreat has generally made summer ascents harder, and the 1806 first-ascent route via the Canaltal is no longer used.
In winter and spring the Güferhorn is a popular ski tour from the Läntahütte, often combined with the Rheinwaldhorn.
Climbing Notes
A two-day tour for parties with glacier experience: 2¼–3 hours to the Läntahütte, then 4–4½ hours to the summit and a long descent back to Zervreila (about 10½ hours on the second day in one 2015 report). You need crampons, ice axe, harness and rope for the Güfergletscher. Ask the hut warden about conditions below the Güferlücke and the Läntalücke before setting off, as the slopes are changing quickly. Best from late June to early August while the glacier is snow-covered; in spring, a ski tour of about 1,300 m from the hut (AD-, ski 3.1). The Läntahütte is staffed in summer and autumn (2026 until about 25 October); a hut sleeping bag is mandatory.
History
First ascent in 1806 by Placidus a Spescha, the mountaineering monk of Disentis, with J. A. Schmid, via the Canaltal and the Güfergletscher.
Season
Best Apr- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Good
- June: Good
- July: Best
- August: Good
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Ski tour; hut unstaffed, long approach
- Feb
- Ski tour; check avalanche bulletin
- Mar
- Ski-touring season
- Apr
- Best ski-touring month
- May
- Late ski tours
- Jun
- Snow on the glacier; old snow on the slopes
- Jul
- Main summer season
- Aug
- Bare ice; loose slopes below the cols
- Sep
- Bare glacier; stable weather
- Oct
- Hut staffed until late October (2026); short days, first snow
- Dec
- Early-winter ski tour if snow is sufficient
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Läntahütte SAC (SAC Bodan, 30 places): online via hut-reservation.org (hut 689), phone +41 81 935 17 13 or info@laentahuette.ch. Hut sleeping bag mandatory; cash in CHF preferred.
- Getting There
Vals
Zurich (ZRH)
- Train to Ilanz, then PostBus line 431 via Vals to Zervreila
- By car: Ilanz–Vals–Zervreila road; parking at Zervreila
- From Zervreila on foot along the Läntaweg to the Läntahütte, 2¼–3 hours
Hazards
- Glacier
- Crevasses
- Rockfall
- Avalanche
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
1- 2,090 m
Läntahütte SACHutStaffedBooking required
30 beds · Staffed in summer and autumn (2026 until about 25 October); unstaffed periods without cooking facilities