Piz Giuv
3,096 m
Switzerland
Also known as Schattig WichelAlso known as
Schattig Wichel
- Elevation
- 3,096 m
- Prominence
- 749 m
- Difficulty
- 5/10
- Easy alpine
- Best Season
- Jul–Aug
- Routes
- 1
NoticeReported 6 Jul 2026
The Etzlihütte SAC is closed until further notice for a full renovation: no overnight stays and no emergency room, with reduced catering for day visitors. Reopening is planned for summer 2027.
etzlihuette.ch
Routes
1Sources differ: SAC WS (SAC route portal (Über den Spillauibielfirn)) · T5 (E ridge) (SAC Clubführer Oberalpstock/Windgällen 2010; SummitPost)
The usual summer route on Piz Giuv (Schattig Wichel): from the Etzlihütte up a moraine to the small Spillauibielfirn, a short loose rock step with fixed ropes to the saddle between Hälsistock and Piz Giuv, then easily along the east ridge. The Etzlihütte is closed for rebuilding in 2026, reopening planned for 2027.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 16.6 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +2,628 m
- −311 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 3,096 m
- Time Up
- 11h 28m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 8h 22m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Bristen the path climbs the Etzlital via Vorder and Hinter Etzliboden to the Etzlihütte SAC (2,052 m), about 4 hours; an alpine taxi to Hinter Etzliboden cuts the walk to about 2 hours. From the hut descend west to the Etzlibach, cross it and enter Unter Felleli. Of the two prominent moraines take the larger, western one; traces on its crest lead south-west to the Spillauibielfirn. Cross the small glacier to the brittle rock barrier below the saddle between Hälsi(stock) and Piz Giuv. Glacier shrinkage has made this barrier the crux: easy climbing on loose rock, which becomes tiresome late in the season; in July 2021 two fixed ropes hung in the steep step, the left one being preferable. From the saddle the east ridge leads easily to the summit. The SAC gives 3½–4 hours from the hut (1,070 m) and 2–2½ hours back down the same way. The Val Giuv on the Graubünden side gives a much longer, scree-bound alternative from Rueras or Dieni, mainly used as a ski descent.
Start
Bristen780 m
- Train to Erstfeld, bus to Amsteg, PostBus to Bristen
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristen → Etzlihütte | 11.3 | 1,391 | 110 | 6h 16m |
| 2 | Etzlihütte → Piz Giuv | 5.4 | 1,236 | 201 | 5h 11m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Bristen780 m
PostBus stop Bristen, Dorf
- Feature: Vorder Etzliboden1,272 m
- Feature: Hinter Etzliboden1,349 m
End of the alpine-taxi road
- Hut: Etzlihütte2,052 m
- Feature: Unter Felleli2,082 m
not on route line
- Feature: Spillauibielfirn2,801 m
- Summit: Piz Giuv3,096 m
Key Passages
- Western moraine of Unter Felleli
- Spillauibielfirn
- Loose rock barrier with fixed ropes below the Hälsistock–Piz Giuv saddle
- East ridge
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
A shapely 3,096 m gneiss peak on the Uri–Graubünden border above the Etzlital and Val Giuv, known in Uri as Schattig Wichel. A popular ski summit in spring; in summer an easy glacier-and-scramble route from the Etzlihütte (SAC WS), which is closed for rebuilding until 2027.
Piz Giuv rises at the junction of three valleys: the Fellital and Etzlital on the Uri side to the north, and the Val Giuv, which drops to Rueras and Sedrun in the Surselva, to the south. The Romansh name Piz Giuv is used in Graubünden; the people of Uri also call it Schattig Wichel. It dominates the view from the Etzlihütte, and on its north-east side lies the small Spillauibielfirn, the last glacier in the area, much reduced by warming.
The mountain is better known as a ski tour, with long descents into the Val Giuv to Dieni or Rueras. In summer the usual ascent is from the Etzlihütte over the Spillauibielfirn: no serious difficulties, but the retreating ice has left a short barrier of loose rock below the saddle to the east ridge as the crux, eased by fixed ropes. The Val Giuv approach is long and full of scree and boulders.
The area is rich in minerals and much visited by crystal hunters (Strahler). Picking up a crystal is allowed; using tools to search for or extract crystals requires a permit from the Korporation Uri.
Climbing Notes
Suitable for fit mountain walkers with basic glacier experience and a head for loose, easy rock. Bring crampons and an axe for the glacier and old snow; a rope is sensible if the glacier is snow-covered. In 2026 there is no overnight accommodation at the Etzlihütte (closed for a full renovation, no emergency room), so the ascent becomes a long day of about 2,300 m from Bristen, or about 1,550 m from Hinter Etzliboden using the alpine taxi. Once the hut reopens (planned for summer 2027), the classic plan is to walk up from Bristen on day one and climb the peak in 3½–4 hours on day two.
In winter and spring Piz Giuv is a classic ski tour from Rueras, the Oberalp Pass or the Etzlihütte, with a long descent through the Val Giuv; assess avalanche conditions carefully on the steep upper slopes.
History
Camptocamp credits the first ascent to the Benedictine monk and alpine pioneer Placidus a Spescha of Disentis in 1804, by the east slope from Selva. The peak lies in an area long worked by crystal hunters.
Season
Best Jul–Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Good
- May: Possible
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; ski tours only in very stable conditions
- Feb
- Ski touring from Rueras or the Oberalp Pass
- Mar
- Main ski-touring season
- Apr
- Spring ski tours; long Val Giuv descent
- May
- Late ski season; wet snow low down
- Jun
- Old snow on the approach and rock step
- Jul
- Best summer conditions
- Aug
- Good; rock step looser as snow melts
- Sep
- Dry and loose below the saddle; tiresome late in the season
- Oct
- Early snow possible
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter
Access & Permits
- Permits
- Crystal-hunting permit (Strahlerbewilligung), Korporation UriOptional
Needed only if you use tools to search for or extract crystals; picking up a loose crystal is allowed.
- Hut Booking
- Etzlihütte SAC (SAC Thurgau): bookings are announced on the hut website once the renovated hut reopens (planned for summer 2027).
- Fees
- Alpine taxi from Bristen to Hinter Etzliboden (fee; book ahead)
- Rules
- The Etzlihütte SAC is closed for a full renovation in 2026 with no overnight stays and no emergency room; reduced food service for day visitors during the works
- Getting There
Bristen (Maderanertal); Sedrun on the Graubünden side
Zurich (ZRH)
- Uri side: train to Erstfeld, bus to Amsteg, PostBus to Bristen; alpine taxi to Hinter Etzliboden
- Graubünden side: Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn to Rueras or Dieni (Sedrun) for the Val Giuv
- By car: A2 exit Amsteg and the mountain road to Bristen
Hazards
- Rockfall
- Glacier
- Crevasses
- Avalanche
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
1- 2,052 m
EtzlihütteHutUnstaffed
75 beds · Closed for renovation in 2026; reopening planned for summer 2027