Hagelstock

Hagelstock is a 2,181 m summit in the canton of Uri, part of the Uri Alps, near Bürglen (UR). It rises roughly one kilometre southwest of the small lake Spilauersee, on the ridge that separates the Schächental valley from the Riemenstalden and Lidernen area. It suits walkers who want a scenic, moderate outing in central Switzerland.

Where is Hagelstock?

The peak sits at about 46.917° N, 8.682° E. It belongs to Uri, but the border with the canton of Schwyz runs close by, which is why many approaches start on the Schwyz side. For visitors based in Bürglen, the village tied to the William Tell legend, it is one of the nearer high summits across the valley from the Klausen Pass road.

How do you get up Hagelstock?

The best-documented route begins at Chäppeliberg in Riemenstalden. An open-air cable car carries hikers up to Gitschenen, and from there the trail climbs via Spilauen to the top in about 1.5 hours. The round trip from Chäppeliberg is around 8 km, rated easy by the tourist office, with roughly 450 m of ascent. Other variants, including one from Eggbergen, range from about 450 to over 800 m of climbing depending on where you start.

The cable car can be crowded at weekends, so a weekday works better, or you can walk toward Lidernen instead. Descending is the harder part, particularly in winter: the slopes below Alp Rotenbalm are steep and call for good route-finding.

What will you see?

The route crosses alpine pasture with the Alp Rotenbalm buildings and passes near Spilauersee. From the summit you get a broad panorama over the Uri and Swiss Alps. You can also link Eggbergen and the Lidernen area into a one-way traverse, using the lift on one leg. The Lidernen hut along the way serves baked goods, tea and coffee.

When should you go?

In summer it is a standard mountain walk. In winter Hagelstock is a known ski-touring and snowshoe objective, so check snow conditions and avalanche risk first. Whatever the season, carry a map or topo app, since some approaches in this area are poorly marked, and pack warm layers for the exposed ridge.

Frequently asked questions

How high is Hagelstock? 2,181 m above sea level.

Is the climb difficult? The popular route from Chäppeliberg is rated easy and takes about 1.5 hours from the upper cable-car station. The descent on steep slopes after snowfall is the tougher part.

Where can you stop for refreshments? At the Lidernen hut and near the Alp Rotenbalm buildings.

Can you climb it in winter? Yes, it is used for ski touring and snowshoeing, but it requires avalanche assessment and navigation skills.