Leutschachhütte (Day Hike): Uri
I know it’s a good hike when I struggle with the title & main photo - neither can quite capture everything this route offers. After all, there's not just one hut here, but two. Not one lake, but three. "The Leutschachhütte, Sunniggrathütte, Arnisee, Obersee and Nidersee" would've been accurate, but can you imagine that URL? So this hike will simply have to speak for itself.
It starts, as all the great hikes in Uri do, with a tiny gondola ride.You don’t even have to work to get the Arnisee, which is right off the station. Then the climbing begins, steeply up through the forest until the Sunniggrathütte - one of the smallest SAC huts and certainly one of the cutest. I'd recommend the short detour to Sunniggrätli for stunning views down into the Maderanertal (and you know how I feel about that valley). But don't linger long - there's still a full day ahead.
Next is a long travese above the Leutsch Valley. The path is narrow, but not exposed, although surefootedness helps. Right before the Leutsch Hut, there is a small turnoff with a sign pointing to “See.” We almost skipped this. Do not skip it! It leads to the Obersee, a deep green jewel of a lake that would absolutely be the region's highlight (if not for what comes next). But this lake is really beautiful and makes for a perfect swimming spot. Recommend a lunch break here if you are not planning on eating at the hut.
Continue then to the Leutsch Hut, where you will find 1.) A cute hut with blue shutters and absolutely stunning terrace, and 2.) The Nidersee, which is such a brillant, tropical blue every photo I took looks oversaturated. The descent is the final gift: a lush valley where streams, waterfalls, and green foliage abound. If not for the cows, I would think I was in Hawaii instead of Switzerland.
Finally, you’ll end back where you started, at Arnisee. Fair warining: The gondola only fits eight people, and afternoon lines can get long (we waited about 45 minutes). You could hike down in about an hour instead, but we grabbed an ice cream from the restaurant and made it part of the experience.
Start/End: Intischi-Arnisee gondola
14km, 1200m up/down, 6 hrs
