Day hike Aeugsten Hut - Murg Lakes - Merlen

13.5 km
5:15 h
897 mhd
1246 mhd
Welterbe Sardona
Welterbe Sardona

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Oberer Murgsee, Welterbe Sardona
The hike from the Aeugstenbahn mountain station high above the Glarus region to the Murg lakes offers plenty for nature-loving hikers: a varied route, beautiful alpine flora, geological phenomena, and the three Murg lakes with the Murgsee hut. Here, the World Heritage site particularly shows diverse facets.
Technique 0/6
Fitness 0/6
Highest Point  2345 m
Lowest Point  1099 m
Best Season
Jan
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Okt
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Dez
Start
Aeugstenbahn mountain station
Destination
Merlen (from there by Alpine taxi to Murg on Lake Walen: Taxi Walser Murg, Tel. 081 738 14 41 – reservation required)
Coordinates
47.027264, 9.103821

Details

Description

From Ennenda/GL, take the Aeugstenbahn up about 1000 meters and can tie your hiking boots at Bärenboden. There's another stop at the nearby Aeugsten hut (1500 m a.s.l.) before the climb really starts. The path then leads steeply uphill through changing vegetation zones to the Rotärd Pass. Nomen est omen, the earth is red. The underlying rock is red clay shale from the Triassic period. This was deposited millions of years ago under tropical climate. Along the Wisschamm it goes towards Schwarzstöckli, the highest point of the hike (2346 m a.s.l.). A slight descent leads to the Murgseefurggel pass, a wonderful place to rest. The view of the mountains and the two upper Murg lakes is worth a cheer!


Glacier-shaped Murg lakes landscape


Soon the idyllic mountain inn Murgsee (1825 m a.s.l.) at the Upper Murg Lake is reached. The 'hut' has an eventful history, going back to times of ore mining. Later it was the 'bivouac' of the Murgsee fishermen who provided fresh food for the first spa guests of the region. Today you can fish yourself at the two upper lakes (license available at the hut). A steep alpine path leads downhill past the Lower Murg Lake with the Murgbach waterfall and ancient Swiss pine trees. A feast for the eyes! After just under two hours of hiking Merlen (1100 m a.s.l.) is reached, where you can be picked up by a pre-booked taxi.

Hidden Gem

Option for a two-day route:


Overnight at the Murgsee hut and the next day in 4.5 hours via Sardona World Heritage Trail No. 73 to the Talalpsee mountain restaurant and on to Habergschwänd, then descend by the Kerenzerberg cable cars to Filzbach.


Option for a two- or three-day route:


Overnight at the Murgsee hut and in 5.5 hours to the SAC Spitzmeilen hut. Afterwards, for example, 2 hours to the Flumserberg cable car mountain station Maschgenkamm or the next day continue on the Sardona World Heritage Trail No. 73 to Weisstannen.

Safety Note

Take equipment appropriate for the route and stay on the marked paths.

Directions

Aeugsten Hut – Rotärd - Murgseefurggel - Mountain inn Murgsee - Merlen

Directions

Public Transport

By train via Ziegelbrücke or with the S25 directly from Zurich main station to Ennenda station, from there a 10-minute walk to the Aeugstenbahn valley station.

Travel Information

Highway A3, Zurich - Chur / Chur - Zurich, exit Niederurnen/Glarnerland. Continue to Glarus. In Glarus turn left towards Ennenda, to the parking lot at Ennenda station, from there a 10-minute walk to the Aeugstenbahn valley station.

Parking

Parking available at Ennenda station

Responsible for this content: VISIT Glarnerland AG.

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