Wildhornhütte

The Wildhornhütte SAC is located at 2303 m above Lake Iffig in the Gelten-Iffigen nature reserve in the municipality of Lenk im Simmental. It belongs to the Moléson section of the Swiss Alpine Club and serves as a base for high-altitude tours on the Wildhorn as well as for numerous hiking and ski tour destinations in the western Bernese Alps. The hut is usually manned from the beginning of March to the beginning of May and from the end of June to mid-October; as the exact dates can change every year, it is worth checking the hut's current information before setting off on a tour. In summer, it is a popular destination for mountaineers, hikers, groups, school classes and families; in winter, it is mainly skiers and snowshoe tourers who meet here. The hut offers a simple but comfortable infrastructure with a cozy restaurant and terrace. The daily menu offers various simple dishes made from regional ingredients, and the homemade cakes are particularly popular. Overnight guests can enjoy a multi-course dinner and breakfast with marching tea as part of the half-board package. From Lenk, you can reach the Iffigenalp by car or bus, from where a well-marked mountain trail leads through the Iffigtal valley and past the Iffigsee lake to the hut in around 2.5 hours and with an elevation gain of around 700 meters. There are other approaches from the Betelberg mountain station via Leiterli and Tungelpass, from Lake Lauenen or from the Valais side via Lac de Tseuzier and Schnidejoch, each with walking times of around 4 hours. In winter, the approach usually begins at the Hubelmatte parking lot above Lenk; depending on snow conditions, a cab to Iffigenalp shortens the ascent; the route continues exclusively on touring skis or snowshoes. The hut is then the starting point for classic destinations such as the Wildhorn, Schnidehorn or Niesehorn. As a typical SAC hut, the Wildhornhütte is mainly used for multi-day routes such as the Tour du Wildhorn or various crossings between the Geltenhütte, Wildstrubelhütte and Valais huts. Visitors should be aware of the alpine situation and check current conditions, any closures, avalanche reports and the weather forecast before undertaking any undertaking. The history of the hut dates back to 1878, when the Wildhorn section built the first simple shelter. In 1898, a wooden hut was built on the current site, which was taken over by the Moléson section in 1899. After extensions, a fire and a new stone building in 1929, the hut was rebuilt and modernized several times, most recently with an extension, photovoltaic system and avalanche protection measures. Today, the Wildhornhütte is a traditional, well-equipped SAC hut with modern infrastructure in a classic high mountain location.