# Titlis

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Mountain of the Uri Alps

Titlis Titlis and Klein Titlis (right) from the northwest Highest point Elevation 3,238 m (10,623 ft) Prominence 978 m (3,209 ft)[1] Parent peak Dammastock Isolation 6.9 km (4.3 mi)[2] Listing Canton high point, Alpine mountains above 3000 m Coordinates 46°46′21″N 8°26′14″E / 46.77250°N 8.43722°E / 46.77250; 8.43722 Naming Language of name German Geography Titlis Location in Switzerland Country Switzerland Cantons Obwalden and Bern Parent range Uri Alps Topo map Swiss Federal Office of Topography swisstopo Geology Mountain type Limestone Climbing First ascent 1739 Easiest route By cable car from Engelberg

**Titlis** is a mountain of the [Uri Alps](/source/Uri_Alps), located on the border between the cantons of [Obwalden](/source/Canton_of_Obwalden) and [Bern](/source/Canton_of_Bern). At 3,238 metres (10,623 ft) above sea level, it is the highest summit of the range north of the [Susten Pass](/source/Susten_Pass), between the [Bernese Oberland](/source/Bernese_Oberland) and [Central Switzerland](/source/Central_Switzerland). It is mainly accessed from [Engelberg](/source/Engelberg) (OW) on the north side and is famous as the site of the world's first rotating [cable car](/source/Aerial_tramway). The cable car system connects Engelberg (996 m (3,268 ft)) to the summit of *Klein Titlis* (3,028 m (9,934 ft)) through the three stages of *[Gerschnialp](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gerschnialp&action=edit&redlink=1)* (1,262 m (4,140 ft)), *[Trübsee](/source/Tr%C3%BCbsee)* (1,796 m (5,892 ft)) and *Stand* (2,428 m (7,966 ft)). In 2016, a direct route was created that bypassed Geraschnialp, going directly to Trübsee.

The last part of cable car leads above the [glacier](/source/Glacier). At *Klein Titlis*, it is possible to visit an illuminated [glacier cave](/source/Glacier_cave) from an entrance within the cable-car station, which also includes shops and restaurants. The [Titlis Cliff Walk](/source/Titlis_Cliff_Walk), the highest elevation [suspension bridge](/source/Suspension_bridge) in Europe, opened in December 2012, giving views across the Alps. Many people use Titlis as a cheaper and easier option than [Jungfraujoch](/source/Jungfraujoch).

## Geography

The south-east spur seen from the [Grassen](/source/Grassen)

Titlis straddles the border between [Obwalden](/source/Canton_of_Obwalden) and [Bern](/source/Canton_of_Bern). The main summit of Titlis (sometimes distinguished by the name *Gross Titlis*) and Klein Titlis are both located between the municipalities of [Engelberg](/source/Engelberg) on the north and [Gadmen](/source/Gadmen) on the south. The Titlis massif is also partially located in [Nidwalden](/source/Canton_of_Nidwalden), where the highest point of that canton is found: the [Rotstöckli](/source/Rotst%C3%B6ckli) (2,901 m). Titlis itself is the highest point in Obwalden and in the valley of Engelberg. East of Titlis is the [Grassen](/source/Grassen), where the borders between the cantons of Obwalden, Berne and [Uri](/source/Canton_of_Uri) converge. The [geographical center of Switzerland](/source/Geographical_center_of_Switzerland) is situated about 15 kilometers west of the mountain.

Titlis is the highest mountain in the portion of the Uri Alps north of the [Susten Pass](/source/Susten_Pass). This part of the range is located between the valleys of the [Hasli](/source/Haslital) (west) and the [Reuss](/source/Reuss_(river)) (east), thus separating the waters feeding the basins of the [Aare](/source/Aare) and Reuss respectively. On the north side, the valley of Engelberg (*Engelbergertal*) is drained by the [Engelberger Aa](/source/Engelberger_Aa), a tributary of the [Lake Lucerne](/source/Lake_Lucerne). The valley is located southwards from Lake Lucerne.

The northern side of the massif is covered by the Titlis Glacier ([German](/source/German_language): *Titlisgletscher*). Due to the [global warming](/source/Global_warming) the glacier has been receded dramatically; it is expected to disappear in about twenty years. The south steep and rocky face rises above the [Wenden Glacier](/source/Wenden_Glacier). The east side overlooks a glacier named *Firnalpeligletscher*.

## History

In earlier times, Titlis was known under the names *Wendenstock* or *Nollen*. The [Reissend Nollen](/source/Reissend_Nollen) and the [Wendenstöcke](/source/Wendenst%C3%B6cke) are the nearest western neighbours to the mountain, slightly lower than Titlis, but with sharp rugged peaks.[3] In a document of 1435 the mountain is called *Tuttelsberg* (*Tutilos mountain*), referencing to a man named *Tutilos*, who was probably a local farmer. The name, from *Tutilos Berg*, became *Titlisberg* and later *Titlis*.[4]

The first ascent of Titlis was probably made in the year 1739. It was done by Ignaz Hess, J. E. Waser and two other men from Engelberg.[5] The first written evidence of an ascent is found in the *Engelberger Dokumente*. They mention a party of four men that reached the summit in 1744.[3][*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

On 21 January 1904 the first ski ascent of Titlis was made by Joseph Kuster and Willi Amrhein.[6]

In March 1967 the cable car to Klein Titlis (3,032 m) was inaugurated.

In December 2012, the [Titlis Cliff Walk](/source/Titlis_Cliff_Walk) opened to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the [Engelberg-Gerschnialp cableway](/source/Gerschnialpbahn).

## Telecommunications and Observation tower

Klein Titlis hosts a significant [telecommunications tower](/source/Radio_masts_and_towers), used for high capacity point-to-point [microwave radio](/source/Microwave_transmission) links and VHF/[UHF repeaters](/source/Radio_repeater). Licensed band radio links are regulated by the [Swiss Federal Office of Communications](/source/Federal_Office_of_Communications).[7]

Im May 2026, the Titlis [Observation tower](/source/Observation_tower) was opened. At its top, just below the antennas, there is an observation deck from which visitors can look out in all directions. Further down, there is a restaurant. To accommodate all of this, the antenna tower’s original steel structure was expanded (new staircases, an elevator, and two horizontal beams).[8]

## Weather

The summit of Titlis is located above the [snow line](/source/Snow_line), thus it has a cold, snowy climate with permanent snow cover and freezing temperatures.

## Gallery

		- Stand-Klein Titlis cableway (July 2010)

		- Titlis Glacier (October 2005)

		- Stand-Klein Titlis cable car, old version (March 2008)

		- Titlis from [Pilatus](/source/Pilatus_(mountain))

## See also

- [List of mountains of Switzerland](/source/List_of_mountains_of_Switzerland)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Retrieved from the [Swisstopo](/source/Swisstopo) topographic maps [\[1\]](https://s.geo.admin.ch/6995c644f1) and [Google Earth](/source/Google_Earth). The key col is the [Susten Pass](/source/Susten_Pass) (2,260 m).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Retrieved from [Google Earth](/source/Google_Earth). The nearest point of higher elevation is north of the [Chli Sustenhorn](/source/Chli_Sustenhorn).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Titlis_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Titlis_3-1) [Titlis](http://www.brauchtumschweiz.ch/fileadmin/DATA_Autoren/Bilder/Tradition/beruehmte_gipfel/alpenwelt_titlis.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110706222715/http://www.brauchtumschweiz.ch/fileadmin/DATA_Autoren/Bilder/Tradition/beruehmte_gipfel/alpenwelt_titlis.pdf) 6 July 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) brauchtumschweiz.ch. Retrieved 16 February 2010

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Berge und ihre Namen](http://www.berge.ch/berge_az/b/bergnamen/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110706222215/http://www.berge.ch/berge_az/b/bergnamen/) 6 July 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) berge.ch. Retrieved 16 February 2010

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Kev Reynolds, *Alpine pass route: Sargans to Montreux*, p. 82

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [History of skiing](http://history.fis-ski.com/iframe_timeline.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110315203146/http://history.fis-ski.com/iframe_timeline.htm) 15 March 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) fis-ski.com. Retrieved 16 February 2010

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Swiss federal office of communications"](https://www.bakom.admin.ch/bakom/fr/home.html).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [srf.ch](/source/Srf.ch) 29 May 2026: [*Eröffnung Titlis-Tower – das grosse Wettrüsten in den Bergen*](https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/ausbau-berggebiet-eroeffnung-titlis-tower-das-grosse-wettruesten-in-den-bergen) (Opening of the Titlis Tower – The Great 'Arms Race' in the Mountains)

- [Swisstopo](/source/Swisstopo) maps

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Titlis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Titlis).

- [Titlis webpage on the Swiss national tourist office](https://web.archive.org/web/20081204195811/http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/offer-Home_Summer-Sunsets-16874.html)

- [Titlis Tourism homepage](http://www.titlis.ch/index.php?lang=en)

v t e Swiss cantons highest points Aargau Appenzell Ausserrhoden Appenzell Innerrhoden Basel-Stadt Basel-Landschaft Bern Fribourg Geneva Glarus Graubünden Jura Lucerne Neuchâtel Nidwalden Obwalden Schaffhausen Schwyz Solothurn St. Gallen Thurgau Ticino Uri Valais Vaud Zug Zurich

Authority control databases International VIAF GND National United States France BnF data Israel Other Historical Dictionary of Switzerland

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Titlis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titlis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titlis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.