The western area includes the village of Spiringen in the Schächen Valley, whilst the eastern area includes the Urner Boden alp above Linthal and the canton of Glarus.

Some 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) away, on the eastern side of Unterschächen and the Klausen Pass, is the second and larger part of the municipality.

This comprises the Urner Boden meadows, and drains eastward into the Linth and Lake Zürich.

Of the rest of the land, 1.4% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (43.5%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).

Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (99.8%), with Italian being second most common ( 0.2%) and Sd being third (gdsD%).