Walks in the Engadine – Switzerland

In this guidebook Kev Reynolds describes 100 of his favourite walks and treks in Switzerland's Engadine, Val Bregaglia and Val Bernina.Tucked away in the south-east corner of Switzerland, the Engadine is a region of sublime lakes and mountains, pretty alpine villages and the country’s only national park.

View Sample Route Map

Route 37: Surlej (Murtè1: 2699m) - Fuorcla Surlej (2755m) - Coaz Hut (2610m)

---

Grade: 2
Distance: 8km (5 miles)
Height gain: 56m (184ft)
Height loss: 145m (476ft)
Time: 3hr
Location: Southeast of Silvaplana

---

Set at the head of Val Roseg among a turmoil of glaciers, the Coaz Hut (Chamanna Coaz) makes a splendid destination for a walk. This is one of the very best approach routes, for it has exquisite high mountain views to enjoy all the way from Fuorcla Surlej, and a path that makes no great demands. As with the previous walk, the recommendation is to take the Corvatsch cablecar from Surlej to the Murtèl middle station, and begin the walk there. Note the bus which links Pontresina station with Surlej, should it be your intention to descend from the hut through Val Roseg.

Follow directions given under Route 36 as far as the Fuorcla Surlej saddle (40-50min), and descend to where the path forks about 5min below Berghaus Fuorcla Surlej. Here you take the right branch, which continues to descend, and about 30min below the saddle the way forks again at a marked junction at 2560m. Ignore the left-hand option and continue ahead, and 15min later reach the junction with a trail that goes to Alp Ota and then descends into the Val Roseg. Once again keep ahead.

The way now rises a little with the Sella peaks and glaciers that enclose the head of the valley looking magnificent ahead. The Italian border runs along the ridge crest, which is punctuated by a series of small peaks down whose north flank cascade icefalls that spawn the Vadrets da Roseg and la Sella. The Coaz Hut will be found on the left bank of the former.

Come to another path junction, about 1hr 15min from Fuorcla Surlej. This offers the most logical way down into Val Roseg from the Coaz Hut and is recommended for the return. From this point on, the hut may be seen perched on a great slab of rock on the moraine wall southeast of here. The path contours towards the head of the valley, picks a way among rocks and boulders, and reaches the 16-sided Coaz Hut about 3hr from the Murtèl cablecar station.

Coaz Hut
Chamanna Coaz (2610m) is a curiously shaped building, but its situation could scarcely be more dramatic, with a glacial backdrop and a long view north along the extent of Val Roseg to a hint of Pontresina in the distance. Icefalls hang nearby, while almost 500m below lies the post-glacial Lej da Vadret (the Glacier Lake). Owned by the Rätia section of the SAC, the hut has 80 places and is staffed at Easter, Whitsun, and from end June to October. For reservations phone 081 842 62 78 (e-mail: alois.kunfermann@bluewin.ch website: www.coaz.ch).