Trekking in the Silvretta and Ratikon Alps

This guide describes three treks, between 5 and 8 days, in the Silvretta and Rätikon Alps starting near Klosters, and 12 half-day hut-to-hut routes. These contrasting ranges form a line on the borders of Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. The Tour of the Silvretta, the Prättigauer Höhenweg and the Rätikon Höhenweg.

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Overview

This guidebook describes 3 Alpine treks, between 5 and 8 days long, as well as 12 full or half day hut-to-hut routes. The three treks suitable for moderately experienced trekkers, but requiring no specialist equipment, are the Tour of the Silvretta, the Prattigauer Hohenweg and the Ratikon Hohenweg, two of which can be combined to provide a fortnight of high-altitude hiking among such peaks as Piz Buin, Piz Linard, Dreilanderspitz, Schesaplana, Sulzfluh and Drusenfluh and over some classic Alpine passes. The Silvretta and Ratikon ranges straddle the borders of Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein. Also included are descriptions of nearby climable peaks for those with excess energy and favourable conditions, and for those who prefer to plan their own tours a directory of all the mountain huts in the area, providing all the information you could possibly need. Written by Alpine expert Kev Reynolds, this book includes tips on gear, planning, language and further reading, to fully enjoy your time in the Alps.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
Trek outlines
Linking all three treks
Hut-to-hut routes
Wildlife and alpine flowers
When to go
Getting there
Accommodation
Notes for walkers
Clothing and equipment
Recommended maps
Safety in the mountains
Using this guide
Trek 1: A Tour of the Silvretta Alps
Prelude Klosters Platz to Berghaus Vereina
Stage 1 Berghaus Vereina to Lavin
Stage 2 Lavin to Chamanna Tuoi
Stage 3 Chamanna Tuoi to the Jamtal Hut
Stage 4 Jamtal Hut to the Wiesbadener Hut
Stage 4A Jamtal Hut to the Bielerhöhe
Stage 5 Wiesbadener Hut (or Bielerhöhe) to the Tübinger Hut
Stage 6 Tübinger Hut to Klosters Platz
Stage 6A Tübinger Hut to Schlappin
Stage 6B Schlappin to Klosters Dorf
Trek 2: The Prättigauer Höhenweg
Stage 1 Klosters Platz to Schlappin
Stage 2 Schlappin to St Antönien
Stage 3 St Antönien to the Carschina Hut
Stage 4 Carschina Hut to the Schesaplana Hut
Stage 5 Schesaplana Hut to Seewis
Trek 3: The Rätikon Höhenweg
Stage 1 St Antönien to the Carschina Hut
Stage 1a St Antönien to the Carschina Hut via Partnun
Stage 2 Carschina Hut to the Schesaplana Hut
Stage 3 Schesaplana Hut to Nenzinger Himmel
Stage 4 Nenzinger Himmel to the Douglass Hut (or Brand)
Side trip Ascent of the Schesaplana
Stage 5 Douglass Hut to the Lindauer Hut
Stage 6 Lindauer Hut to the Tilisuna Hut
Side trip Ascent of the Sulzfluh
Stage 7 Tilisuna Hut to St Antönien
Hut-to-Hut routes
Route 1 Wiesbadener Hut – Rote Furka – Silvretta Hut
Route 2 Wiesbadener Hut – Litzner Sattel – Saarbrücker Hut
Route 3 Saarbrücker Hut – Schweizerlücke – Plattenjoch – Seetal Hut
Route 4 Schlappin – Schlappiner Joch – Gargellen
Route 5 St Antönien – Tilisunafürggli – Tilisuna Hut
Route 6 Tilisuna Hut – Plasseggenpass – Sarotla Joch – Gargellen
Route 7 Tilisuna Hut – Tilisunafürggli – Carschina Hut
Route 8 Carschina Hut – Drusator – Lindauer Hut
Route 9 Douglass Hut – Lünerkrinne – Heinrich-Hueter Hut
Route 10 Douglass Hut – Cavelljoch – Schesaplana Hut
Route 11 Douglass Hut – Totalp Hut
Route 12 Totalp Hut – Gamsluggen – Schesaplana Hut

Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B The huts
Appendix C Useful contacts
Appendix D Language notes and glossary
Appendix E Further reading

Maps

All but a very small section of the Tour of the Silvretta Alps is found on the Kümmerley + Frey Wanderkarte, Unterengadin (Engiadina Bassa) map at 1:60,000 scale. The only section missing includes Klosters and Monbiel at the start and finish of the trek, but this is covered by the same publisher’s Prättigau-Albula sheet. Trails and huts are clearly marked in red on both maps, whose scale should be perfectly adequate for most occasions. Should you require greater detail, the DAV has produced an excellent 1:25,000 sheet covering all the Austrian side of the Silvretta, as well as a good proportion of the Swiss flank, under the heading Alpenvereinskarte 26 Silvrettagruppe.

Kümmerley + Frey’s Prättigau-Albula not only overlaps a section of the Tour of the Silvretta, it’s also ideal for trekkers following the Prättigauer Höhenweg where the whole route is covered.

The same sheet (Prättigau-Albula) includes all of the Rätikon Höhenweg, although if you plan to approach Nenzinger Himmel or Brand from the north, you will need an Austrian map such as Freytag & Berndt’s 1:50,000 scale WK374 which covers the Austrian flank of the Rätikon and Silvretta Alps as far east as the Fimbertal.

Available locally, a very fine map at a scale of 1:40,000 with the title Schesaplana Wanderkarte shows all the huts and footpaths highlighted in red (the Prättigauer Höhenweg is marked in green). On the reverse is a depiction of the main footpaths with estimated walking times between selected points. This sheet includes the whole of the Prättigauer Höhenweg trek and that of the Rätikon Höhenweg, but does not extend into the Silvretta range.

Updates

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August 2019

Updates

Hut to Hut Routes:

Route 3: Due to glacial shrinkage great caution is advised in the guidebook for the crossing from the Saarbrucker Hut to the Seetal Hut via the Plattenjoch. There is now the additional hazard of rockfall, causing the DAV to effectively close the route. A new alternative route directs walkers and climbers across the Seelücke. No further details available. (With thanks to Richard Rutz for this information)

May 2019

Please note that the Totalp Hut used on the ascent of Schesaplana as a side trip from the Rätikon Höhenweg, and on Routes 11 and 12 in the Hut to Hut section of the book, has been destroyed by avalanche and will therefore be out of use until it can be rebuilt.

Aug 2018

page 63: Please note there is a small shop attached to the hotel/restaurant at the eastern end of the Bielerhöhe
page 65: The route to the Tübinger Hut is now signed from the track/dirt road you join after crossing the Kromer Bach. Walk up the track for about 20m where you will then find waymarks on the right.
page 126: Brand has an ATM if you’re running short of cash.

May 2014

Since this guide went to print, the following website addresses have changed:

INTRODUCTION
When to go

www.meteoschweiz.ch/en has changed to www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/web/en.html

TREK 1
Stage 2 Lavin to Chamanna Tuoi

www.engadin.net/guarda has changed to www.engadine.com/guarda

TREK 2

www.st-antonien.ch has changed to www.st-antoenien.ch

Appendix C

www.engadin.net/guarda has changed to www.engadine.com/guarda
www.st-antonien.ch has changed to www.st-antoenien.ch

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