San Bernardino
Intro
Near the crest of the pass lies the holiday resort San Bernardino. Bogs, pine trees and a special flora lend San Bernardino a unique atmosphere. The wet meadows around the village produce a wetland flora that boasts the largest number of species in the southern part of the Alps. In winter, when the pass road is closed, San Bernardino turns into a winter sport paradise.
Description
Both a main road and a motorway lead from Chur via Thusis, through the valley of the Posterior Rhine (Hinterrhein) and the Grisons holiday region of Splügen/Rheinwald to Hinterrhein. While the motorway disappears into a tunnel as far as the village of San Bernardino, the mountain pass goes over a high, mysterious moor with sparkling pools and polished glacial rocks up to the top of the San Bernardino Pass at 2065 m and the beautiful mountain lake of Lago Moesola.
Although now, south of the Alps, you are in Italian-speaking parts, it is still a long way to the Ticino: the road goes for more than 40 km through the southern Grisons valley of Misox (Valle Mesolcina).
The Bernardino Pass has been in use since Roman times. The main difficulty was not the pass itself but the tricky route through the 300 m deep Rhine gorge between Thusis and Zillis, which does not bear the name Via Mala ("Bad Road") for no reason.
Winter
If you are just starting to ski, the Pian Cales ski area is perfect for you. Experienced ski instructors will assist you in learning to ski and ensure fun and safety. For those looking for an extra challenge, the renovated Confin ski area offers advanced slopes where you can enjoy a whole day of skiing at a higher level.
However, winter sports in San Bernardino are not limited to skiing. The 33 km of cross-country ski trails around the village and Lake d'Isola attract cross-country skiing lovers. Winter hikers will find 14 km of well-prepared hiking trails here. Those who prefer a more relaxing experience can spend pleasant hours on the ice at the ice rink in San Bernardino or watch exciting ice hockey matches.
Summer
In the adventure park of San Bernardino, you can test your courage on a breathtaking route in the trees that stretches over 550 meters, or venture onto the Tyrolienne, which takes you over the Lago d'Isola and measures 150 meters. But that's not all: the mountain bike descent from the pass down to the entire Mesolcina Valley is a thrilling experience, with an altitude difference of 2000 meters without ever having to pedal.