Senda Leg Columban

The village of Bivio is steeped in history. At the foot of the Julier and Septimer Alpine passes, it is the only Italian-speaking village north of the Alpine watershed. The highest village in Surses is criss-crossed with historic trails that stretch as far back as the Romans, who passed through here when transporting their goods. This lovely tour sets off from Bivio towards Valletta da Beiva. Make sure to pack enough to eat before you depart, as there is nowhere to stop along the way.

Uphill and hugging the stream the entire way, Leg Columban – for which this route is named – is just under six kilometres away. The mountain lake is a great spot for your first break. The ascent then continues on over Fuorcla da la Valletta. A view into Avers below and to Juf, the highest permanently inhabited residential area in Europe, becomes visible. Another uphill stretch follows to the peak “Uf da Flüe”, the highest point of this tour. The view of the surrounding valleys is magnificent. The climate and the harshness of the high Alpine zone are clearly noticeable from 2,500 metres and above. In this area, the trail mostly leads over crags and terrain strewn with rocks.

From this point on, everything is downhill: passing by other small mountain lakes, you will walk the “Steinmännliweg” to the Stallerberg, a mule track that connects Juf in the Averstal valley with Bivio in the Val Surses. The descent is via a highly walkable path roughly paved with stones. The further down you go in the valley, the less technical it becomes. This hiking trail, which can also be walked in the opposite direction and is brilliantly suited for trailing running, now ends in Bivio.