Senda Val Champagna
Overview
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Distance 18 km
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Duration 6 h 50 min
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Ascent 1200 m
Intro
Tour from Samedan in the unspoilt Val Champagna. The challenging climb has its rewards: first, the natural beauty of Lej Muragl, and a unique view across the Upper Engadine lake landscape at Muottas Muragl. Do you fancy a trail run? This route is ideal.
Description
The tour starts at the train station in Samedan, the capital of the Upper Engadine, which has its own airport. If you have time for a detour to the village before or afterwards, you will discover stately Engadine patrician houses with their characteristic decoration (sgraffitti). After the Promulins Arena, the route leads along the Inn River, and is also suitable for trail running. It then crosses the Flaz towards Lake Gravatscha. The path branches off to the right there into Val Champagna. It is probably one of the least frequented valleys in the Upper Engadine. Is this because of the gradient?
It begins with steep inclines along the Ova da Val Champagna. On a route of around 5.6 kilometres, there is an elevation gain of 1,100 metres all in one go, up to the highest point. Going past the water catchment of the small power plant in Val Champagna, you gradually leave the forest behind you. At the Chamanna Val Champagna mountain hut, you have completed about half the climb and it is a little less steep for a while. The path then runs through a swampy area for a bit. The last ramp before the Fuorcla (Romansh for mountain crossing) is rocky. This tests your energy reserves once again. At the highest point, the view opens up onto the Lej Muragl mountain lake on the other side. This nestles in a stunning high alpine landscape, with the Piz Vadret and the Piz Muragl towering over the lake.
On the mountain trail, where the popular Philosopher’s Path is laid out in winter, you go slightly downwards towards the Muottas Muragl mountain hotel with its incredible view. However, it is advisable not to focus your eyes exclusively on the panorama, because the trail requires all your attention. The Muottas Muragl is probably one of the most attractive viewpoints across the Upper Engadine lake landscape. The mountain is also popular with day trippers who arrive by funicular for a walk or an evening drink on the panoramic terrace.
You enter the valley on foot. However, not along the railway line, but back towards Chaunt da Luf. The section that follows requires your full concentration: it zigzags down towards Lake Gravatscha. The tour ends along the Inn once again in Samedan. Tip: if you do not have a great deal of stamina or prefer a more leisurely pace, you can do the tour in the other direction and take the funicular to Muottas Muragl to avoid some of the elevation gain.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Samedan
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Samedan
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| Ascent |
1200 m
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| Descent |
1200 m
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| Distance |
18 km
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| Duration |
6 h 50 min
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| Duration back |
6 h 45 min
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| Technical requirements |
Medium
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| Physical requirements |
Difficult
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| Signalization |
Signalisation in both directions
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| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/r... |
Quick Facts
Route number
