Bernina route

The Bernina route offers wonderful views of all the glaciers in the Bernina massif. The route leads from the Mediterranean Poschiavo over the Bernina Pass and the Diavolezza to Pontresina, then up to the Fuorcla Surlej with views of the Biancograt, Piz Bernina, and Piz Roseg, and down to Sils with views over the Engadin lake landscape. From Sils along the Via Engadina to Maloja and further over the Murettopass to the south side of the Bernina chain on Italian soil, and back to the starting point Poschiavo.

The start is in Poschiavo at 1021 meters above sea level and leads along the UNESCO World Heritage route of the Rhaetian Railway to the Bernina Pass at 2328 m, via the glacier garden of Cavaglia with its glacial mills and the Alp Grüm with a first view of the east side of the Bernina massif. A break on a flat and wide path along Lago Bianco relaxes the muscles for the further 1,000 vertical meters up to Munt Pers at 3207 meters, where a fantastic view of the Pers and Morteratsch glaciers awaits.

Back at the Diavolezza mountain station the path leads down past Lej da Diavolezza to the valley station. After crossing the main road begins the steep ascent to Fuorcla Pischa at 2835 m. On the descent to Pontresina there are food options at Chamanna Paradies (detour) and Restaurant Alp Languard. After leaving the mountain village Pontresina, you enter the lovely Val Roseg at the train station level. Before the Hotel Restaurant Val Roseg the path turns right and rises to Fuorcla Surlej with views of Lej da Vadret and the Biancograt of Piz Bernina on the left side. After the Fuorcla Surlej the broad path leads to the middle station of the Corvatsch cable car. The path then goes steeply down a bit and then traverses the mountain flank to Alp Prasüra and down to the cultural village Sils. Past the church of Sils Baselgia the route leads on the left valley side along the Via Engiadina, past the Heidi village Grevasalvas to Maloja.

Over Lägh da Cavloc towards Forno Glacier you reach the junction turning left towards Murettopass at 2559 m, on a former connecting path between Switzerland and Italy. A broad path leads down to Alpe dell’Oro and the Italian village of Chiareggio. Over the pastures of Alpe Fora the path rises to the panorama plateau of Rifugio Longoni, before descending again over the scree slopes of Alpe Sasso Nero to Lago Palù at 1947 m. From there the path goes back up over Bocchel de Torno and through extensive forests and alpine meadows to the alps Campascio and Musella. On the old mule track it goes towards Rifugio Carate Brianza before the path forks right and leads through a rocky landscape to Rifugio Bignami: on this section the south side of the Bernina with its glaciers can be admired. Over Alpe Gembré on the shore of Lago di Gera you go up to Pass da Confinale, the border crossing back into Switzerland. Here begins the long, steep descent down to Poschiavo.

Detour: From Sils walk along Lake Silsersee and further along it to Isola and on to Maloja. Those who want can also take the ship from the boathouse in Sils and comfortably travel to Maloja by boat.

More information
Engadin Tourism AG
Via Maistra 1
CH-7500 St. Moritz
Phone: +41 81 830 00 01
E-mail: allegra@engadin.ch
Internet: www.engadin.ch 

Booking
Eurotrek AG
Zürcherstrasse 42
CH-8103 Unterengstringen
Phone: +41 44 316 10 00
E-mail: eurotrek@eurotrek.ch 
Internet:  www.eurotrek.ch/de/ch-bernina-trailrunning-5-4 

Carry your ID, the route crosses into Italy.

Poschiavo - Cavaglia - Alp Grüm - Ospizio Bernina - Daivolezza - Fuorcla Pischa - Alp Languard - Pontresina - Val Roseg - Fuorcla Surlej - Middle station Corvatsch - Sils - Grevasalvas - Blaunca - Maloja - Lägh Cavloc - Passo del Muretto - Chiareggio - Rifugio Longoni - Alpe Palù - Bocchel de Torno - Alpe Musella - Rifugio Bignami - Passo Confinale - Ursé - Val - Poschiavo