Hiking Trails That Will Enchant You – The Best Places in Engadin

🏔️ Engadin – Where the Mountains Whisper and the Soul Breathes

I’ve always loved hiking. For me, the mountains, the scent of pine forests, and the crisp alpine air are more than just a getaway — they’re a way to recharge, to reconnect. Being out in nature feels like every worry slowly fades away, until all that’s left is the rhythm of your footsteps and the beating of your heart.

For me, the Engadin Valley is paradise. This corner of Switzerland hides countless treasures: turquoise lakes, wild valleys, snow-capped peaks, and quiet forest trails where it feels like you’re the first person ever to walk there. There’s so much to explore that a lifetime wouldn’t be enough — but I’m determined to try. 😊

In this series, I’d like to share a few of my favorite hikes and places — not necessarily the most famous ones, but each special in its own way. These are the spots where you stop, take a deep breath, and think:“This. This is why I came here.”

🌲 Lai da Saoseo – The Hidden Gem of the Engadin

If there’s one place in Engadin that looks like nature itself painted it, it’s the Saoseo Lake (Lai da Saoseo). Nestled in the Val di Campo valley near Poschiavo, this alpine lake is one of Switzerland’s most stunning natural sights — yet it has somehow preserved its tranquility and unspoiled beauty.

💙 A Lake Too Beautiful to Be Real

The moment you reach Saoseo, you’ll understand why many call it the most beautiful lake in the Alps. Its water shifts between shades of turquoise and deep blue, mirroring the surrounding pines and peaks with crystal clarity. The rocky shoreline, green forests, and distant snowy mountains combine like a scene from a fairytale.

🥾 The Hike

You can only reach the lake on foot — which is part of the magic.The trail starts from Sfazù (near Poschiavo) and takes about 1.5–2 hours one way. It winds through pine forests, alpine meadows, and over small wooden bridges spanning icy, clear streams. The path is moderate, not hard — but visually spectacular, especially the moment the trees part and the lake appears before you.

Trail info:

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  Start: Sfazù (near Poschiavo)

• Distance: ~6 km round trip

• Duration: 1.5–2 hrs each way

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate

• Best time: June – October

  
  

🏕️ Stay the Night

For a truly unique experience, spend a night at the Rifugio Saoseo, a cozy mountain hut just minutes from the lake. Wake up early to see the sunrise turn the water golden — an unforgettable moment.

📸 Photography Tip

The best light is early morning or late afternoon, especially on calm days when the lake mirrors the mountains like glass. Bring your tripod — this is one of the best reflection shots in all the Alps.

🌿 Why It’s Special

Unlike the more famous Engadin lakes (like St. Moritz or Silvaplana), Saoseo remains peaceful and untouched. No crowds, no noise — just you, the forest, and silence. It’s proof that the most magical places are often the ones you have to walk to.

💧 Sechs-Seen-Wanderung – The Six-Lake Hike Above the Clouds

If there’s a hike that captures the essence of Engadin — pure colors, alpine serenity, and breathtaking variety — it’s the Sechs-Seen-Wanderung, the Six-Lake Trail above Furtschellas. Every step reveals a new hue, a new reflection, a new “wow” moment.

🏔️ Starting Point: Furtschellas

Your adventure begins in Sils Maria, where the Furtschellas cable car whisks you up into the mountains. From the cabin, the panorama already stuns: the Silvaplana and Sils lakes shimmer below, while the Corvatsch glacier gleams white in the distance. The upper station, La Chüdera, is where the trail begins.

💙 The Six Lakes

This circular route strings together six alpine lakes, each with its own color and character — deep blues, emerald greens, and mirrored reflections.

Typical order:

• Lai Neir – dark, reflective, mysterious (“Black Lake”)

• Lai Blau – bright turquoise, a photographer’s dream

• Lai da Murtèl – cold, clear, near the Corvatsch glacier

• Lai da Chüdera – peaceful and surrounded by wildflowers

• Lai Urlaun – deep green and perfectly still

• Lai da Tscheppa – the final lake, with sweeping views over the valley

  
  

Trail info:

• Start: La Chüdera (Furtschellas upper station)

• Distance: ~6 km

• Duration: 2.5–3 hrs

• Elevation gain: ~400 m

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Best time: June – October

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📸 Best Photo Moments

Every lake offers a new angle of the Corvatsch and the Engadin valley. The soft morning or golden evening light creates mirror-like reflections — perfect for landscape photography.

🧀 Reward Yourself

After the hike, stop by the La Chüdera panorama restaurant. The view from the terrace is pure magic — enjoy a rösti, pizokel, or a hot chocolate as the sun sets over the valley.

🌿 Why It’s Special

The Six-Lake Trail isn’t just a hike — it’s a meditation in motion. Each lake evokes a different feeling, and by the end, you’ll feel as if you’ve wandered through a painting.

😈 Devil’s Fenster – The Devil’s Window in Parc Ela

On the edge of Engadin, deep in Parc Ela’s wild mountains, lies a place where nature and legend meet: Devil’s Fenster, “the Devil’s Window.” Near the Tinzenhorn, this natural rock arch looks like the Alps’ own eye gazing over the valley — a window carved by wind, ice, and time.

🏔️ What It Is

At about 2600 m, this stone arch offers breathtaking views across Parc Ela to Piz Ela itself.According to legend, the Devil once spied on humans from this spot — but was turned to stone when he saw the beauty of the land and its people. The mountain has kept his “face” ever since.

🥾 The Hike

Start from Alp Flix (near Sur) — a magical plateau of meadows, ponds, and peaceful pastures. From here, the trail climbs steadily toward the Tinzenhorn. It’s well-marked but steep in parts.

Trail info:

• Start: Alp Flix

• Destination: Devil’s Fenster

• Distance: 9–10 km round trip

• Duration: 3.5–4.5 hrs

• Elevation gain: 600–700 m

• Difficulty: Moderate–hard

• Best time: July – September

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📸 Through the Devil’s Eye

Framed by the rock arch, the Tinzenhorn and Piz Ela look almost unreal. The best light is in the morning when the sun illuminates the window from behind — perfect for dramatic shots.

🌿 Why It’s Special

Parc Ela is Switzerland’s largest nature park — wild, untouched, full of life. The Devil’s Window isn’t just a geological wonder; it’s a spiritual experience. Standing here, you realize how small you are in the face of nature’s power — yet how deeply connected to it.

💧 Hahnessee – The Silent Lake of Parc Ela

High in the Val Tuors valley, far from crowds, lies Hahnessee, a small turquoise lake surrounded by peaks like the Tinzenhorn and Piz Mitgel. It’s a place of pure quiet — where time seems to slow down.

Trail info:

• Start: Bergün (1326 m)

• Destination: Hahnessee (~2300 m)

• Distance: ~10 km round trip

• Duration: 4–5 hrs

• Elevation gain: ~900 m

• Difficulty: Moderate

• Best time: July – September

The trail winds through meadows, past shepherd huts and alpine streams. If you go early, you’ll catch the first rays of sunlight turning the lake into liquid gold.

🌿 The Wild Beauty of Parc Ela

Here you can spot marmots, ibex, alpine lizards, and endless summer flowers — gentians, edelweiss, and alpine roses. The silence is deep — only the sound of wind and water fills the air.

📸 A Photographer’s Dream

Afternoon light paints the mountains golden and the lake turquoise — a natural masterpiece composed by the Alps themselves.

😮‍💨 Val d’Uina – Walking Inside the Mountain

The Val d’Uina Gorge is not just a hike — it’s an adventure. This spectacular route connects Schlinig Valley (South Tyrol, Italy) with the Engadin, featuring a narrow path carved directly into a vertical cliff. Imagine walking through a mountain with hundreds of meters of empty air below your feet — that’s Val d’Uina.

🏔️ A Bit of History

The trail was carved around 1910 to connect alpine pastures between Italy and Switzerland. Today it’s part of the Via Alpina and the Engadin Mountain Trail, and remains one of the most thrilling routes in the Alps.

Trail info:

• Start: Sur En (near Sent)

• Destination: Schlinig Pass (2309 m)

• Distance: ~14 km round trip

• Duration: 5–6 hrs

• Elevation gain: ~1200 m

• Difficulty: Moderate–hard

• Best time: July – September

The highlight is a 600-meter-long cliff section, often just one meter wide, with dizzying drops — not dangerous, but absolutely exhilarating.

⚠️ Safety Tip

Avoid in wet or icy conditions. Not suitable for small children or those with fear of heights. Descend via the lower valley path if needed.

📸 The View from the Edge

From the rock-cut path, you can see deep into Italy to the south and Engadin’s mountains to the north. Morning light makes the stone glow orange — a view that feels like flying.

🌿 Why It’s Special

Val d’Uina is raw, wild Engadin. No noise, no ski lifts — just cliffs, water, and wind. It’s one of those hikes where you truly feel free: the ground drops away, the sky opens up, and you realize what adventure really means.

✨ Final Thoughts

Engadin isn’t just a destination — it’s an emotion. A place where the world slows down, the air feels alive, and every path leads you closer to something timeless. Whether it’s a crystal lake, a silent valley, or a cliffside trail, each moment here reminds you:

The mountains don’t ask for much — only that you listen.