Morterasch - Boval Hutte - MorteraschWalk 8025
Canton - Graubunden/Grisons - Upper Engadine
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 11.5 km / 7.2 miles
Ascent - 650 metres / 2145 feet
Descent - 650 metres / 2145 feet
Time - 5.00 hours
Grade - moderate
Click thumbnails for larger images.
A walk into the mountains that includes excellent views of glaciers and the mountain range that includes Piz Bernina, which is the only 4000+ metre peak in Graubünden.
Click thumbnails for larger images.
Start & End - Morterasch station on the Bernina Railway. Trains operate from Pontresina to Alp Grüm with connections from other parts of the Engadine. See Transport Map for the Upper Engadine Region.
Leave the railway station and take the broad track that goes south towards the foot of the Morterasch Glacier. Look out for a wooden sign on your right that directs you to the Boval Hütte and take this narrower path that leads into forest.
The path begins to climb through the trees to reach a path junction where you keep left. The views improve as the trees become more widely spaced with the foot of the Morterasch Glacier down to your left.
Ahead a wonderful mountain vista helps you forget the climb. Some sections of the path follow the moraine but the policy appears to be diverting walkers to a parallel path off the moraine. After a steady climb you begin to gain height more quickly with the path zigzagging up the mountainside with some fixed cables in exposed sections.
Levelling off again you might think the Boval Hütte is close but sadly there is one final section of steep ascent up to the hut, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of mountains and glaciers.
A leisurely stay is recommended before returning by the outward route back to Morterasch station.
Suggested Maps
Landeskarte der Schweiz - 1:50000 - Sheet SW 5013 - Oberengadin - Engiadin'Ota
Landeskarte der Schweiz - 1:25000 - Sheet SW 2521 - Engadin
Oberengadin, Bergell-Puschlav, Wanderkarte - 1:50000
Recommended Books
Walks in the Engadine - Switzerland
A walking guidebook to 100 day walks in the Engadine, Val Bregaglia, neighbouring valleys and the Engadine National Park. Varying from gentle rambles to adventurous high-level routes for the experienced mountain walker. Each route ranges from 2 to 10 miles long, visiting forests and meadows, high mountain landscapes, lakes and passes.
Walking in the Alps
An outstanding and comprehensive book exploring the walking and trekking possibilities in every Alpine region. Many thousands of possible routes are suggested, from the Maritime Alps of southern France throughout the range to the Julian Alps of Slovenia. Walks vary from undemanding to long and tough, and everything in between.