Murtel - Fuorcla Surlej Walk 8057
Canton - Graubunden/Grisons - Upper Engadine
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 2.5 km / 1.6 miles
Ascent - 80 metres / 264 feet
Descent - 25 metres / 83 feet
Time - 1.25 hours
Grade - easy
Click thumbnails for larger images.
A short walk through the rocky landscape beneath the northern face of Corvatsch. The route is easy to follow, offers superb views down to Silvaplana and provides a real mountain experience. The start is the Murtel station of the Corvatsch cable-car which starts in Surlej. Buses provide regular connections with other parts of the area.
Click thumbnails for larger images.
Exit Murtel station (2699 m) and take the signed path to Fuorcla Surlej with its refuge located in a superb position offering a wonderful mountain panorama especially to the south-east. The path is clear and obvious and you soon enter a rock strewn landscape with views to your left down towards Silvaplana and the valley some 900 metres below with its string of lakes shining in the sun. The walking is never difficult despite the terrain and quick progress is made to reach a path junction (2685 m) where the path comes up from the valley.
Turn right uphill following a series of zig-zags to a col from where a short descent leads you to the refuge at Fuorcla Surlej with its small lake offering a perfect place to sit and digest the view. The options are (a) return to Murtel station using the outward route, (b) continue on the direct path down to Val Roseg and onto Pontresina or (c) to continue south up the valley to the Coaz Hütte.
Suggested Maps
Oberengadin, Bergell-Puschlav, Wanderkarte - 1:50000
Recommended Books
The Swiss Alpine Pass Route - Via Alpina Route 1
Guidebook to the Alpine Pass Route following the Swiss Via Alpina 1, a 360km trek east-west across Switzerland, from Sargans, on the border of Liechtenstein, to Montreux, including prologue from Liechtenstein. A demanding 3-week trek described in 18 stages, crossing 16 passes including the 2778m Hohtürli. Requires good fitness and experience.
Walking in the Valais
Comprehensive guidebook to the Valais region, describing 111 day walks and 10 multi-day tours. Home to the Matterhorn and Dent Blanche, the routes are in the Fieschertal and the Aletsch glacier region, the Lötschental, Saastal, Mattertal, Turtmanntal, Val d'Anniviers, Val d'Herens, Val de Bagnes, Val Ferret and Vallée du Trient.