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
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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
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.
The Tour of the Bernina
Guidebook describing a 9-stage (119km) route around the Piz Bernina massif in the Alps on the Swiss-Italian border near St Moritz, and the 8-stage (94km) Alta Via Valmalenco exploring the Valmalenco valley, in the shadow of Monte Disgrazia. The Tour of the Bernina is suitable for first-time trekkers but the Alta Via needs some experience.