Guarda - Lavin - Susch Walk 8067
Canton - Graubunden/Grisons - Lower Engadine
Author - Lou Johnson
Length - 11.3 km / 7.1 miles
Ascent - nominal or unknown
Descent - 250 metres / 825 feet
Time - 3.50 hours
Grade - easy
Click thumbnails for larger images.
This an easy walk uses mainly tracks between three attractive villages in the Lower Engadine. It is an ideal walk to fill half a day especially when it has been raining or when the mountains are covered in cloud. The villages are linked by a frequent and regular service of trains along the valley. However, Guard village lies some 250 metres above the railway station and is reached by a steep path. Subject to continued patronage there is a limited post bus service meeting some trains and linking Guarda's station with the village.
Click thumbnails for larger images.
Little in the way of description is need to describe the walk. However, of the three villages Guarda is probably the most attractive and is worth spending time exploring the streets with their many solid houses dating back many centuries. Some have external decoration whilst details of some of the construction dates are presented on the walls of the houses.
Exploration complete follow the lower of the two main streets through the village as far as the first hairpin bend on the road down into the valley. Leave the road here and follow the track into the side valley. Cross the first bridge over the La Cloxxa river, continuing across open pastures on a clear track down to Lavin. At the first junction we took the left-hand fork and this led steadily downhill towards the village of Lavin.
Descend through the village and cross the covered bridge over the River En. Turn first left and take the track running closest to the river. Ignore all braches off to the left and continue to the eastern edge of Susch village. As you approach the tracks turns sharp left to a road. Turn right along this road, cross the river and you have arrived in solidly built village centre. For those using the valley train service, the station is approached by a rising road on your right just after crossing the river.
Suggested Maps
Landeskarte der Schweiz - 1:25000 - Sheet 1238 - Piz Quattervals
Recommended Books
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.
Tour of Mont Blanc
An essential guidebook for walking the Tour of Mont Blanc. The 170km route typically takes 11 days to trek around the Mont Blanc massif. The TMB is recognised as one of the world's classic treks. The book describes both anti-clockwise and clockwise directions, with variants and information about huts, refuges and facilities en route.