Alpine Passes Trail: Stage 7

• Zalöner Hütten in Safiental: The Zalöner Hütten are a typical Walser scattered settlement that characterize the landscape of the tranquil Safiental.

This long stage begins at the modern converted small hotel Nühus in the Safiental. The secluded side valley of the Surselva in Graubünden is strongly influenced by the Walser culture. Scattered hamlets and farms bear witness to the settlement of the valley. One particularly beautiful example is the settlement of Camanaboda with its local museum in the old Walser house. From Nühus, the trail enters the forest after a few minutes. Several hairpin bends climb uphill to the Zalöner Hütta, past dozens of anthills. If you're lucky, you might spot deer in the idyllic forest. A beautiful view over the Beverin Nature Park and the eponymous peak of Piz Beverin (2998m) opens up here. The 412 km2 park, which is home to the Capricorn (ibex), stretches around the summit. The meadows are littered with heather. After a good two and a half hours, you reach the Güner Lückli at 2,470 m above sea level, crossing pastures and passing alarming marmots. A transit route from the Safierberg over the Safier Alps to Pitasch and Castrisch used to lead over the pass. It was one of the first Graubünden crossings from the Vorderrhein to Chiavenna. This is followed by a rather poorly marked path down to Alp Gretg. On the Péz Radun you may be lucky enough to see chamois. The far-reaching views extend over the Val Lumnezia and Foppa as far as the Oberalpstock and Tödi. Continuing through the forest above the Val da Pitasch, you reach Duvin after another two and a half hours. After the small hamlet, a steep path leads down to Planezzas. Continuing along the main road, you cross the Glenner (Glogn) at Peiden Bad. This wild river rises between Péz Terri and Péz Scharboda and flows through Val Lumnezia. Better known and larger is the Valser Rhine, which flows into the Glenner in Suraua and later into the Vorderrhein near Ilanz. Still on the tarmac road, the route continues uphill to Peiden. Now follows the last hour of hiking, passing below Cumbel to Vella, where the long stage ends with over 3000 meters of ascent and descent.