Solitary mountain running experience: Ardez – Ova Spin

The route from Ardez in the Engadin through the Val Sampuoir and over the Fuorcla Stragliavita to the Ofen Pass is little used and offers a remote running experience. Right at the beginning, Ardez, a prime example of Romanesque architecture, invites you to visit with its narrow alleys and sgraffito-decorated Engadin houses. The remote route to the Ofen Pass is very demanding and technically challenging. From there, there are post bus connections to Val Müstair or the Engadin.

Before it really starts, it is worth making a detour at the beginning to the small hamlet of Sur En near Ardez with its picturesque Engadin houses

Ardez - Val Sampuoir - Alp Sampuoir – Plan Surröven - Fuorcla Stragliavita – Margun - Alp Laschadura – Alp Ivraina Ova Spin (post bus to Val Müstair or Zernez).

The route starts at Ardez train station. For the first 1.5 km we follow the road towards Sur En down to the Inn. After the bridge, we follow the road for another 800m. At the first junction (P.1393) we turn left and follow the signpost towards Alp Sampuoir downhill through the forest following the river, partly on the road built for water collection.
Before Alp Sampuoir (mother cows) the forest thins. We continue on the hiking trail downhill to Plan Surröven with a small building at 2,267 m above sea level. The first 1,000 meters of elevation have been climbed! Now the path gets steeper and steeper, sometimes only traces of a trail are present.
It takes some sweat drops until the Fuorcla Stragliavita is reached. Here it is almost flat and the pass offers a good spot for a break to enjoy the impressive mountain panorama and to recharge for the descent. This leads over steep alpine meadows, often only with trail traces, to the Alp Laschadura (mother cows) located 600 meters lower. From Margun the path is flatter and easy to see again. At Alp Laschadura at P. 1998 we follow the signpost towards Alp Ivraina/Ova Spin on the eastern side of the valley. After a small ascent, we reach the pasture of Alp Ivraina from where we descend through the forest to Ova Spin on the Ofen pass road. From here we take the post bus to Zernez or to Val Müstair. The route can also be run well in reverse.