Alpine Passes Trail: Stage 3

Our tip for the next stage of the Alpine Passes Trail:

• Alp Flix: a high plateau with pine forests, mountain lakes, moorland and flower meadows.

The meadows of Alp Flix above Sur are covered in flowers. The mosaic of meadows, forest, moors, small lakes and rocks harbors an impressive diversity of species. Surrounded by this protected moorland of national significance, the hike starts.

From the high plateau, located between 1900 and 2000 m above sea level, a gravel road soon leads to Tgalucas. Visible from afar: the Mongolian yurts where you can spend the night. Here the path branches off and climbs about 500 meters in elevation. At the highest point, around 2450 m above sea level, Parc Ela is left behind.

For over two hours, the beautiful high-altitude trail winds now towards Alp d’Err. If you look closely, you can discover a lovely protected Alpine edelweiss along the way. From the Alp to Motta d’Err, marmots raise the alarm. They appear less shy than usual. The marmots live in family groups as cave dwellers. Also inhabiting this area are red deer, chamois, ibex, golden eagles and bearded vultures – it’s worth looking carefully.

On the high trail below the foothills of Pizza Grossa, you walk through the hamlets of Bartg and Castelas. Further down the valley, across beautiful forest sections, the pasture at Senslas is reached. Here the path becomes a gravel road again, and from here we are also back in Parc Ela. This offers an extraordinary variety of plants and animals, views from high peaks, blooming dry meadows and gentle hedge landscapes. All about the park can be learned at the information center in Savognin, which is now about an hour away.

Located in the spacious high valley of the Surses between Tiefencastel and the Julier Pass, Savognin is considered the economic and political center of the valley community. The low-allergen climate of the Surses with a strong southern influence is characterized by dryness and many days of sunshine.