The glacial mills of Maloja

The glacial potholes formed at the end of the last ice age when the glaciers retreated from the lowlands. Huge amounts of meltwater were released. The material carried along ground down the underlying rock surfaces, creating scratches and sometimes glacial potholes. These form when meltwater flows through fissures in the ice and strikes the bedrock below with high pressure. If the ice fissure remains in the same place for a long time, sand and stones grind glacial potholes of varying depths into the basement. Many glacial potholes are filled with water as they have no outlet in the rock. Some have been covered with material since the glacier's retreat and remain hidden from us. So far, 36 glacial potholes have been exposed in the area northwest of Maloja. An educational trail with display boards satisfies curiosity about the glacial mill phenomenon and also explains the botanical rarities found here.

A detour to the Belvedere Tower opens a wonderful view over Bergell and into the Engadin.

From the Maloja Post bus stop, it is only a short walk to the Segantini studio. From here, the wide gravel path leads to the Belvedere Tower, which today belongs to Pro Natura and is the center of the nature reserve. The tower hosts exhibitions: a permanent exhibition about the history of the Maloja region and changing temporary exhibitions.

Two circular routes are signposted: a shorter route and the full "Sentiero Conte Renesse" route. Both routes start about fifty meters below the tower at a small intersection. On very easy and well-marked paths, you walk through raised bogs (there are good wooden walkways here) and stone pine forest to the glacial mills.