Via Engiadina, Stage 8/12

Following the Clozza, the path takes you deep into the rocky Val Tuoi, climbs above the tree line and leads out of the valley again. The view soon opens up across the Lower Engadine with its mighty mountain ranges. Attractive alpine pastures, gnarled trees and the wonderfully decorated Engadine villages make the hike very appealing.

From the Guarda, cumün bus stop, the trail leads into the village and soon out onto the open slopes of the Lower Engadin. The white-red-white marked mountain trail climbs steadily. Settlements recede into the distance, while meadows and pastures define the first section. Around 700 metres of ascent must be tackled in total, with most of the climbing concentrated in the first half of the route.

About halfway along, the route reaches its highest point at around 2,180 m. Here the long ascent eases. The mountain trail then continues across open terrain, gradually losing altitude. At around 950 metres, the descent is considerably longer than the ascent and eventually leads back down to the inhabited parts of the valley.

After 14 kilometres and just over four and a half hours, the hike ends in Ardez, only a few steps from the railway station. East of the village, the ruins of Steinsberg Castle stand on a rocky outcrop, slightly off the route. The combination of a long ascent, broad pasture slopes and an extended descent defines this demanding valley hike.