Val Roses – Hiking through the beautiful high Engadine valley

Val Roseg near Pontresina is one of the most beautiful high valleys in the Engadine. Best of all, it can be detected in many different ways. Whether it’s on foot during a relaxing stroll or on the way to a higher hiking destination, or by bike or horse-drawn carriage. But is the detour to Val Roseg really worth it? We investigated this question last weekend and took a closer look at the hiking trail to Val Roseg, which was already a bit autumnal.

(Val Roseg near Pontresina).

The Val Roseg, about 12 kilometers long, runs from Pontresina train station to the northern slope of the Bernina Group. There is the Roseg Glacier, which together with the Tschierc Glacier reached almost what is today the Hotel Restaurant Roseg Glacier in the Little Ice Age. The glacier has since retreated, leaving behind a lake. Lej da Vadret is located at 2160 meters above sea level. M. It can be reached from Hotel Restaurant Val Roseg in about an hour on foot.

The majority of Val Rosegues is car-free and is traversed by two paths: a narrow nature path for pedestrians and a road that takes horse-drawn carriages and cyclists into the valley.

You can hike through pine and pine forests to Val Roseg

We start our journey to Val Roseg directly at Pontresina train station. There we follow the sign over the Ova da Roseg and turn onto the forest path at the car park after the bridge. After just a few minutes, we were surrounded by tall pines, cedar and pine trees and inhaling the fragrant scent of the forest. Unfortunately, we can’t cover the entire route on this idyllic forest path. Shortly before the first bridge, the trail closure takes us back to the road on the other side of the valley. We were a little spooked at first asking ourselves was this hike really the right decision?

However, the low mood was quickly overcome. Parallel to the wide gravel path, there is a narrow path running along the river that brings back the feeling of nature. In addition, there are only a few people here, and after the horse-drawn carriages have passed us, peace returns.

Thanks to the slowly ascending path, the hike is not particularly physically demanding. However, we set a fairly fast base pace and therefore start to sweat after a while. After less than an hour and a half we crossed the wooded part of Val Roseg and looked out over the magnificent plateau towards the snow-covered end of the valley.

Stop at the hotel restaurant Roseg Gletscher

Here you can further immerse yourself in the wonderful world of the mountains or treat yourself to a well-deserved break on the sun terrace of the Hotel Restaurant Roseg Gletscher. And that’s exactly what we do. If you stop here before the general lunch rush, you’ll have no problem finding a spot, even on busy weekend days.

The menu includes seasonal game dishes (unfortunately without declaring the source of the meat and the answer to my inquiry was not satisfactory as either ‘from New Zealand or from here – depending’) as well as Graubünden specialities. I decided to have the chestnut soup (very delicious!) and my friend ordered the fisherman’s plate (well presented and also good). The extensive cake buffet is truly amazing. But here too, I inadvertently hit the “soft spot.” Unfortunately, on the day of our visit, the Black Forest cake on the menu was not among the twenty cakes and tarts to choose from. So we share a piece of Sachertorte for dessert instead. Overall, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable stop that wraps up a leisurely hike perfectly.

Along the Uva da Rosegue we return to Pontresina

Then we return down the valley to Pontresina on the same path. Even if there is a little more activity on the way at times, the rally remains within a manageable range. I’m also a big fan of the forest trails – they’re wonderfully grounded (and pleasantly shaded on warm days!).

And so, after our detour, I can confidently assert: yes, the hike to Val Roses is worth it! On the one hand, if you simply want to spend a few active hours in nature without any special sporting ambitions. But especially in October – when the pines appear in their golden autumn dress. We are a bit early for this, but it is only a matter of time.

Main details of the trip Pontresina – Val Rosegues – Sorovas

You can see our route from Pontresina Train Station to Val Rosegues and back on the following walking map. Basically, on the mountainous right side of the Ova da Roseg, the mostly white, red and white marked mountain hiking trail (T2) leads from Pontresina to the Hotel Restaurant Roseg Glacier. It is a well-maintained forest path that leads from Pontresina to Hotel Restaurant Roseg Gletscher through the forest without any bumps or major inclines. It is also on this path Val Rosegg Adventure TrailWhich offers educational entertainment for children with 10 stamping stations.

Unfortunately, parts of this hiking trail are closed until further notice due to a rock fall. The hiking trail is therefore redirected in sections to the wide gravel path on the left side of the river. This is shared with horse-drawn carriages and cyclists. By the way, you can easily get around this route even with a stroller.

The current route closures can be seen on the SwitzerlandMobility map below, although according to our on-site research, they do not exactly match local signs and the route marked in black is outside restricted areas.

Practical tips for your trip to Val Roses

• On nice days, Val Roseg is a popular destination for excursions and hiking. If you want to enjoy the magic of the valley for yourself, it is best to start the hike early or take the tour on a weekday in low season.
• Hotel Restaurant Roseg Gletscher is open in summer from mid-June until the second half of October. In winter the season begins around December 10 and continues until early April. One of the highlights is the cake buffet there. There are about twenty different types of cakes, fruit tarts, tarts and seasonal desserts to choose from.
• During summer, Val Roseg can also be reached by “Horse Omnibus”. Between 10:00 and 16:00, there is an hourly public bus from Pontresina Train Station to Hotel Roseg. The round trip costs 25 CHF for adults (vs. 36 CHF). Booking in advance is recommended – but in low season, you can usually still find a seat even without a reservation. You can buy tickets at the ticket booth at the entrance to Val Roseg (cash only!) and at the Hotel Roseg. You can find more information and schedules for summer and winter operations on the site From the transport company Wohli, which operates the “Horse Omnibus.
• Private trips can also be booked with different transport operators. Prices here start at around 140 CHF (one way) or 250 CHF (roundtrip).
• In winter, a signposted winter hiking trail leads from Pontresina to Hotel Restaurant Roseg Gletscher.

Other recommended hikes in the area

Here are some alternative tips for hiking in the area:

• If a simple valley hike through Val Roseg doesn’t seem difficult enough, you can follow the signposts Route No. 53 (Bernina Tour) Continue climbing to the central station “Mortel” in Korvachbahnen and reach an altitude of 1100 metres.
• Back in Val Roseg, there are two more SAC huts to discover: Tschiervahütte and Chamanna Coaz. Chamanna Coaz is currently being renovated and will be open to hikers again from the 2024 summer season. The Tschiervahütte season ran until October 1st.
• Not far from Val Roussige, you can go on an equally worthwhile autumn hike in the Val Tropichon National Park.
• The mountain treks described in this article from Muottas Muragl to La Punt and the Via Albula from Bever to Preda are more physically demanding.
• And if the sun doesn’t shine in the Engadine, I’ve put together some really great bad weather tips in this article.