Corvatsch

A trip up to Mount Corvatsch, near St. Moritz, will be rewarded with an extraordinary view of the Upper Engadine lakes, Piz Bernina and lots of other mountains.

What to do and see on the Corvatsch

The cable car will take you up the mountain in about 20 minutes, with one change in the mid station Murtèl. The top station is located about 1000 m north of and 150 m beneath the actual peak of the Corvatsch. From the observation platform at 3303 m, you will have a great view of snow capped peaks. The nearby Corvatsch is very prominent, and Piz Bernina is the highest (4049 m) mountain in sight. In the North-East you can see the lakes of the Upper Engadine deep down in the valley, and the many mountains of the canton of Graubünden. The terrace is a pleasant place to sit down and enjoy the sun and the views.

There are restaurants at the top and the mid station. In Winter, you will find lots of Winter sports facilities around both stations, with ski runs all the way to the valley floor. In Summer, the mid station is excellent for hikers, with trails to Pontresina via the Roseg valley and the panoramic trail to Furtschellas, for example. But even without such activities, a trip to the Corvatsch is worth it just for the views.

 Preparation

Always check the weather forecast before going up into the mountains. The trip is not worth it if the Corvatsch is covered in clouds. There can be snow on the top, even in Summer. But even without snow it will be much colder than in the valley. Dress in multiple thinner layers so that you can adapt to the different temperatures throughout the day. Take along sun glasses, sunscreen and a hat.

You need about an hour on the top to enjoy the views. If you go straight to the top and skip the mid station, the entire excursion takes at least 3 hours from St. Moritz.

The station at the Corvatsch is located at an altitude of 3303 m. Anyone can suffer from (light) altitude sickness from about 2000 m. Usually it helps to take things slow and sit down for a while. Special precautions apply to children under 2 years old, as well as people who are pregnant or in poor health: before visiting areas over 2500 m, you'd better consult your doctor. In most cases though, staying at such altitudes for just a few hours is no problem.