Bernina Trek classic: stage 1 Madulain-Chamanna d'Es-cha
Mountain Hike
· Engadin & St.Moritz
Ascent to the Es-cha mountain hut through sparse Swiss pine and larch forests and across warm, sunny mountain hillsides.
moderate
Distance 5.9 km
The first day starts with your arrival in the Upper Engadin (preferably by train). Therefore, the ascent, which begins in Madulain, is a bit shorter than the following stages. About 40 metres south of Madulain station, a road crosses the railway tracks and leads towards the mountain. Past a modern farmhouse, you leave the last houses of the small village behind. Before reaching a gorge, the path turns right towards the sunny terraced hillsides. Clearly signed, the path leads you past the Alp Es-cha Dadour. If you choose to start this first stage at Zuoz, you walk through the beautiful village centre with its historic Engadin houses. Once you reach the valley station of the chairlift, the signposts will guide you to the Chamanna d'Es-cha. Simply follow the high route until you reach the Alp Es-cha Dadains where the path will turn right up to the Chamanna d'Es-cha. The elevation gain of 900 metres across the sunny hillsides will make you sweat, but the terrific view of the Engadin as seen from the hut's sun terrace is worth it!
More information
Engadin St. Moritz Tourismus AG
Via Maistra 1
CH-7500 St. Moritz
Phone: +41 81 830 00 01
E-mail: allegra@engadin.ch
Internet: www.engadin.ch
Booking
Chamanna Coaz
Phone: +41 81 842 62 78
Email: info@coaz.ch
Internet: bernina-trek.ch (in German only)
Author’s recommendation
Enjoy the beautiful view of the Bernina Range from the sun terrace.
The stucco ceiling of the parlour is really unique: you won't find anything like it in any other SAC-mountain hut.

Author
Engadin St. MoritzUpdate: March 07, 2022
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
2,594 m
Lowest point
1,697 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Safety information
The hiking paths from Madulain and from Zuoz are clearly marked (red-white).Excellent mobile reception until you reach the Alp Es-cha Dadour; after that, it tends to be intermittent and patchy.
Tips and hints
Accommodation:Chamanna d'Es-cha
Phone: +41 81 854 17 55
Email: info@es-cha.ch
Internet: www.es-cha.ch
As there is often still a lot of snow at the beginning of June and most SAC huts are no longer staffed at the end of October, the best time to complete the Bernina Trek is from the end of June to the beginning of October.
Start
Madulain station (1,696 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'791'569E 1'162'580N
DD
46.587021, 9.938589
DMS
46°35'13.3"N 9°56'18.9"E
UTM
32T 571904 5159700
w3w
///clauses.keyboards.courage
Destination
Chamanna d'Es-cha
Turn-by-turn directions
Madulain/Zuoz - Chamanna d'Es-cha
Note
all notes on protected areas
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Take the train to the station of Madulain or ZuozCoordinates
SwissGrid
2'791'569E 1'162'580N
DD
46.587021, 9.938589
DMS
46°35'13.3"N 9°56'18.9"E
UTM
32T 571904 5159700
w3w
///clauses.keyboards.courage
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Book recommendations for this region:
Show more
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
5.9 km
Duration
2:39 h
Ascent
897 m
Highest point
2,594 m
Lowest point
1,697 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
- 1 Waypoints
- 1 Waypoints
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
Questions and answers
Would you like to the ask the author a question?
Rating
Help others by being the first to add a review.
Photos from others