Lower Engadine Valley (Guarda) – what to do

  • Removed user
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    8 August 2017 at 7:00:02 #812883

    Does anyone have suggestions about what to do in an around Guarda? We will be traveling there in a couple of weeks and wondered about what to expect.

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    Removed user
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    8 August 2017 at 10:36:43 #868028

    Hi wbsnyde and welcome to MySwissAlps!

    I haven’t been to the area myself, but several members have and have written trip reports. Have a read through one of them here. Another question with some helpful answers is here,and here.

    Also, don’t forget to use the search box for the website (top right of the web page) to search for this town or others that aren’t listed here.

    I hope this helps you get an idea of the area. What made you decide to go there?

    Lucas

    Removed user
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    9 August 2017 at 5:54:36 #868029

    Hi wbsnyde,

    Guarda is a beautiful small village, which can be seen in half a day.

    If you are interested in hiking around Guarda, your hotel in Guarda can probably give you some suggestions.

    You didn’t say how long you would be there, what your interests are, or where else you will be going, but here are some outings to consider:

    > Town of Scuol, especially the old town and La Plazzetta

    http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/scuol

    > Schloss Tarasp (castle)

    http://www.schloss-tarasp.ch/index.php?id=107&L=2

    > National Park Centre at Zernez and the Monastery of Son Jon at Müstair. Both can be reached with the 811 bus from Zernez station. If you travel all the way to Müstair, you will go through the Swiss National Park.

    http://www.nationalpark.ch/en /visit/national-park-centre/

    http://www.muestair.ch/en/con vent/convent-of-st-john/

    > Scenic trip by PostBus over the Flüela Pass

    http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/trip-report-postbus-over-the-fluela-pass

    > Villages of Ardez and/or Ftan

    http://www.myswitzerland.com/ en-au/typical-engadin-village.html

    http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/trip-report-lower-engadin-ftan

    > Day trip to Samnaun – mountain scenery and tax-free shopping

    http://www.myswitzerland.com/ en-au/samnaun.html

    > Day trip to St Moritz

    http://www.myswissalps.com/st moritz

    You can plan your trips, and find out how long it will take to get there, by using the Swiss Timetable:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

    Alpenrose

    Arno
    Moderator
    15471 posts
    9 August 2017 at 7:23:07 #868030

    The area is amazing. So many wonderful valleys to hike in. Alpenrose’s post probably makes you realize you won’t have enough time to see it all 🙂

    Have fun!

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    11 August 2017 at 1:49:03 #868031

    Just tried to book Guarda on September 8-9-10.

    No way. Town is full!

    Slowpoke

    Removed user
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    11 August 2017 at 5:20:31 #868032

    We will be in Guarda three nights. I’m thinking we walk along the river valley between villages on day one, and then explore a portion of the National Park on day two – weather permitting. If available, we might rent bikes for inter town transportation. Is that recommended. Does anyone have a trail suggestions that stays mainly in the forest and around the lakes for the national park. Not interested in technical climbing or steep slopes.

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    11 August 2017 at 12:30:31 #868033

    Hi wbsnyde.

    The terrain is hilly.. It is hard to avoid climbs and descents unless you walk parallel to the river, as you note. Are you experienced hikers, or more casual, as I am?

    I’m not sure about trails along the river. The map below does not show any:

    map.wanderland.ch/?lang=de&route=all&bgLa yer=pk&resolution=2.5& layers=Wanderland&E=28 07740&N=1183645

    When we stayed in Ftan, we always walked from Ftan to Ardez,. then down to that station and returned by train or bus. The old inter-village road is above the valley – Lavin- ruins of Gonda- Guarda- Bos Cha -Ardez- Ftan.

    A nice scenic short walk is to take the cableway from Scuol station up to Motta Naluns, walk to Ftan Prui, take the chairlift down to Ftan Pitschen, walk to Ftan, bus back to Scuol station.

    Sur En is a pretty litle town opposite Guarda, across the valley. Walk in from Giarsun. There is absolutely zero parking at Giarsun, if you happen to have a car. If you come in from the river crossing near Ardez, the climbs are more noticeable.

    That map above will help for all trails. Since it is a topo, you can see that altitudes.

    If you are serious about maps, this one is serious right back at you:

    map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=ech&lang=en&bgLa yer=ch.swisstopo.pixel karte-farbe&layers=ch.bav.ha ltestellen-oev,ch.swisstopo.swiss tlm3d-wanderwege&layers_visi bility=false,true&X=17 2594.52&Y=812042.09&zo om=5

    it shows the trails, if you turn them on from the menu, and blue are technical. Red are “mountain” – need boots and staff.. Yellow are smooth but may still have climbs and descents.

    <<“Does anyone have a trail suggestions that stays mainly in the forest and

    around the lakes for the national park. Not interested in technical

    climbing or steep slopes.”>>

    I have set the map below to show the trail from Il Fuorn to Ova Spin, which is far from level, but is relatively easy as trails in the National Park go. When we took it, we noted that it was “suitable for handicapped.”

    Not sure which lakes you mean?

    When were climbing it, we could not believe that. You start at 1800 meters- well above a mile high, and the air is “thin.” We asked a friend later what “suitable…” meant. He said that meant it was wide enough for a wheel chair. It was.

    All the park is at high altitude, which may affect your stamina. I pant a lot on the uphills.

    The only other ones that I have been on that a are not too steep ( a relative term, mind you ) go in from S-Charl.

    Even there, by the way, the parking lot is metered. 😉

    map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=ech&lang=en&bgLa yer=ch.swisstopo.swiss image&layers=ch.bav.ha ltestellen-oev,ch.swisstopo.swiss tlm3d-wanderwege&layers_visi bility=false,true&X=17 7923.52&Y=821085.09&zo om=11.

    Slowpoke

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    11 August 2017 at 13:12:51 #868034

    Thanks for your reply slowpoke. I would say that we are experienced hikers, but less so at higher elevations. We live at sea level in the US so getting used to the thin air will be our first challenge.

    I appreciate your links to the maps. I will study them closely. I have also purchased maps of the Guarda area and the National Park.

    Our best bet is just to take it slow and not get too ambitious – but I think we’re going to love the area.

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    11 August 2017 at 14:14:24 #868035

    <<“Thanks for your reply slowpoke.”>

    You are welcome. We really like the area. Lower tourist density than in many parts of Switzerland.

    <<“I would say that we are experienced hikers, but less so at higher elevations. We live at sea level in the US so getting used to the thin air will be our first challenge.”>>

    Might as well plan on the seas rising, so higher terrain is always of interest. 😉

    <<“I appreciate your links to the maps. I will study them closely. I have also purchased maps of the Guarda area and the National Park. “>>

    Not sure what maps you have, but I plan from the Swisstopo (most accurate) 1:50,000 Wanderkarte with the Wanderwege trails marked (although the online SwissTopo and Switzerland Mobility maps, as I have linked, are good substitutes if I have a computer with a decent screen available.) I hike with the 1:25,000 topos in my pocket in difficult terrain. I believe there are now Wanderkarte at 1:25,000 or 1:33,000.

    A collection of paper maps costs a lot, but I have been buying them in small quantities since 1980. Even if obsolete, they are good for terrain and landmarks.

    The availability of Swiss Topo maps on a smartphone apps has reduced the demand for paper maps, so they are harder to find these days. Especially since the major book stores have mostly disappeared.

    Slowpoke

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    11 August 2017 at 16:24:28 #868036

    <<“I’m not sure about trails along the river. The map below does not show any:”>.

    I’ll have to correct that.

    map.wanderland.ch/?lang=de&route=all&bgLa yer=pk&resolution=2.5& E=2811530&N=1183760&la yers=Wanderland

    There are short stretches near the river. They don’t connect into one coherent trail. The stretch near Ardez at least has a start and finish. Note that the highway is 130 meters above the river there.

    Also, nearer Scuol from Tarasp to Scuol.

    I didn’t look beyond Scuol before, but note a substantial river trail from Scuol northeastward for about 6 km, on the other side of the river. It has a river crossing at a a different Sur En from the one I mentioned earlier. I have not been to this one.

    Slowpoke

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