Ski touring in the Engadine: Discover the best routes in January
Ski touring in the Engadine: Explore the best routes in January
In January, the Engadine Valley reveals its best side for ski tourers: snow-sure south-facing slopes, cold north-facing slopes with powder snow, and glistening glacier landscapes around the Bernina and Julier mountains offer ideal conditions for beginners and alpine professionals alike. In this guide, we present the best ski tours in the Engadine for January – carefully categorized by experience level, with detailed tour profiles, tips on avalanche safety , equipment , and tour selection. From a leisurely tour to Muot da Barba Peider to a glacier adventure on Piz Palü – discover why January is the perfect month for ski touring in the Engadine.
- The best ski tours in the Engadine in January (by skill level)
- Regional Highlights: Upper Engadine to Bernina
- Equipment & Safety: What you need for ski touring in January
- Comparison table: Best ski touring routes at a glance
- Avoiding mistakes: Tips for safe tours in midwinter
- FAQ – Frequently asked questions about ski touring in the Engadine
- Conclusion: Why ski touring in the Engadine is particularly worthwhile in January
The best ski tours in the Engadine in January (by skill level)
For beginners: Gentle routes with views
Even in the depths of winter, the Engadine offers numerous avalanche-safe tours suitable for beginners . Particularly sunny slopes around Zernez and Zuoz are ideal for your first steps in ski touring:
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Ils Chalchogns
Zuoz, Upper Engadine
Elevation gain: 500–600 m
Duration: 2–2.5 hours
Difficulty: easy
Highlights: Wide south-facing slopes, ideal terrain for practicing kick turns. Low avalanche risk.
Why is it ideal? Easily accessible from Zuoz, a perfect practice mountain for beginners. -
Val Müschauns – Piz Murter
Zernez, Lower Engadine
Elevation gain: 800 m
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Highlights: Gentle valleys, wide slopes, not very crowded – perfect for learning to ski touring in peace.
Why ideal? Clear layout, good practice route even in uncertain conditions. -
Muot da Barba Peider
Zernez, Lower Engadine
Elevation gain: 700 m
Duration: 2.5–3 hours
Difficulty: easy
Highlights: Panoramic views over the Val Müstair, safe tour in moderate avalanche conditions.
Why ideal? South-facing slope, easy route finding, popular tour for first skiing experiences.
Top 3 beginner tours in January
- Ils Chalchogns (Zuoz)
- Val Müschauns – Piz Murter (Zernez)
- Muot da Barba Peider (Zernez)
For advanced players: More challenging classics
Those who are already confident on touring skis will find numerous classic routes in the Engadine with more vertical meters and attractive descents:
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Piz Mezdi – Silvaplana Surlej, Upper Engadine
Elevation gain: approx. 950 m
Duration: 3.5 – 4 hours
Difficulty: medium
Highlights: A rewarding north-facing slope for the descent and views of Lake Sils. Start directly at Surlej.
Link: GPX on Outdooractive -
Piz Campagnung – Bivio, Julier Pass
Elevation gain: approximately 1200 meters
Duration: approx. 4.5 – 5 hours
Difficulty: medium
Highlights: Breathtaking route through light forest and sunny slopes, popular south-facing slope.
Link: Detailed view GPX & map -
Piz Lunghin – Maloja, Upper Engadine
Elevation gain: approx. 1100 m
Duration: 4–5 hours
Difficulty: medium
Highlights: Unparalleled summit panorama, peaceful descent via wide slopes.
GPX tip: Access tour -
Piz Alv – Julierpass
Elevation gain: 1000–1100 m
Duration: 4–4.5 hours
Difficulty: medium
Highlights: Quick access, stable conditions with good snow cover.
Region: Perfect for a short drive from the valley.
For experts: Glaciers, steep slopes & technology
Experienced ski tourers can expect an alpine playground in the Engadine in January: tours involving glacier contact, crevasse danger and steep descents require ropes, harnesses – and the appropriate know-how:
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Piz Lagrev – Bivio, Julier Pass
Elevation gain: approximately 1400 meters
Duration: 5–6 hours
Difficulty: difficult, steep
Special features: Challenging traverse of the slope in the upper area, avalanche-safe timing required.
Panorama: View of Albula and the Oberhalbstein area. -
Chapütschin – Morteratsch, Bernina Group
Elevation gain: 1400 m
Duration: 6 hours
Difficulty: hard
Glacier contact: Yes – via Vadret da Tschierva, challenging route selection required.
Equipment: Rope, harness, crampons are absolutely necessary in harsh conditions. -
Piz Palü (East Summit) – Diavolezza Mountain Station, Bernina Group
Elevation gain: 1600 m
Duration: 6–8 hours
Difficulty: High-altitude mountaineering level
Special features: Piz Palü is majestic, but only suitable for groups with crevasse rescue experience.
Regional Highlights: Upper Engadine to Bernina
Upper Engadine: Classics between Silvaplana and Maloja
In January, tours like Piz Mezdi , Piz Lunghin , and Ils Chalchogns are among the sunny classics around Silvaplana, Zuoz, and Maloja. Thanks to its south-facing slopes, the region offers excellent conditions during clear winter weather.
Albula & Julier Pass: Quick access with views
Around the Julier Pass, tours such as Piz Lagrev , Piz Alv , and Piz Campagnung start directly on the pass road. Thanks to easy accessibility and high starting points, you'll often find ideal conditions here – even when there's little snow in the valley.
Lower Engadine: Quiet routes for connoisseurs
From Zernez , there are easy beginner tours available, such as Muot da Barba Peider or the ascent into Val Müschauns . Hardly any traffic, plenty of space, and ideal training conditions.
Bernina Group: High-level glacier experiences
For experts, the Bernina Group around Morteratsch and Diavolezza offers high-alpine adventures: Chapütschin and Piz Palü are among the most impressive winter high-altitude tours in Switzerland – but never without rope, harness & know-how!
Equipment & Safety: What you need for ski touring in January
Essential equipment
- Touring skis with suitable climbing skins and crampons
- Avalanche transceiver (3 antennas and recently checked)
- Probe (min. 240 cm)
- Metal avalanche shovel
- Helmet – mandatory for downhill skiing and in icy terrain
- GPS or map (e.g. Swisstopo)
- Warm clothing in layers
- Harness and rope for glacier tours like Chapütschin
Safety tips for the height of winter
- Check avalanche bulletins (e.g., SLF.ch) daily before your tour.
- Never set off without an avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe – not even on supposedly "easy" tours.
- Plan for the time of day, the turning point, and the weather forecast.
- Never go on glaciers alone! Teams and equipment are necessary.
- Choose only routes that match your skill level.
Techniques for tours involving glacier contact
On tours like Chapütschin or Piz Palü, alpine experience is essential: Here you absolutely need glacier equipment such as a harness, rope, and knowledge of crevasse rescue. Crampons may also be necessary – especially on hard-frozen firn in the morning.
Comparison table: Best ski touring routes at a glance
| Tour name | difficulty | region | Elevation gain | Walking time | Exhibition | Security | Technology | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piz Mezdi | Medium | Upper Engadine | 950 m | 3.5–4 h | North | Medium | Good | Beautiful descent option via the north-facing slope |
| Piz Lagrev | Difficult | Julier Pass | 1400 m | 5–6 h | mixture | Medium | Alpine | Panoramic summit with challenging descent |
| Piz Campagnung | Medium | Bivio | 1200 m | 4.5–5 h | South | Good | standard | A scenic tour with sunny weather |
| Muot da Barba Peider | Light | Zernez | 700 m | 2.5–3 h | South | Very good | base | Panorama of the Val Müstair |
| Piz Alv | Medium | Julier Pass | 1000–1100 m | 4–4.5 h | North | Good | standard | Short and decisive – ideal for snow lovers |
| Chapütschin | Difficult | Bernina | 1400 m | 6 h | North | Low | glacier | Glacier tour with mandatory ropes! |