The Surselva spring hiking playlist

Track 1: Lag da Breil (Opener)
Every good hiking playlist needs a gentle start. The lakeside trail around Lag da Breil near Brigels provides just that over a good thirty minutes. A 1.8-kilometre walk, a mirror-smooth mountain lake, the snow-capped peaks of Mt Brigelser Hörner reflected in the water. The pace: adagio. The effect: an instant sense of being in the here and now. Brigels lies at 1,289 metres, on one of Graubünden’s sunniest high plateaus, and in April the first spring flowers peek out towards the sun. The perfect first track for a day’s hiking in the Surselva region.

Track 2: Brigels – Waltensburg – Jörgenberg Castle (Headliner)
The pace picks up. From Brigels, sunny meadow paths lead via Waltensburg to Jörgenberg Castle, the largest castle complex in the region, first mentioned in 765 AD. The church in Waltensburg, with its medieval frescoes, adds a cultural highlight halfway along the route. Mt Piz Tumpiv, Brigels’ local mountain, accompanies the entire tour like a recurring motif. A track with a build-up, a twist and a grand finale.

Track 3: Rhine Gorge, Ilanz – Valendas-Sagogn (Song on repeat)
There are tracks you want to listen to over and over again. The hike through the Rhine Gorge is one of them. At an altitude of 650 metres, the path leads through a labyrinth of rock, formed ten thousand years ago. The Swiss affectionately call it their Grand Canyon. In late spring, the path is usually snow-free; the Rhaetian railway takes you from Chur to Ilanz in 36 minutes. Panoramic windows included. Repeat button: justified.

Encore: La Val
Every day of hiking ends at Hotel La Val in Brigels. A 680-square-metre mountain spa awaits you, recognised as one of the best wellness hotels in Switzerland. The hotel also offers hire hiking rucksacks packed with provisions for the following day.

Start of the 2026 summer season at La Val: from 14 May. The Surselva region gets things underway weeks earlier. So that everything is ready for you.