Lake in St Moritz
Category

Hike

Est. Duration

4-6h

Age requirement

All ages

Message from Alexandra Elias

Lake Sils, also known as Silsersee in German and Lej da Segl in Romansh, is a stunning lake located in the Upper Engadine valley in Switzerland. It got its name from the charming village of Sils im Engadin. Situated at an altitude of 1,797 meters above sea level, this lake offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, including Piz Corvatsch and Piz da la Margna. It was formed by a prehistoric landslide dam, just like its neighboring lake, Silvaplana. The lake is home to the picturesque Chastè peninsula and the wooded island of Chaviolas. Every winter, the famous Engadin Skimarathon takes place here, crossing the frozen lake. The villages of Sils im Engadin and Maloja are the main settlements along the lake, offering a perfect base for exploring this beautiful region. So, if you're looking for a serene and awe-inspiring destination, Lake Sils should definitely be on your list!

I personally highly recommend visiting this area in autumn when the larches are beautiful yellow and red colours.

Of course in summer there are plenty of hikes around (which I still haven't explored yet) and in winter time you can actually hike on the frozen lake.

Larch season is normally in October. I visited the lakes at the end of October and they were peaking. You can actually follow along larch season on myswitzerland.com website.

HOW TO GET TO THE HIKE:

Take the bus number 4 from St Moritz to Sils/Segl Baselgia, San Lurch. From here follow the 53 sign towards Maloja. It will take you to along the lake with absolutely incredible views all over. You will pass small settlements, beautiful benches to rest on. It was one of the best autumn hike I did so far.

If you feel adventurous do not take the bus back from Maloja to St Moritz but hike back on the other side of the lake.

If you plan to hike around the entire lake, you will trek 16 km with around 500 meters of elevation gain. It can be a long one, between 4-5 hours but count with even more since this place is extremly photogenic.

Please do not miss this lake when you visit Switzerland.

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