Lai da Palpuogna is a mountain lake at Albula Pass in the municipality of Bergün, in the Grisons (South-Eastern part of Switzerland) The crystal clear blue-green lake is nestled in a gorgeous and peaceful mountain region and invites you to relax and dream. Did you know, in a 2007 television program of the Swiss channel SF 1, the lake was voted the most beautiful place in Switzerland. The lake is part of the nature park "Parc Ela" and flows through the river Albula.

I've visited the lake many times in various seasons and conditions. The most breath-taking time is for sure during summer or early autumn, when nature is at it's purest colors. My personal favorite is during autumn when the so called "Golden summer" starts and all the larches turn into a golden tone. 
I recommend coming for sunrise or early morning because the water is still and you'll be able to admire the panoramic water reflections. The lake is inviting to linger, it has several picnic and fire pits distributed around the lake. 

Hike / Directions 
By train: The Rhaetian Railway goes to Preda. From there, a forest path leads idyllically in about 45 minutes up to the lake. The little effort is rewarded with crystal clear water and a larch forest. For safety reasons you can not swim in the Lai da Palpuogna.
By car: You can park in Preda at the train station and also do the entire hike, or there are some parking lots right at the lake and you'll reach the shore in about 5 minutes.