Val Trupchun is an alpine wildlife arena located in the Swiss National Park near Zernez. Many visitors bring binoculars so they can observe a large herd of red deer and possibly other wild animals that make their home here. In late October, this is a great place to see the golden larch trees.

This trail (Route 811 Senda Val Trupchen) starts in the parking lot and hikes up one side of the river and back down the other. It dips in and out of the forest, with frequent mountain views and stretches near the rushing river.

Trail: moderate • 4h • 14.2 km loop • 440m up & down
View trail map on Komoot.
See my full article about this trail.

For our teens, it was the perfect length and difficulty for a day hike, a bit of effort but not too hard that anyone complained.

On your way back, we suggest stopping at Parkhütte Varusch for some hearty mountain food. You can skip the last 2km of the hike by catching a shuttle here back to the parking.

Note: This area is a protected nature preserve, so no picnics except in designated areas and no fires.

How to get here

The trail starts at the Prasüras parking: 46°37’04.7″N 10°00’36.3″E

You can ride Bus 7 to S chanf, Parc Naziunal, the bus stop at the start of the trail. This bus typically runs from early June to the third week of October. Your exact connection depends on your starting point. From St Moritz, it takes about 40 mins.

Learn more about this trail.