Dutjer Alp - magnificent view

The Walser settlement Upper Dutjen, high above the Rhine Gorge, can be reached via a good road from Valendas. From the small parking lot at the end of the hamlet, follow the field path to a single holiday home. Here turn left and follow the field path past the barbecue area to the forest. There the path winds steeply upwards through a forest clearing and across a meadow until it meets a wider forest path again. Follow this path up to point 1725 and turn right. The path leads over a pasture to the Sevgeiner Alp. From the Alp follow the alp road until it meets a track coming from below. Now follow the track up to the Alp da Riein. Here the view opens up into Val Lumnezia. Across alpine pastures you hike following the ridge and along the path traces to the Dutjer Alp, where the silence invites you to linger and picnic. The descent leads through a gnarly mountain forest where some spruces are over 200 years old. The circular hike is distinguished by a magnificent view over the Vorderrhein Valley from Chur far into the Upper Engadine. The Flims rockslide area with the impressive Rhine Gorge lies directly at the hiker's feet!

Food and accommodation: Gasthaus am Brunnen CH-7122 Valendas Tel. 0041 81 920 21 22 Internet: www.gasthausambrunnen.ch

Beizli Dutjer Tschutt (self-service) CH-7122 Upper Dutjen Tel: 0041 81 921 61 70

Café Mäntig CH-7122 Valendas Tel. 0041 81 921 50 94 Internet: www.buchli-valendas.ch