---
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type: "Article"
title: "Hiking in the Swiss mountains of canton Grisons"
description: "Justine and Chris Tyerman went hiking in the mountains surrounding the little alpine village of Tschiertschen in the Swiss canton of Graubünden/Grisons."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/switzerland/hiking-swiss-mountains"
language: en
author: "Justine Tyerman"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 21
tags: ["Alps", "Hiking", "Switzerland"]
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  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/st-moritz"
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generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/tyermanj", at: 2026-07-04T14:16:56+00:00 }
sources:
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    resource: hiking-swiss-mountains.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Justine Tyerman"
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timestamp: 2026-07-04T14:16:56+00:00
---

# Hiking in the Swiss mountains of canton Grisons

> Tschiertschen is a tiny, uncommercialised alpine village in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, offering hiking, skiing, and authentic mountain life centred around the four-star Alpina Mountain Resort & Spa.

## Destination
Tschiertschen, canton Graubünden/Grisons, Switzerland, situated at 1340 metres above sea level with a population of around 240.

## Getting there
Tschiertschen is 25 minutes by regular Post Auto bus from Chur, and approximately one hour 45 minutes from Zurich Airport by train to Chur then bus. The hotel also offers a courtesy car from the bus stop.

## When to go
The village is a hiking paradise in summer and a quiet ski destination in winter, with 100 percent natural snow and uncrowded pistes. Autumn also offers clear, crisp conditions ideal for hiking.

## Why visit
Tschiertschen offers an unspoiled, authentic alpine experience away from the crowds of Switzerland's famous resorts, combining spectacular mountain scenery, extensive hiking trails, skiing, local food and wine, and comfortable accommodation at the Alpina Mountain Resort & Spa.

## What to see
- **Hörnli mountain restaurant** — Accessible by gondola from Arosa, with a 360-degree panorama of peaks from Zermatt to St Moritz.
- **Arosa and its Obersee lake** — A lakeside village described as a jewel surrounded by majestic mountains, reached by a scenic train ride.
- **Langwies viaduct** — A striking railway viaduct passed on the scenic train journey to Arosa.
- **Old hydropower sawmill on the Ruchtobel River** — Historic sawmill encountered on the walking route down to St. Peter Molinis station.
- **Chur Old Town** — Car-free medieval old town featuring a restored 13th-century Cathedral of the Assumption, museums, galleries, and shopping, just 20 minutes from Tschiertschen.
- **Bündner Herrschaft vineyards** — Wine region known as the 'Burgundy of Switzerland', 20 minutes by car, with picturesque villages including Fläsch, Maienfeld, Jenins, and Malans.

## What to do
- **Hiking the wanderweg network** — 70km of trails through unspoiled landscapes; Tschiertschen is the first stop on the six-day Schanfigger Höhenweg, described as the most beautiful mountain hiking path in Graubünden.
- **Skiing and snowboarding** — 32km of pistes with natural snow, no queues, and terrain for all levels; ski school meeting point is directly behind the Alpina Hotel.
- **Riding the Flitzerli MONSTER eBike** — Off-road cross-country e-bikes available for guests of the Alpina for mountain biking excursions.
- **Saturday Farmers' Market** — Weekly market in Tschiertschen selling alpine cheese, butter, meats, nut gateaux, pear bread, jams, and liqueurs from local farmers.
- **Spa and gourmet dining at the Alpina** — The Alpina Mountain Resort & Spa offers sauna, bar, and the Panorama Restaurant overlooking the valley and mountains.
- **Winter events** — Organised activities including guest ski races, night skiing with torches, guided ski tours, gourmet evenings, and chamber music concerts.

## Good to know
Swiss alpine locals significantly underestimate hiking times as they are highly fit and acclimatised; the authors found it wise to roughly double any quoted time. At St. Peter Molinis station, trains only stop if you press a button on the platform.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Alpina-Tschiertschen-spa.jpg"
    caption: "The Alpina Mountain Resort & Spa"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Hoernligrat-gondola.jpg"
    caption: "Hörnligrat Gondola"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Tschiertschen-waterfall.jpg"
    caption: "Little waterfall in Tschiertschen"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/cow-with-bell.jpg"
    caption: "Cow playing ding dong songs on their bells"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bbq-fireplace-Tschiertschen.jpg"
    caption: "BBQ fireplace"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/cable-car-Arosa-Hoernli.jpg"
    caption: "Cable car in Arosa"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Old-sawmill-creek.jpg"
    caption: "Old sawmill creek"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/old-sawmill-Tschiertschen.jpg"
    caption: "An old sawmill"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/train-Chur-Arosa.jpg"
    caption: "Train to Arosa"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Langwies-viaduct.jpg"
    caption: "Langwies viaduct on the way to Arosa"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Arosa-automn.jpg"
    caption: "Arosa and its lake"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Hoernli-top.jpg"
    caption: "Top of the Hörnli"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Tschiertschen-bus-stop.jpg"
    caption: "Bus Stop to Tschiertschen"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/hoernli-restaurant.jpg"
    caption: "The Hörnli restaurant"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Tschiertschen-welcome.jpg"
    caption: "Tschiertschen welcomes its visitors"
```