--- type: "Article" title: "Panorama trail from Gadastatt to the Zervreila Reservoir" description: "Take a hike with us along the ridiculously spectacular panorama trail from Gadastatt to the Zervreil Reservoir!" resource: "https://travelmemo.com/switzerland/panorama-trail-gadastatt-zervreila" author: "Walter Schaerer" publisher: "Travelmemo" photo_count: 12 tags: ["Alps", "Experience", "Hiking", "Landscape", "Nature", "Switzerland"] entities: - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/switzerland" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/alps" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/graubuenden" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/matterhorn" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/hiking" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/landscape" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/nature-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/lake" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/restaurant" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/review" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines" - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T14:29:59+00:00 } verified: - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2015-10-20T19:10:56+00:00 } sources: - id: photos resource: panorama-trail-gadastatt-zervreila.md#photos title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer" author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" last_modified: 2017-04-06 timestamp: 2026-07-04T14:29:59+00:00 --- # Panorama trail from Gadastatt to the Zervreila Reservoir > The panorama trail from Gadastatt to the Zervreila Reservoir is a spectacular high-altitude hike in the Vals Valley (Surselva, Graubünden), passing protected moorlands, mountain brooks, and a historic chapel before reaching a dramatic dam and alpine lake backed by the 2,821-meter Zervreilahorn. ## Destination Vals Valley, Surselva, Canton Graubünden, Switzerland; the hike runs from Gadastatt mountain station to the Zervreila Reservoir at around 1,250 m base altitude. ## Getting there Vals village is the starting point; a cable car runs from Vals up to Gadastatt (approx. 600 m elevation gain), though it operates only intermittently so hours should be checked in advance. Return from Zervreila to Vals is possible on foot (about two hours), by mail coach ('Poschi'), or by giant scooter bike from the Zervreila Restaurant. ## Why visit The trail combines striking alpine panoramas, protected moorland scenery, a historic chapel perched on a cliff, and the dramatic Zervreila arch-gravity dam, all in one accessible half-day route. ## What to see - **Weiler Frunt and St. Anna Chapel** — Chapel dating from 1754 set on a rocky cliff, offering a monumental view over the Zervreila Reservoir. - **Zervreilahorn (2,821 m)** — Imposing peak known locally as the 'Matterhorn of Graubünden,' rising behind the reservoir. - **Zervreila Dam** — A massive arch-gravity dam completed in 1957 that submerged the former village of Zervreila; not for those afraid of heights. - **Protected moorlands** — The trail passes through protected moorland with small mountain brooks and rustic wooden benches along the way. ## What to do - **Panorama trail hike (Gadastatt to Zervreila)** — A scenic ridge hike over rocky hills and moorland with sweeping valley views throughout. - **Cable car to Gadastatt** — Optional lift to the trailhead, saving roughly 600 m of ascent; check operating hours before going. - **Ride the 'Poschi' mail coach** — Return to Vals by the local mail coach on the narrow mountain road — considered an adventure in itself. - **Giant scooter bike descent** — An alternative fast descent from the Zervreila Restaurant down to Vals. ## Good to know Vals village retains traditional quartzite-roofed houses and is also known for the Vals Thermal Bath designed by architect Peter Zumthor and the architecturally acclaimed Hotel 7132. The cable car to Gadastatt does not run continuously — verify the timetable before your hike. ## Photos ```yaml photos: - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Snooze-hotel-Christchurch-New-Zealand-2.jpg" caption: "JUCY travel consultant Mike offering some rainy day advice to a couple of travellers." keywords: ["Christchurch", "Jucy", "New Zealand", "Snooze hotel", "review"] captured: 2017-04-05 geo: {latitude: -43.4897, longitude: 172.5489} credit: "Justine Tyerman" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Snooze-hotel-Christchurch-New-Zealand-12.jpg" caption: "The Snooze common room has hammocks to relax in." keywords: ["Christchurch", "Jucy", "New Zealand", "Snooze hotel", "review"] captured: 2017-04-06 geo: {latitude: -43.4897, longitude: 172.5489} credit: "Justine Tyerman" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Snooze-hotel-Christchurch-New-Zealand-11.jpg" caption: "A garden swing in the Snooze common room." keywords: ["Christchurch", "Jucy", "New Zealand", "Snooze hotel", "review"] captured: 2017-04-06 geo: {latitude: -43.4897, longitude: 172.5489} credit: "Justine Tyerman" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Snooze-hotel-Christchurch-New-Zealand-17.jpg" caption: "Pockets of Awesome murals by artist Wongi Wilson." keywords: ["Christchurch", "Jucy", "New Zealand", "Snooze hotel", "review"] captured: 2017-04-06 geo: {latitude: -43.4897, longitude: 172.5489} credit: "Justine Tyerman" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Snooze-hotel-Christchurch-New-Zealand-14.jpg" caption: "Pockets of Awesome murals by artist Wongi Wilson." keywords: ["Christchurch", "Jucy", "New Zealand", "Snooze hotel", "review"] captured: 2017-04-06 geo: {latitude: -43.4897, longitude: 172.5489} credit: "Justine Tyerman" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Snooze-hotel-Christchurch-New-Zealand-18.jpg" caption: "Justine checking out a pod at Snooze." keywords: ["Alannah", "Christchurch", "Jucy", "Justine Tyerman", "New Zealand", "Snooze hotel", "review"] captured: 2017-04-06 geo: {latitude: -43.4897, longitude: 172.5489} credit: "Justine Tyerman" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Snooze-hotel-Christchurch-New-Zealand-8.jpg" caption: "The reception desk is manned 24 hours a day with friendly, knowledgeable, capable staff like Alannah who has been at Snooze since Day 1." keywords: ["Alannah", "Christchurch", "Jucy", "Justine Tyerman", "New Zealand", "Snooze hotel", "review"] captured: 2017-04-05 geo: {latitude: -43.4897, longitude: 172.5489} credit: "Justine Tyerman" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Snooze-hotel-Christchurch-New-Zealand-4.jpg" caption: "Travellers sharing meals and conversation." keywords: ["Christchurch", "Jucy", "New Zealand", "Snooze hotel", "review"] captured: 2017-04-05 geo: {latitude: -43.4897, longitude: 172.5489} credit: "Justine Tyerman" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Kawarau-New-Zealand.jpg" caption: "Kawarau River jet boat" keywords: ["Justine Tyerman", "Lake District", "New Zealand", "South Island", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-04-01 geo: {latitude: -44.2255, longitude: 170.2029} ```