Are you also fed up with winter? And can you hardly wait for the hiking season? So am I for several weeks now and eagerly waiting for the snow to melt and the warm temperatures arriving. Although unfortunately, it has become a bit colder again (and even snowed), I am already planning.

The last couple of years I fell in love with exploring Switzerland and it’s beautiful places. And if you are still looking for inspiration, or do not know which beautiful places to discover in Switzerland, then you are exactly right here. Have you already seen the first edition of magical mountain lakes?

In this post I would like to continue the mountain lakes series and show you a beautiful spot. And maybe it is not so unknown to you, but here is the little guide for your perfect excursion.

Lai da Palpuogna

Difficulty: Easy

Duration: 40 min – 2 hrs

Location: Bergün, Grisons

I show you the beautiful Lai da Palpuogna (Palpuognasee) in my home canton Graubünden. The lake is located above the village Preda after the community Bergün. The mountain lake is located on the pass road to the Albula. The lake is part of the nature park “Parc Ela” and flows through the river Albula. The Palpuognasee is about 500m long, almost 200m wide and a maximum of 25m deep.

The mountain lake reflects in crystal clear water the larches of the shore and the imposing mountain peaks all around offer a picturesque landscape scene. It was not without reason that the public of the Swiss television voted the lake the “most beautiful spot in Switzerland”.

Hike / Directions

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 (but our dog had a short swim anyway …

For those who are traveling by car: You can park in Preda at the train station and also do the entire hike, or for the lazy among you, there are some parking lots right at the lake and you’ll reach the shore in about 5 minutes.

The lake is inviting to linger, it has several picnic and fire pits distributed around the lake. When admiring the beautiful water reflections you almost forget the time. And those who want a little more challenge can walk around for the lake, or even follow the paths at the end of the lake to the different mountain peaks.

Have you already planned your first hiking trips? Or any tips which lakes I could visit?