Chamanna da Grialetsch CAS – High-Alpine Stage Hut & Dischma–Engadin Link

The Chamanna da Grialetsch CAS (Grialetschhütte) is a high-alpine stage hut set at the head of the Val Dischma, above Davos, on an important east–west alpine axis in Graubünden. Remote, quiet, and strategically positioned, it serves as a key link for long-distance hikers and ski tourers, and as a practical base for non-technical high-alpine routes rather than technical climbing.

• Hut Overview

  • Location: Val Dischma, Davos / Upper Engadin, Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland

  • Altitude: 2,542 m

  • Type: Serviced SAC alpine hut (with winter room)

  • Capacity: Approx. 40–45 sleeping places

  • Season:

    • Guarded: usually late June to late September

    • Winter room: accessible outside the guarded season

  • Managed by: Swiss Alpine Club (CAS)

• Access & Approaches

  Approaches are long and fully alpine, emphasizing endurance over technical difficulty.

  • Main approach:

    • From Davos Dischma (end of the valley)

  • Hiking time: ~5–6.5 hours

  • Elevation gain: ~1,200–1,400 m

  • Terrain: Alpine paths, scree slopes, grassy high valleys

  • Difficulty: T3

  Good fitness and sure-footedness are required; navigation skills are important in poor visibility.

• Facilities & Comfort

  Functional and efficient for multi-day routes.

  • Dormitories with mattresses and blankets

  • Half-board meals during guarded season

  • Managed drinking water supply

  • Indoor toilets

  • Limited electricity

  The winter room is basic and intended for autonomous use, especially by ski tourers.

• Food & Atmosphere

  Quiet, practical, and route-focused.

  • Substantial alpine meals

  • Clientele mainly long-distance hikers, ski-mountaineering teams, and traverse parties

  • Evenings centered on weather checks and next-day crossings

  Crowds are uncommon due to the long approaches.

• Routes & Alpine Context

  The Chamanna da Grialetsch is ideally placed for:

  • High-alpine hiking traverses between Davos and the Upper Engadin

  • Routes linking to huts such as Keschhütte and Es-cha-Hütte (route-dependent)

  • Spring ski mountaineering across broad alpine passes

  • Exploration of remote high valleys above the tree line

  It is not primarily a glacier base, though snowfields are common early season.

• When to Go

  • Best season: July to September (hiking)

  • Spring: Ski mountaineering

  • Main risks: Fog, sudden weather changes, early snowfall, isolation

• Who Is This Hut For

  • Experienced alpine hikers

  • Long-distance trekkers

  • Ski-mountaineering parties

  • Traverse-focused groups

  • Not suitable for beginners or casual hut visits

Why This Hut Is Worth Visiting

At 2,542 m, the Chamanna da Grialetsch CAS exemplifies the pure function of a high-alpine stage hut: remote, calm, and perfectly positioned for crossings rather than summits. For hikers who value route continuity, altitude, and solitude, it is one of the most rewarding huts in the Davos–Engadin region.