Chamanna d'Ela CAS – Alpine Stage Hut & Surses Traverse Hub

The Chamonas d’Ela CAS (also written Chamanna d’Ela) is a high-alpine stage hut located in the remote Val d’Ela, between the Surses region and the Albula Alps, in the Canton of Graubünden. Quiet, scenic, and strategically placed, it serves as a key link for multi-day alpine hiking and ski-mountaineering traverses, rather than as a technical climbing base.

• Hut Overview

  • Location: Val d’Ela, Surses / Albula Alps, Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland

  • Altitude: 2,252 m

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

  • Capacity: Approx. 30–35 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 fully alpine but non-technical in summer.

  • Main approaches:

    • From Savognin via Val d’Ela

    • From neighboring valleys as part of long traverses

  • Hiking time: ~4–6 hours (route-dependent)

  • Elevation gain: ~900–1,300 m

  • Terrain: Alpine paths, grassy slopes, scree sections

  • Difficulty: T3

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

• Facilities & Comfort

  Functional and well adapted to stage-based travel.

  • Dormitory sleeping with mattresses and blankets

  • Half-board meals during guarded season

  • Managed drinking water supply

  • Indoor toilets

  • Limited electricity

  The winter room is simple and frequently used by ski tourers.

• Food & Atmosphere

  Quiet, authentic, and route-focused.

  • Substantial alpine meals

  • Clientele mainly long-distance hikers and ski-mountaineering teams

  • Evenings are calm, centered on weather and next-day planning

  Crowds are uncommon due to the hut’s remote setting.

• Routes & Alpine Context

  The Chamonas d’Ela are well placed for:

  • Alpine hiking traverses across the Surses–Albula region

  • Connections toward huts such as Chamanna Jenatsch and Keschhütte (route-dependent)

  • Spring ski-mountaineering itineraries

  • Exploration of wide, high alpine valleys and passes

  It is not primarily a glacier base, though snowfields may persist early season.

• When to Go

  • Best season: July to September (hiking)

  • Spring: Ski mountaineering

  • Main risks: Isolation, fog, sudden weather changes, early snowfall

• 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 2,252 m, the Chamonas d’Ela CAS exemplify the quiet strength of a true stage hut: remote, scenic, and perfectly positioned for crossings rather than summits. For hikers who value route continuity, solitude, and broad alpine landscapes, it is one of the most rewarding huts in the Surses region.