This hut-to-hut hike explores the Greina Hochebene, a high alpine plateau connecting the Graubünden and Ticino regions of Switzerland.
It’s so beautiful, I don’t even know how to describe it. You must experience it for yourself.
Accessible only by foot, it’s one of the few Swiss plateaus that remains relatively wild without service roads, power installations, and other infrastructure.
Our itinerary includes two overnights in Swiss mountain huts and a full day exploring the plateau. The trails are full of highlights: a spectacular suspension bridge, lush meadows, jagged peaks, wildflowers, and interesting geological formations.
Keep reading for the full itinerary, including how to book the huts, trail maps, directions, and tips for packing.
Location: Greina Plateau
This hike hikes through the Greina Plateau, located in southern Switzerland, on the border of the Ticino and Graubünden cantons.
Our suggested route is a loop from Ghirone in the Ticino region. You can access this area by car or public transport.
Itinerary Summary
There are multiple trails leading to the Greina Plateau. We wanted a loop so we could arrive by car. I also wanted two overnights so we could have a full day in the middle to explore the plateau.
So we did the route described below, with overnights at the Scaletta and Motterascio huts and one full day exploring the Greina Hochebene. We absolutely loved this route and would do it again!
Alternatively, you could do the more popular point-to-point hike along Route 6: Alpine Passes Trail. In this case, you start in Vrin, overnight at the Terri hut, and end in Blenio or continue on route 6 to the next hut.
Here is an overview of our 3 day/2 night itinerary. Afterwards, you find a detailed photo story and description of each hike.
Day 1: Ghirone > Scaletta Hut
From Zürich, we drove to the Blenio valley in Ticino (2h40). I parked next to the Ghirone, Aquilesco bus stop (free). We hiked up to the Scaletta hut, a steep ascent up a valley, passing by pretty river with waterfalls.
Trail: 9.1 km +1067m
See trail map on SchweizMobil • Komoot • OutdoorActive
Time: walking 3h, total with breaks 4h30.
Start: Ghirone, Aquilesco bus stop
Overnight: Scaletta hut. Reserve here.
See photo story below.
Tip: You can skip the first 7km of the hike with a bus to Plan Geriet, which runs twice a day during summer season. But I wouldn’t do that, as the hike has a lot of pretty elements.
Day 2: Hike Scaletta Hut > Greina Ebene > Terri Hut > Motterascio Hut
From the Scaletta hut, we hiked thru Greina Ebene to Terri hut for lunch. We continued the hike over the suspension bridge and along the opposite side of the Greina Plateau. We ended at the Motterascio hut for the second overnight.
Trail: 14km +66m -695m
See trail map on SchweizMobil • Komoot • OutdoorActive
Time: walking 4h45, total with lunch and breaks 8h15
Overnight: Motterascio hut. Reserve here
Day 3: Motterascio Hut > Lago di Luzzone > Ghirone
From the Motterascio hut, we hiked down to Lago di Luzzone, a large reservoir. Then down to our car in Ghirone.
Trail: 10km +105m -1055m
See trail map on SchweizMobil • Komoot • OutdoorActive
Time: walking 2h50, total with breaks 3h30
You can shorten the hike catching the bus at the dam at the far side of the lake. This bus only runs twice a day from end of June to end of August and weekends in September. Timetable Lago di Luzzone > Ghirone, Aeuilesco.
Booking the mountain huts
When to book
You can usually start booking huts in early spring. If you want to stay on Saturday night, you should book as soon as booking is available, usually in March or April.
If you are staying on a weekday, you can often get spots more last minute.
Cancellations
As of 2026, cancellations for both of these huts can be made for free 2 days in advance before 18:00.
However this may change, so check the conditions before reserving. A credit card is required for reservation and you will be charged a fee for no-shows.
Night 1 • Capanna Scaletta
The Scalatta hut has sleeps 52 people. They have dorm rooms with mattresses side-by-side on bunks. They also have smaller family rooms.
Cost 2026: CHF 75/adult for half pension (includes breakfast and dinner).
Booking: Reserve here. Pay on-site. Cash preferred, but they accept cards and TWINT
Open: mid June thru early October
Showers: Yes. You pay CHF 5 for 5 mins of hot water.
Info: SAC hut info • Capanna Scaletta website • webcam • weather
The food was typical hut fare, nothing special. The current wardens own a winery and have their own wine here at affordable prices. We got a bottle to enjoy for apero, then they put it back in the fridge so we could enjoy the rest at dinner.
Night 2 • Capanna Motterascio
The Motterascio hut sleeps 70, in a variety of smaller rooms. Our room had 8 single bunks, so you weren’t sleeping directly next to another person.
Cost 2026: CHF 95/adult for overnight, breakfast and dinner. Current prices.
Booking: Reserve here. Pay in cash on-site.
Open: mid June thru early October
Showers: Only if there is enough spring water. You pay a small fee to shower.
Info: SAC hut info • Capanna Motterascio website
Food was a bit nicer here. For breakfast, I appreciated that the breakfast included their own yogurt and butter.
What to pack
Besides your clothing and personal items, here are few things to note.
- For the huts, you must bring a sleeping bag liner. The hut beds have a fitted sheet, duvet and pillow. But these are not washed each day. So the liner is used for hygiene purposes. If you don’t have one, you must buy or rent one at the hut.
- The huts provide house shoes to wear in the hut instead of your dirty boots.
- The bathrooms had soap to wash your hands but no soap or shampoo in the showers.
- The Scaletta and Morrerascio huts had free drinking water, but that is not typical for huts. The Terri hut did not have free drinking water, but you could buy water.
- For a slightly better sleep, best to bring ear plugs (relief from your snoring neighbors) and an eye mask (windows do not have shades and the sunrise can wake you earlier than desired).
- You should bring snacks, but you don’t have to bring a lot of food. The huts provide breakfast and dinner. And our itinerary includes lunch at the Terri hut for day two.
See Beginner’s Guide to Swiss Mountain Huts for a more complete pack list.
Photo story
Below you’ll find a detailed account of the hikes with accompanying photos so you know what to expect.
DAY ONE • 01 – Start hike in Ghirone
Here’s the free parking at the Ghirone, Aquilesco bus stop. There is a free toilet here and fountain with drinking water. If you need snacks, make sure to stop earlier in the Blenio village, which has a small grocery.
Follow signs to Cap. Scaletta, which is our first hut.
The hike starts pretty easy on gravel paths.
Looking back to our starting point.
Looking up the valley.
DAY ONE • 02 Waterfalls
After about 2 hours walking, you’ll reach these waterfalls, a real highlight of the hike. I suggest stopping here for a picnic, with about an hour to explore and take pics.
There are several pools where you can cool your feet, maybe dip completely in to cool off on a hot day.
Looking down river with our footpath on the side.
DAY ONE • 03 Steep climb to hut
After the waterfalls, you’ll pass the mountain bus stop at Plan Geriet. If you wanted a shorter hike, you could ride here, but the bus only goes twice a day.
From here, continue following signs to Scaletta. It’s about 1 hour of a steep climb to the hut.
Now the path gets very rocky and stays that way for most of the climb.
Looking up and down the steep trail.
Looking down on the rocky switchbacks.
DAY ONE • 04 Overnight at Scaletta Hut
Happy to finally see the Scaletta hut.
There is a small part by the river that felt a little sketchy, with a narrow path on slanted shale. Also some lingering snow patches in early July.
We arrived around 3pm and most people were already at the hut, relaxing on the terrace. We settled into our bunks and showered (CHF 5 for 5 mins hot water). Our room slept about 20 with rows of mattresses on bunks.
While we waited for dinner at 7pm, we had an apero on the terrace. The current hut wardens run a winery near the Swiss/Italian border. We enjoyed a bottle of their white Merlot. We drank some for apero, then they put the bottle in the fridge until dinner.
Dinner was adequate, salad and a rather soggy lasagna.
DAY TWO • 05 Early start from Scaletta hut
We woke up around 7am and were out of the hut by 8am. Breakfast was fine: plenty of bread, cheese, and yogurt with granola, etc. Coffee on tap from a big container. Drinking water available for free.
When leaving the hut, follow signs to Passo Greina and Cap. Terri. We had just one more snow patch at the beginning of the hike.
Lovely early morning light.
At this sign, we stayed right, direction Passo Greina. But you could fork left to “Arco della Greina,” which has an arched rock formation. That trail later links up with the trail to the Terri hut.
DAY TWO • 06 Hike thru Greina Plateau
Eventually you leave the rocky park behind and enter these lush meadows that make this plateau special.
There’s a very nice river flowing thru the plateau. Water levels were quite low during our visit.
When you reach this sign, follow signs to Cna. dil Terri, the hut for lunch. You’ll cross this small bridge across the river.
You’ll pass a few small ponds.
Some people stopped here for a picnic.
This part has a short section with a chain to help you get up the rock. I didn’t find it particularly dangerous. Just be careful and take your time.
View across the plateau.
DAY TWO • 07 Lunch at Terri Hut
After about 3 hours, we arrived at the Terri hut where we had lunch.
Really tasty food. I had the Capuns, a regional dish, and my friend had the Älpermagronen, cheesy pasta with fried onions and applesauce.
Nice selection of desserts, including the classic Engadiner nut torte.
Such a cute hut, I can understand why so many like to stay there.
View of the hut as we hike away from it.
DAY TWO • 08 Suspension bridge & waterfalls
From Terri hut, we continued the loop, direction Pass Diesrut. This direction will lead us over the suspension bridge before looping back through the plateau.
The trail heads up this gorge.
You’ll pass by a pretty lake with this short staircase carved into the rock.
Looking back towards the hut.
Now you traverse the slope along the gorge. This is the only slightly scary part of the hike, as the small footpath carves through a steep slope. I didn’t find it particularly dangerous, but if you are afraid of heights, you may find this part a little unsettling.
Looking back on the trail. Part of this section has chain hand-rails on the side.
You can see in this photo how steeply it drops off from the side of the trail. Walk carefully on this part.
Now the amazing bridge! I hadn’t seen pics of it beforehand, so it was a fun surprise. It’s a bit bouncy.
View of the waterfall from the bridge.
DAY TWO • 09 Hike east side of the plateau
After the bridge, we followed signs to Rif. Motterascio, walking parallel to the river. It was a hot day, so several hikers were cooling off in the river.
The water level was quite low, safe but no pool deep enough for a proper dip. So I got in my swimsuit and laid down in one of the deeper pools, very refreshing. But be careful if the river flow is higher, it may not be safe to enter.
After a big along the river, the official trail heads up a hill.
This pic looks back towards the suspension bridge.
When the river is low, there is an walking path next to the river that you can see in my photo. But we stayed on the upper trail as we didn’t know how far that trail would be possible.
Looking back on the river. You can see the other footpath skirting the white erosion along the river. Glad we stayed on the upper trail.
Approaching the end of the plateau loop, where we crossed the river earlier that day.
DAY TWO • 10 Finish at Motterascio Hut
At the next two trail signs, follow signs to Motterascio for your next hut.
This part is easy, meandering through meadows.
Quite a few cows on this part.
Looking back at the plateau as we descend.
More dramatic peaks as we make our way to the next hut.
Just before you reach the hut, there is this short ladder.
DAY TWO • 11 Overnight at Mottorascio Hut
Happy to reach the hut right as it started raining again.
View from the Motterascio hut down to the Luzzano reservoir where we hike the next day.
Terrace in front of the hut where we enjoyed a glass of local wine before dinner.
Our room at the hut with 8 individual bunks, much more comfortable than the side-by-side mattresses.
Nice selection of cakes and drinks for apero. Dinner served at 7:30pm.
Sunrise at the hut at 6:15 am.
Breakfast at the hut. They served yogurt and butter made from the cows on this alp.
DAY THREE • Hike down from Mottorascio Hut
For our third day, we hiked from the Motterascio hut down to Lago di Luzzano and finally our starting point in Ghirone. We left the hut around 8:00 and arrived at the parking around 11:00.
There was a little rain on our departure, but luckily it lasted only a few minutes.
Looking up at the hut that we just left.
The trail starts with switchbacks on rocky terrain.
You’ll pass thru some nice meadows along this stream.
A few waterfalls.
More steep downhill, a little muddy after the evening trail. We had to be careful not to slip here.
After about an hour, the trail flattens out and you follow the river towards the lake.
The river cuts a deep gorge. The trail is well built, not exposed.
DAY THREE • 12 Hike along Luzzone Lake
No swimming or water sports in this lake. There are warnings about the dam waterworks that can be dangerous.
The path along the lake is a wide dirt service road.
At the far end of the lake, there is a bus stop and the first tunnel. We thought we might catch the bus, but we were much too early and the hike was still very pretty and we were happy to keep walking.
In the tunnel, there is a small pathway on the side, but watch for traffic. I wouldn’t want to be in the tunnel when the bus comes thru. It took us about 10 mins to walk thru the tunnel.
View from the dam on the other side of tunnel.
View on the opposite side of the dam.
DAY THREE • 13 Finish hike in Ghirone
Looking down the valley towards our starting point in Ghirone.
On the far side of the dam, there is another bus stop next to the second tunnel. We kept walking.
Follow signs to Aquilesco for the parking and bus stop.
Starting with a few switchbacks.
Walking thru pretty meadows.
Continue toward Aquilesco. So glad we hiked this part.
Back at the parking. Mission complete!
I hope you enjoy this hut adventure!
