If you’re looking for a quieter adventure away from the busy mountain attractions, I think you’ll really enjoy this hike to the Rätschenjoch pass above Klosters.
This trail climbs through peaceful alpine meadows and rugged mountain scenery, with hardly anyone else around to interrupt the views.
The steep ascent is well rewarded when you reach the pass, where you are surrounded by fascinating geological formations and panorama views across the beautiful Davos Klosters region.
Keep reading for all the info you need to plan this hike, including trail map, directions and what to expect along the way.
This hike is a great addition to a longer stay in the area – see my Davos Klosters post for more ideas.
Quick Info
| Region | Klosters • Graubünden, southeast Switzerland |
| Start: | Klosters-Madrisa gondola – Madrisastrasse 7, 7252 Klosters-Serneus |
| By car: | Free parking at Madrisa gondola station From Davos 22 mins, Zürich 1h30 |
| By public transport: | Klosters Dorf train station From Davos 40 mins, Zürich 2h10 |
| Trail: | 4h15 • ⬇️ trail map |
| Distance: | 11.5 km loop |
| Difficulty: | difficult • +820m -820m |
| Terrain: | T2 • typical mountain trail with uneven rocky terrain |
| Elevation: | highest point 2633m |
| Open: | late June to October |
| Cost 2026: | round trip gondola ticket CHF 32/adult |
| Discounts: | mountain transport discounted by Davos Premium Card No discount with Half Fare Card, GA, Swiss Travel Pass, etc. |
| Services: | restaurant at start, no services on the trail |
| More info: | madrisa.ch • Madrisa webcams • forecast |
Gallery
These pics of the Madrisa Rätschenjoch hike are from the second week of July.
Trail Map
This hike is a loop, starting and ending at the top of the Klosters-Madrisa gondola.
See trail map on SchweizMobil • Komoot
Our walking time was 3h45. Total time on trail with breaks 4h45.
Trail description
- From the top of Madrisa gondola, follow signs to Rätschenjoch (trail 104 on the Madrisa map).
- At the Saaser Alp dairy, you fork right and head straight up the hill for about 30 mins.
- When you reach another hut, you join the Walserweg trail and head to the pass, about 1h40 more.
- From the pass, fork right and follow signs to Schafffürggli (trail 106).
- When you reach the chair lift, follow signs to Bergstation Madrisa (the gondola), walking on a service road down the mountain.
Note: As you near the gondola, there is a large construction project installing solar panels that provide 40% of the power to this region. There is a signed detour avoiding this construction, on a footpath that will lead you back to the gondola.
Terrain
The trail is a typical mountain trail with a variety of terrain, including several areas with loose rock and boulders. Important to have sturdy hiking shoes with good tread.
There is one short section across a steep schale slope that was a little tricky to walk on.
Variation
For more drama, try this variation via the Rätschenhorn peak.
From Madrisa, hike across the Massplatte. Then fork right, following signs to Saaser Calanda. This leads you up a rocky ridge to the Rätschenhorn peak before descending to the Rätschenjoch pass. Then descend the Chüacalanda that I ascended in my hike.
Longer hike
This trail is part of Walserweg Stage 18: Klosters – St Antönien. From the Rätschenjoch, you could continue on this trail to St Antönien and take public transport from there back to your starting point. See Walserweg trail info.
How to get there
This trail is located in Klosters, in the Graubünden region of southeast Switzerland.
You reach this trail with the Klosters-Madrisa gondola located at Madrisastrasse 7, 7252 Klosters-Serneus.
By public transport
The Madrisa gondola is a 3 min walk from the Klosters Dorf train station.
If you are staying in Klosters, it may be more convenient to take the bus to Klosters Dorf, Bahnhof stop, a 1 min walk from the gondola.
By car
There is free parking at the Madrisa gondola station. Madrisastrasse 7, 7252 Klosters-Serneus
Costs & Tickets
You’ll need a round trip ticket for the Madrisa gondola. In 2026, this ticket costs CHF 32/adult. See current prices.
You can buy these tickets on-site. No need to book in advance.
Discount for youth (12-17) and children (6-11). Children under 6 ride free. Family discount.
No discount for Swiss Half Fare Card, Swiss Travel Pass, GA. The SBB Junior Card and Swiss Family Cards are not valid.
Davos Premium Card:
If you are staying overnight in the region, you get the Davos Premium Card.
With the card, you get a discount on the Madrisa gondola. Show your card at the ticket office to get the discount. No discount on the chair lift.
Planning your day
When to go / Operating times
The Madrisa mountain is open for summer season from mid June to late October. Check opening times.
This trail is high elevation, usually open (snow-free) from late June to mid October. Check Madrisa webcams.
Check trail status for possible closures.
Where to eat
There is a restaurant at the Madrisa gondola station. There is a small dairy shop near the start of the trail.
Otherwise no services along the trail. I would bring 2L water/person and food to sustain you through the hike.
What to wear & bring
This mountain train is best done with sturdy hiking shoes with good tread. Hiking sticks are very helpful for the downhill sections which have a lot of loose rock.
Make sure to check the weather and dress appropriately. It can be very windy on the pass, dropping the temps even on a hot day. So best to bring a light jacket just in case.
Where to stay
This hike is located in Klosters, which has an attractive village center with many hotels and restaurants. Near the gondola and Klosters train station, perhaps Hotel Silvaplana (3 stars) or Sunstar Hotel Klosters (4 stars).
However, if you are spending a few days, you may prefer nearby Davos, which has quicker access to more mountain areas.
We enjoyed our recent stay at Hotel Waldhuus Davos (4-stars), which has a quiet location. Our beds were very comfortable and we love the beautiful mountain views from the balcony.
Their breakfast is generous with a nice selection of local cheese and freshly cooked omelets. Their restaurants serves elevated versions of Swiss classics, very tasty.
This hotel is especially family-friendly, with a spacious family suites, supervised kids club, playground, indoor pool, mini golf and game room.
Note: our recent stay was hosted by Hotel Waldhuus Davos. As always, all opinions are our own.
Photo story of trail
Riding up to Madrisa mountain
This is the Klosters-Madrisa gondola station.
It has continuously running individual gondola cars.
At the top there is restaurant and a big playground to the gondola station.
Starting the trail
From the gondola station, follow signs labeled Rätschenjoch. After a couple minutes, you’ll pass this dairy with a small shop selling cheese and ice cream. Last chance for snacks until you finish the hike.
Now it’s a steep uphill for about 30 mins. No joke, it’s straight up. But it helps to know it gets easier soon.
At this hut, you join the Walserweg trail (with green 35 on trail sign). The trail gets more mild here.
Wander through meadows
Now a delightful wander through these meadows, gradually uphill for about 50 mins before you reach the next steep section.
So idyllic with cows grazing near the stream.
Lots of flowers sprinkled around the rocks.
Looking back on the trail.
One tiny pond for some nice reflections.
Crossing a couple streams. Would be a nice place to cool your feet on a hot day.
Looking back. Not many people on the trail this day. I passed about a dozen people over the whole hike.
Climb to the pass
Now it gets steep again for about 40 mins, the last push to the pass.
A nice perspective of the slopes as you get higher up the mountain.
Lots of yellow flowers as we reach the higher elevation.
Almost to the pass!
Rätschenjoch pass
When you cross over the pass, you’ll see this enormous field of limestone that looks almost like a snow patch.
Really interesting geological features in this area.
The Walserweg trail continues over the pass towards St Antönien.
Traverse
Our trail forks right and heads toward the Schaffürggli pass.
The traverse starts quiet easy.
Looking back at the Rätschenjoch pass.
Now the trail gets narrower.
Now you cross a steep schale field and can barely see the trail. This was the only part of the trail that felt a bit dangerous.
Looking down at the meadows we hiked up.
Down to Schaffurggli
Now steep dusty switchbacks down this rocky terrain.
The trail was often faint and I had to keep a lazer eye on the red/white trail markers and adjust course a few times.
Looking back up the trail.
Enjoying some grassy bits again.
Now a rock field.
Basically boulder hopping now and a little hard to see where the trail is.
Here you could fork left on a trail headed to Schlappin valley, which you see in the distance. I kept right headed to the Schaffürggli pass.
Once last look at my trail before I head over the next pass.
Final descent
Keep following signs to Schaffürggli, which leads you to the chair lift. Now you will descend on a rocky service road for about 30 mins, not my favorite part.
The views are fine, but not nearly as nice as the rest of the hike.
It gets prettier as you get closer to the forest and gondola station.
When you get close to the road that leads back to the gondola, there is a big construction site where they are installing solar panels. There is detour for hikers, on a footpath above the construction site. Just follow signs to Bergstation Madrisa.
I hope you enjoy this hike!
