I was so happy to check this hike off my Swiss bucket list. You gotta work to reach this beautiful high mountain valley, but definitely worth the effort. Much of the trail is along the river with lots of waterfalls, which is one of my favorite types of hikes.
No services or huts around here, but lots of great picnic areas on the river with fire pits and tables. It’s not a dangerous hike, but requires good fitness and steady footing to navigate the lumpy mountain trails, a great choice for anyone ready to tackle a tough climb and reap the rewards.
| Region: | Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland |
| Trail Start: | top of Brigels-Crest Fulla chair lift |
| Car: | Parking: Via Plaun Rueun 44, 7165 Breil-Brigels about 2hr from Zürich |
| Public transport: | Bus stop: Breil/Brigels, Posta, then 10 min walk to chair lift about 2hr25 from Zürich HB, about |
| Trail: | 13.5 km loop, about 6 hours |
| Elevation: | highest point 2425m |
| Skill: | challenging red/white mountain trail, Swiss trail rating T3 |
| Condition: | narrow footpath, no cliff drop-offs, not suitable for strollers |
| Services: | no services along the trail, picnic areas along river with fire pit, wood, drinkable water and WC |
| Cost 2020: | one way chair lift CHF 16/adult, no reductions with travel cards |
| Open: | late June to mid-October, chair lift opens 8:30 |
| More info: | surselva.info webcam wegwandern.ch |
Trail Overview
Here is the summer hiking map of the region.
You start by riding a chair lift from Brigels up to Crest Falla. Then follow trail 2 through the forest to the river. Then follow a path up river to your destination at Val Frisal. On your return, you loop back on the mountain (left side of map) towards Alp Nova, then back down to the river and follow it all the way back to Brigels.
Trail map
The official trail map says 11.5 km, with an optional 2 km detour to a viewpoint making it 13.5 km. But my fitness watch tracked 16km, I don’t know why. We were on the trail for 6hr, total walking time 4hr40 (without kids).
Optional viewpoint:
On your way back, there is a detour through Alp Nova to a viewpoint at Crap Cavigliauna that overlooks the Val Frisal valley from high above.
Although this is not a “must-do”, I really liked it and would recommend it if you have the time and energy. It adds 2 km (about 30 mins) and about 120m of elevation gain to the hike.
My map above includes this detour, but you can easily skip it by just following the trail straight ahead instead of branching off to Alp Nova. See more in my photo stories below.
Skip the chair lift:
If you prefer to skip the chair lift, you can simply walk directly from Brigels village along the river. This adds about 1km distance and 200m of elevation gain to the start of your hike.
How to get there
Val Frisal is located in south eastern Switzerland in the Surseva, Graubünden region. This area is easily accessible by car or public transportation.
This hike is basically a loop, starting and ending in Brigels.
By car:
Drive to Brigels and park in the large parking lot next to the chair lift – see on Google maps. At the end of your hike, you need to walk through the village back to your car.
By public transportation:
Take a train to Chur, then another train to Tavanasa-Breil/Brigels. Then bus 461 to Breil/Brigels, Posta. Then a 10 min walk through the village to the chair lift as shown below.
At the end of your hike, you will catch the bus in Brigels back to the Tavanasa train station. In 2020, this bus leaves Brigels (with train connections back to Chur) at 14:50, 15:25, 16:50, 17:25, 18:25 and 19:25. Keep an eye on your watch so you don’t miss the bus by a couple minutes and have to wait a long time in Brigels.
FYI, there is a free public WC at the Tavanasa train station but we didn’t see one near the Brigels bus stop. If you need food for the journey home, there is a Volg grocery next to the Brigels bus stop but no services near the Tavanasa train station.
Planning your day
Tickets
You’ll need a one way ticket on the Brigels-Crest Falla chair lift to reach the trail. It costs CHF 16/adult for a one way tickets. Discounts for children, students and seniors but no discounts for travel cards like SBB GA, Half-fare or junior cards. You buy your ticket at the chair lift with either cash or cards.
Operating Times
The chair lift is open daily from late June through mid October (closed on Tuesdays from mid-August to mid-September). It runs from 8.30 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 17.00. See current operating times.
Photo story of trail
1. Arriving in Brigels
If you arrive by bus, it will drop you in the center of the village so you can enjoy the pretty buildings as you walk over to the chair lift, about 10 mins.
If you came by car, drive through the village and park in this lot next to the chair lift and lake.
You can buy your chair lift ticket with cash or card at the chair lift ticket office. Here’s a view looking down the chair lift. There is a WC at the bottom of the lift. I suggest you use it.
Here’s the view from the top of the lift back down to Brigels.
There is a lovely mountain restaurant (Bergrestaurant Burleun) a 10 min walk above the chair lift with this view. But it’s a bit of detour off your trail. We went up there to use the WC and get a coffee before starting the hike because there are no other services on the trail.
2. Trail start through forest
Follow trail signs with the green 678 Val Frisal box.
The trail starts through these meadows and dips into the forest. You hike down about 2.5km and 100m elevation descent until you reach the river.
The forest path was a little steep in parts. I was glad to have my sticks.
The trail descend to that bridge over the river you see below. The trail continues on a narrow footpath on the left side of the river. But some hikers took the dirt road on the right side of the river. Both take you where you want to go.
3. Picnic area at the river
At the river, you’ll find a big picnic area with lots of tables, multiple fire pits, wood, a fountain with drinkable water and a outhouse style WC.
We continued hiking on the path on the left side of the river, a lovely part of the trail.
4. Trail up river
When you get the next bridge, the trail splits. Both directions take you to Val Frisal because this part is a loop. We chose to start by walking up the path on the right side of the river, doing the loop counterclockwise, which I think the better choice. On the way back, we passed through Alp Nova Sura on the left side of the loop. So continue following that green Val Frisal sign.
Now starts the climb, about 370m elevation gain over almost 3km. We were definitely working hard on this part. The trail takes you up along the river, past a waterfall. The trail was a little wet here and there with streams but not too difficult to cross, at least in early September.
The trail winds around the mountain, following the river all the way to the Val Frisal valley.
Looking back on the trail.
Almost there! Excited to turn the corner.
5. Arriving at Val Frisal
Congrats! You made it to Val Frisal, this beautiful wide flat valley.
The trail doesn’t continue into the valley, but just loops up the mountain to your left to Alp Nova Sura. Before you do that, take some time to wander around this valley and enjoy it. This is why you came!
Lots of the grass is very marshy and wet so watch your step. We were happy for the rocks.
Take a million pictures, enjoy your picnic and soak in the mountain glory.
6. Trail back & optional viewpoint
When you are ready to head back, follow the trail up the mountain towards Alp Nova Sura. You’ve got 6-7 km back to Brigels depending on if you take the detour.
Looking back at Val Frisal as we climb up.
After about 500m (about 8 mins), you reach this trail sign. You can just walk straight ahead following signs to Brigels. But if you want to do the detour to a cliff viewpoint over Val Frisal, follow signs up the mountain to Alp Nova Sura and Crap Cavigliauna.
This detour adds 2 km and 130m up/down before you rejoin the main trail. I wouldn’t say it’s a must-do, but I really liked it.
When you reach Alp Nova (there’s a house and water fountain there), follow signs to Crap Cavigliauna. Here’s the faint trail leading out to the cliffs, still well marked with red/white markers.
The view from Crap Cavigliauna. Watch your step, there are some steep drop offs here.
7. Trail back down
When you are done, retrace your steps back to Alp Nova Sura. Now follow signs to Brigels to your right (not down the way you came). This trail will rejoin the main trail without backtracking.
You’ll pass this private hut shown above. On this day, the man who lives there was offering peach iced tea and cookies. You just drop whatever you’d like to pay in his piggy bank. He was super friendly and happy to have the conversation.
Then just keep walking down the mountain until you reach the river and make you way back to that picnic area you saw at the beginning.
8. Walk down river on the dirt road
Now follow the dirt road along the river, following trail signs to Brigels. You have about 3km and 1hr to go. If you took the bus, now’s a good time to check the schedule and see if you need to hurry.
I thought this part of the trail would be boring but actually it was quite pleasant walking through the forest and along the river. I didn’t mind it at all.
You’ll pass a couple more picnic areas.
Almost done.
Since we came by public transportation, we walked to the center of Brigels where we caught the bus. Remember the bus doesn’t come frequently, so check the schedule. The bus took us down to the Tavanasa train station shown below. There are no services here but a free WC.
The view from the train is really nice. We want to come back and walk along this river sometime.
That’s it. I hope you go hike this sometime and enjoy it!
