MTB around St Moritz
 
 
 
St Moritz was a pleasant surprise. The upper Engadine valley is lovely, all flowers and surrounded by snowy mountains. Although there is a ghetto for the filthy rich, a fleet of Rolls Royces to pick them up at the railway station etc, most of Engadine felt friendly and welcoming. 

Cycling is a big thing in the summer and the upper Engadine valley is criss-crossed with special bike routes. As in Davos the tourist office supplies a map with bike routes, though in St Moritz 2 Swiss franc are charged. Some info is also available on-line.  There are possibilities for all sorts of bike ridig in St Moritz, rolling a long well paved bike routes with plenty of whole families going for a spin completely separate from the traffic, and there are som nice singletracks.  

We stayed at a camping between St Moritz town and Silvaplana. A bike route passed just outside our tent.

 
 
One trail known as the Via Engiadina goes along the valley floor from Sils Maria to Zernez 56 km down the valley. The section west of St Moritz along the lake sides can be crowded with bikers. It is pleasant riding, not technically demanding. 
 
 
Above Surlej, west of St Moritz, one can head up to Alp Surlej and Margun Surlej on steep fire road. Possibly great fun with a down hill rig, just strenuous on a hard tail. Nevertheless, it was a nice outing.
 
On the slopes of south side of Silsersee is  a fine trail between Sils and Maloja. Most of it goes on moderately difficult single track. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One climbs out from Sils on a steep narrow paved road.When one has gained approximately 200 metres the ascent levels out on  to a high traverse. From here it is single track to Isola at 2075 metres. From Isola on rides on a narrow fire road down to Maloja. It is also possible to bike up the valley above Isola on a small singletrack.

A splendid ride.
 
 
 
 
The by far best ride we had was acroos the Suvretta pass (2615). One starts along the official bike route past Samedan and up the Bever Valley. Once in the Bever Valley the road becomes less good. Most holiday bikers only go as far as the Suvretta Mountain restaurant. Beyond the going gets more difficult.  



One follows a 4WD road along the valley floor to Alp Suvretta, a mountain hut. Just before one reaches it one turns south and heads up a rocky slope on switchbacks. For 200 or 300 metres one has to carry the bike more than ride it. Beyond a shoulder the valley becomes more even and there is a perfectly bikeable track to the watershed of the Suvretta pass. Close to the top is a little lake. On the other side it is down hill all the way to St Moritz. Initially, it is slightly technical. Further down, there is huge paved road.

  
 
 
Would we go back to St Moritz. Yes, absolutely.
In fact we did just that in June 2005. There is brief travelogue here.

Piz Bernina 4049