Oh, Soglio – hiking through Bergell

Segantini was a wise man. The painter, who spent several winters in Soglio, described the place as the “threshold of paradise” (la soglia del paradiso). I couldn’t describe it better – Soglio is one of the most picturesque villages I’ve seen so far. The mountain village is located far back in Bregaglia at around 1,000 m above sea level and enchants with narrow alleys and pretty houses. Italian flair and Swiss originality merge to perfection. Oh yes, Soglio, you enchanted me.

Now, which way leads to the threshold of Paradise?

Postbuses go to Soglio. But hey guys, you don’t go to paradise by post bus (and certainly not by private car) – you should make a bit of an effort beforehand. After a short research, I discovered a great hiking suggestion on MySwitzerland: Called “La Panoramica”, this high-altitude trail leads from Casaccia about 15 km to Soglio (or a little further to Castasegna).

We started this excursion early in the morning at the Nira Alpina. So early that there was no breakfast at the hotel. However, we got a very rich packed lunch on the way. Actually, we didn’t want to leave so early, but the ominous Postbus timetable left us no other choice. The Postbus line St. Moritz – Chiavenna actually runs every hour – except between 8.00 – 9.00 a.m., when none runs (dear Postbus employees – if you should read this, I ask for an explanation).

So we were punctually at 7.37 a.m. armed with packed lunch and wanderlust at the Silvaplana Post stop. The post bus ride took us over the Maloja Pass (the only pass that only goes “down”) from the Upper Engadine into Bregaglia to Casaccia. The journey takes about 30 minutes.

From here on, muscle strength was required. At first, the path leads quite comfortably through forest and pasture landscapes. After Roticcio, there is a short but steep climb up into the woods. Afterwards, the path leads for a large part through wooded areas. Crossing some watercourses almost inevitably causes wet feet at this time of year, as the meltwater rushes thunderously down into the valley in large quantities. Again and again you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the mountains and down into the valley. But the best thing is that you are traveling alone. We only met two people on the entire route. That’s it. We, the forest, the stream and the mountains – great thing.

Important information for the hike from Casaccia to Soglio

It should be noted that the hiking trail runs along natural paths with rootstocks and stones. Accordingly, proper hiking boots should be worn. In total, you overcome 1,150 metres in altitude over the 15 kilometres – 400 m up and 750 m down. The presence of a basic level of fitness is an advantage. We needed about 4 hours for this route without long breaks. The hiking trail is great for people who don’t necessarily want to conquer peaks, but for whom the enjoyment of the landscape is in the foreground.