Water & Lakes
Lakes, rivers and places shaped by water.
The Engadin would not be the same without its water.
Lakes, rivers and mountain streams shape the landscape as much as the peaks themselves. Sometimes they invite you to walk, sometimes to pause, and sometimes simply to listen.
These are three places where water reveals a different side of the valley.
Lake St. Moritz
Where the town meets the mountains.
Most people admire the lake from the centre of St. Moritz. At least once, try doing the opposite. Walk along the lakeside path and look back at the town from across the water.
It changes completely depending on the time of day. In the morning, when the lake is perfectly still, the buildings are reflected almost like a mirror. Later in the afternoon, the light turns warmer and, from the opposite shore, you can watch the sun slowly set behind Piz Julier.
I like returning here at different times of day. Not so much for the lake itself, but to watch how St. Moritz changes.
It is one of the few places where the town stops being just a destination and becomes part of the landscape once again.
Ideal if you're looking for...
🌅 Sunrise or sunset
🚶 An easy walk
📸 Photography
☕ A peaceful break with a view
🏔️ Seeing St. Moritz from a different perspective
💙 The meeting of town and nature
Useful links
Lej da Staz
A lake that invites you to stay.
If I had to choose one place to begin discovering the Engadin, this would probably be it.
Lej da Staz lies quietly hidden among the forests, as if the valley were protecting it. It's easy to reach, and perhaps that's exactly why it surprises me every time. Just a few minutes' walk are enough for the sound of the road to fade away, replaced by water, trees and silence.
I love coming here early in the morning, when the lake is perfectly still and the forest seems to be just waking up. Yet even on busy summer days it keeps its own atmosphere. Some people go for a swim, others read a book, enjoy a picnic on the grass or simply sit by the shore, doing nothing at all.
It's one of those places that doesn't ask you to keep moving. It simply invites you to stay.
Ideal if you're looking for...
🌿 Peace and quiet
💧 A swim in the lake
🧺 A picnic
📖 A place to read
🚶 An easy walk
👨👩👧👦 Family-friendly
🌅 Early morning or late afternoon
Useful links
Bernina River
Water that accompanies the journey.
Just a few minutes from Morteratsch railway station, the trail meets the Bernina River. From that moment on, it is the water that guides your walk.
The river rushes over smooth boulders, beneath small bridges and through forests of larch and pine. It is constantly changing – sometimes powerful, sometimes gentle, but always present.
I love coming back here because every visit feels different. Depending on the season, the light or the amount of water, the river changes its colour, its strength and its voice.
Along the trail, you'll find many places where you can walk down to the water's edge. Stop for a few minutes. Not to search for the perfect view, but simply to watch the movement of the water and listen to its sound.
It is one of those places that reminds us the mountains are not made only of silence, but of energy too.
Ideal if you're looking for...
💧 Water and nature
🚶 An easy walk
📸 Photography
🧺 A break by the river
🌲 Forest and mountain stream
🌿 Letting the sound of the water accompany you
Useful links
Continue exploring
Discover another side of the Engadin.
Planning your visit?
Find transport, maps, weather, activities and other useful information.
Staying in St. Moritz?
If you're looking for a quiet holiday apartment in the heart of the Upper Engadin, discover Chesa Altrova.