Lake Cavloccio (Lagh da Cavlocc in Romansh), in Engadine, Switzerland, is a fantastic place for wonderful hikes both in summer and winter time. In this article, we describe a winter trek.

 

Trekking: Lagh da Cavlocc, Engadin, Switzerland (winter)

 

We've already had the opportunity to discover the beauty of the Lake Cavloccio several times in the summer: the blue lake, immersed in the green woods and mountains that surround it, is enchanting. We'd never had the chance to explore this area in the winter, when it's snowing. On January 6, 2026, we filled this gap.

Even in winter, it's best to park at the Salecina parking lot (just after the Maloja Pass, coming from the North) and begin walking from there. As for the route to reach the lake from the parking lot, technically, there's not much to add: even in winter, you can follow the entire road, which, with a never-too-excessive gradient, suitable for everyone, passes by the Salecina House, crosses the Orden stream, and then climbs the stream valley on the left bank. The road, even in this early winter when there's been little snow, has been consistently snow-covered (about 20 cm), and mostly in the shade at midday.

 

 

 

Alternatively, near the bridge over the Orden stream, you can take the snowshoe trail, which cuts through the woods and shortens the hike to the lake. We followed this trail partially on the way up. The snow on our hike was very compact, and we had no problem ascending in hiking boots. Crampons can be useful to prevent slipping (we didn't wear them, out of laziness...). The way up offers a beautiful view of the plain where the Maloja village is located. The lake is reached in about 45 minutes, climbing about 130 meters.

And here, a fairytale landscape unfolded before our eyes, with an almost unreal tranquility. The valley floor and the lake, during this time of winter, are illuminated by the sun only for a few hours, around midday. Therefore, the 20-30 cm of snow that had fallen so far remained almost intact. The lake was well frozen (and it's strange to think that in summer, sometimes, you can even swim there...).

 

 

We paused for a moment to contemplate the scene: the lake plain alternated patches of sun-stained snow with warm yellow hues, and others  with bluish shadows. The deep blue sky filled the vault above us, and above the mountain ridges. The sunny side of the valley was mostly brownish, as most of the snow had melted on that side. We reached the Cavlocc Restaurant, closed in the winter, and then sought a sunny spot for a quick lunch.

After our break, we began wandering and exploring the valley, heading towards Plan Canin, following one of the snowshoe trails (again easily accessible even with boots). We were truly impressed by the number of snowshoe trails that extend in various directions (indicated by light purple signs and poles), allowing you to immerse yourself in the magic of this valley. It's truly a recommended destination for snowshoe enthusiasts.

Not wanting to undertake a too challenging hike, this time, just before Plan Canin, we reversed direction (see our GPS track above), returned to the beautiful Alp Cavlocc, crossed the frozen lake, and after following its shoreline for a while on a forest trail (very beautiful in winter, although a bit more difficult), we returned to the road, which we followed again down to Salecina. Maybe next summer we'll reach the Forno Hutte, at the bottom of the valley.

Enjoy your hike. Fabio

 

Clicca qui per la slidegallery dell'escursione